Cervical disc hernia

Hello humans,

Went to the doc this afternoon after severe stabbing pains in my upper back and shoulder since yesterday. He suspects cervical disc hernia - i.e. the discs of the spine clamping on a nerve. It can be treated with injections of something horrible (which I had today) or, in severe cases, requires an operation. I have found that if I walk and sit with my back straight and neck held high, it relieves the pain.

Has anyone else had this problem and, if so, can you advise me more as to how to treat it myself?

I have to take it 'very easy' with bb-ing for a few weeks, especially the upper body. Other than the obvious - squats, sldls - which exercises should I skip until I'm better?

Thanks for any help. Cheers, CB

If one more person tells me to take it easy because I am 'no longer 20', I am going to do horrible things to his (or her?) gonads. I may be 46 years old, but I am not quite dead yet.

If I were you I'd be reviewing your technique and preparation. When I read things like this I tend to automatically think 'lifting too much with poor technique'. But that may or may not be true in your case.

I like the quote from the great Russian Vasily Alexeyev.

'It seems to me that some of the talented athletes lack one thing

I have NO idea (just thought I'd share).

Ah: you'll be fine. Recovering from back injuries is all about attitude.

I'm tempted to suggest, all of them. This sounds a little risky to me. I'm amazed your doc didn't send you for physio.

BB

MFW Britpack Certified S.E.O. www.kruse.co.uk There is only one war, and it's not the rich against the poor, the blacks against the whites, the Federation against the Borg, or the Democrats versus the Republicans. It's those of us who aren't complete idiots against those of us who are.

Waitaminnit. He 'suspects', but went ahead and injected? WTF did he inject and where and why? Did you have any tests? An xray is woefully inadequate in diagnosing disc pathology. Did someone knowledgable evaluate an MRI? Yeesh. There are a bazillion different degrees of disc herniation. It's a soft-tissue bulge - it can be serious or it can be a simple warning. If you don't have a complete rupture, you can *certainly* attempt conservative self-treatment. Rest, ice, NSAIDs.Try getting a copy of MacKenzie's Treat Your Own Neck (or Back - it's all connected). Learn about the structures. Learn your options. Additionally, FWIW, I find lying on a slant board can be useful as a gentle traction (it opens up the vertebral spaces just a smidge and lessens the pressure on the disc). Mostly, give it time and don't do anything stoopid. http://www.neckreference.com/anatomy.html

Whatever you decide, keep a very close eye on your condition. It can go on for a long time without much change and then head south in a hurry. My dad had your problem for several years, and it was nothing more than an inconvenience, then in the course of about two weeks it progressed to the point where he was having difficulty walking and moving his arms. He went to see the neurosurgeon on a Tuesday and was having surgery by Thursday morning.

Not trying to scare you, but you should be aware that this is not something to take lightly. If you do need surgery, it's better to get it taken care of sooner rather than later, because if you wait too long the damage can be permanent.

And while we're on the subject of seroius I agree with Lisa that an MRI scan, or at the very least a CT scan, is needed.

BB MFW Britpack Certified S.E.O. www.kruse.co.uk There is only one war, and it's not the rich against the poor, the blacks against the whites, the Federation against the Borg, or the Democrats versus the Republicans. It's those of us who aren't complete idiots against those of us who are.

Thanks to all of you who responded (mostly on misc.fitness.weights as opposed to uk.rec.bodybuilding).

First of all - I am quite proud of my exercise form and doubt that the cause of my cervical disc hernia is a result of poor form. I'm the kind of guy who does it properly or not at all.

I had visited my GP when the problem started, and felt dissatisfied with his handling of the problem, so went to a specialist this afternoon. He did a number of tests and within five minutes told me that the problem lay in my 7th and 8th vertebrae. He took an x-ray and sure enough: they're 'messy'. Tomorrow morning, I have an appointment for an MRI (AAAARRRGGGHHHH - at 6:45 a.m.) and then back to the specialist for a discussion as to treatment. Apparently an operation is very unlikely, and he can in all probabilty treat it with steroids (!!! - unless I heard wrongly).

In the meantime, I have no strength at all in my right-hand fingers (there goes the evening wank) and my upper right-hand back is hell. He (the specialist, not Satan) suggested I take aspirin for the pain and then we'll talk again tomorrow.

I was going to go to gym today to do a few lower-body exercises, but decided against it - just as well. Apparently, if all goes well, I'll be back working out pretty soon. In the meantime - bugger the aspirin - I'm taking a rather noble single malt whisky for the pain (I did ask the specialist for a prescription for an 18-year-old Glenmorangie [my favourite], but he declined - vicious bastard - LOL).

I've ordered a couple of books from Amazon.com/co.uk on the subject (anatomy and physiology are hobbies of mine) and plan to do all I can that the problem not repeat itself. I have never in my life known such pain as I have experienced over the last few days (and am still experiencing, although the Glenmorangie is helping - HAIL my Scottish ancestors!!!).

Cheers,

Terrific. Thanks for the testimonial. It's gratifying to hear when self-rehab derails medical intervention.