Dealing with a jacked up neck (and thinking of smacking a doctor)

[BehindBlueI's]

I'm so tired of hearing "you're not as young as you used to be." No shit, now that we've established I'm not Benjamin Button, how about fixing my damn neck?

Rant.

Anyone have a couple slipped disks in the c-spine and recover without surgery? I've been fighting this for 7 months after the last flare up cost me feeling in several fingers. I've done the stupid neck rolling exercises and stretches. I've taken the steroid treatment. I've stopped lifting. I've about stopped running (tried it again and immediately started having muscle cramps and tremors in my shoulder). Doc says give it more time (insert mocking voice here) because I'm not as young as I used to be.

I'm mostly just ranting, but if anyone has a genie in a bottle for a jacked up neck I'm all ears.

[Malamute]

I'm so tired of hearing "you're not as young as you used to be." No shit, now that we've established I'm not Benjamin Button, how about fixing my damn neck?

Rant.

Anyone have a couple slipped disks in the c-spine and recover without surgery? I've been fighting this for 7 months after the last flare up cost me feeling in several fingers. I've done the stupid neck rolling exercises and stretches. I've taken the steroid treatment. I've stopped lifting. I've about stopped running (tried it again and immediately started having muscle cramps and tremors in my shoulder). Doc says give it more time (insert mocking voice here) because I'm not as young as I used to be.

I'm mostly just ranting, but if anyone has a genie in a bottle for a jacked up neck I'm all ears.

Watching this.

Not encouraging, but I have 4 herniated discs in a couple places in my back. Progressively worse pain, havent been able to work, living on pain meds, spend part of every day in bed from pain, several treatments havent worked, and was just refered to a neorosurgeon for whatevers next. I'd like to know also.

[TGS]

You should almost always get 2nd opinions on complex issues....even if you trust your doc.

Are you seeing specialists, or is this a family practice doctor? Not to offend anyone....but they're pretty useless and their only real purpose is to refer you for anything requiring more thought than "here's some motrin/lipitor/cough syrup."

[Luke]

Don't know much about the spinal cord or the terminology to go along with it. But a guy at work is fixing to have a procedure done for a herniated disc, goes back to work in three days and leaves the doctors office walking! He said the best way to describe it is a two part epoxy injected into his spine. They strap you down to a table and position you just right then inject this stuff into your back and it seals/cusions/fixes all that crap. He said it's a brand new thing and hardly any doctors are doing it. He found out from his buddy who had it done and says its night and day difference and he wasn't off work for 3 months, just a weekend.

[BehindBlueI's]

You should almost always get 2nd opinions on complex issues....even if you trust your doc.

Are you seeing specialists, or is this a family practice doctor? Not to offend anyone....but they're pretty useless and their only real purpose is to refer you for anything requiring more thought than "here's some motrin/lipitor/cough syrup."

I've seen military docs, family docs, and specialists. The "problem" is it wasn't enough of a problem early on. I haven't seen a specialist with the latest flare up, the last time I did the only thing they said would help was surgery and cutting on my neck is my least favorite thing to do.

[donlapalma]

I'm dealing with lumbar issues myself and spinal fusion surgery is definitely in my future. As much as I'd like to go back to being "normal" I've come to terms with the need for my lifestyle to change. Like you, I've stopped lifting, running or doing any of the high intensity exercise that I loved doing. It sucks a fat one but fortunately my doctor was honest with me, doesn't want to cut me right away, and I have a best friend who is an ortho surgeon to provide that valued 2nd opinion. Do the best you can to manage your symptoms, have the best quality of life that you can while you can, and try to keep your attitude positive. I've been dealing with my issues for well over a year and I totally get your rant. "Frustrated" is an understatement.

[Hambo]

My wife says physical therapy, various surgical solutions, or less commonly injections into the disc to shrink the swelling. If it were me, I'd do everything possible to avoid surgery.

[imp1295]

I'm so tired of hearing "you're not as young as you used to be." No shit, now that we've established I'm not Benjamin Button, how about fixing my damn neck?

Rant.

Anyone have a couple slipped disks in the c-spine and recover without surgery? I've been fighting this for 7 months after the last flare up cost me feeling in several fingers. I've done the stupid neck rolling exercises and stretches. I've taken the steroid treatment. I've stopped lifting. I've about stopped running (tried it again and immediately started having muscle cramps and tremors in my shoulder). Doc says give it more time (insert mocking voice here) because I'm not as young as I used to be.

I'm mostly just ranting, but if anyone has a genie in a bottle for a jacked up neck I'm all ears.

Similar situation for years. Motorcycle accident back in '95 and my C3, 4, 5 were all compressed on the right sight. Caused issues for years which were exacerbated by running, jumping and rucking. What worked for me was consistent chiro work, stretching and believe or not Yoga (the wife is a Yoga/KB instructor - go figure that would be her answer)

I know way to many guys who've had C spine surgery that I work with that discourages me from ever going under the knife. I have yet to see one happier than beforehand. YMMV.

Chuck

[SouthNarc]

I was hit broadside at about 40 mph in '94 and completely ruptured C4/C5. Lost use of my arm for about 9 months. Chiro, traction, anti-inflammatory, rest, and luck allowed me to beat it non-surgically.

[SouthNarc]

Are you doing any traction? I had a chin harness, pulley, and a twenty pound weight that I used to get my C spine opened up. I think that's one of the main reason I didn't have any lasting nerve damage.