is there any way keeping my head held down for 8 hours a day for 10 years can cause a ruptured disk in my neck
101085
Well, I'm sure it could, but I find it hard to believe that you held down your head for 8 hours/day for 10 years.  Sounds like you are trying to "build a case" for worker's comp.  Ruptured disc usually caused by injury.
714720
I can tell you from first hand experience it's no fun. I ruptured L5-S1 many years ago and had to have surgery. I'd say I recovered to about 95% after wards. There are some new techniques now that you may have a better chance of staying healthy than I did. I have since ruptured L3-4 and had another surgery. Now I have degenerative disc disease and have to take meds every day. I tried a Chiropractor with no success. I'd do whatever the doctor said if I were you. See a good neurosurgeon.
882893
My father had 5 slip disks! Everyday he would be in pain but luckly he could control it. To make it feel better he would go into the hot tub every night. Maybe this will help.
612539
The inner portion of the disk between vertebrae is called the nucleus propulsus.  This area is heavily laden with proteogylcans - a type of molecule that holds onto water.  The effect is to keep this area well hydrated - hence, allowing for better shock absorbance.  As you age, or after an injury the biochemical composition of the nucleus propulsus changes slightly.  It no longer holds water quite as well - hence the appearance on MRI (and MRI helps show differences in density or water content - the difference in water content of various body structures is what makes them stand out on the scan).  \n\nThere is no good way to repair the damage.  Some experts will tell you to keep well hydrated - this may keep the area as full of water as possible.   You likely are already seeing an orthopedic surgeon - they can offer surgical corrections- but surgical management is generally reserved for severe cases.  \n\nI generally don't recommend alternative medicine, but chiropractic (osteopathic manipulation) can actually be very helpful with chronic back/neck pain.  There is a new technology allowing serial decompressions using low impact that many chiropractors in my area are using - it may be of benefit to you.  Make sure to find a highly qualified professional - these are generally willing to use several different techniques depending on your issues (high-velocity or "back cracking" techniques MAY make cervical compression worse)
842869
Let's see - I have strained my neck as well.  I also have pulled a number of muscles over the years, gotten a concussion once (the guy slammed me to the mat), a lot of mat burns, got an elbow to the eye (a nice shiner), and probably the two worst injuries were a broken nose and a dislocated elbow.  Nothing life threatening, though.
657364
First of all, KimKim that is way too much info.  More than what she is asking.\n\nCall your doctor. I've had 2 lumbar punctures done.  The most important thing is that you have to remain lying down for almost five days and even several hours after it is done. Also drink lots of water. My doc had me laying in the exam room for about five hours afterwards.  They took me out in a wheelchair then put the seat down in the car.  You HAVE to keep your head down.  DO NOT LIFT YOUR HEAD!!!  Even when you get up to go to the rest room, keep your head bent down.  I was even eating my meals laying with my head over the end of the bed and having my food on the floor.  If you raise your head to soon, the air bubble that is created in the spine from where they took out the fluid travels to your brain and creates extreme headaches, nausea, vomiting.
418446
A slipped, or herniated, disc can be related to age and lack of exercise as well as any stresses placed on the back.  Gentle exercise, under the supervision of a doctor, is beneficial, as can be weight loss or in severe cases surgery.  The pain can be terrible, and pay attention to any signs of movement problems.  BTW, this may be beyond anything a chiropractor can do.
592263
The situation you describe is classic for someone with pre-existing cervical stenosis who suffers a fall.\n\nCervical spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which is the space through which the spinal cord runs, surrounded and protected by the spinal vertebrae. Different people have different amounts of space in the canal to start with, but as we age, degenerative changes to the bones, discs and ligaments gradually encroach upon the canal and there is less room for the spinal cord.\n\nSymptoms of cervical cord compression (termed "myelopathy") often develop gradually over a period of years, though may become rapidly progressive over a few months. However, if a spinal canal is narrowed down so there is very little room for the cord to move, then a fall (or rear-end accident, or anything that jerks the neck about) can suddenly produce symptoms. The whole body numbness you describe is common. Sometimes people fall and suddenly develop weakness, usually more in hands/arms than legs' this is called "central cord syndrome". The symptoms result from banging the cord against bony prominences or discs.\n\n"Cervical spinal stenosis" as such is not caused by a fall. The canal can become narrowed as the result of a neck fracture or traumatic disc herniation, but those are different pathologies to what you describe, as best I can tell.\n\nMy guess is that you had spinal stenosis before the fall, although it had not yet caused you obvious symptoms. The fall mildly injured your spinal cord, and left you at risk for more rapid worsening of your pre-existing condition. However, your neck was almost certainly not "unstable" from the fall. Without a fracture or ligamentous injury, there is no need for a collar or neck brace and I would not generally prescribe one in the situation you describe. (I'm a neurosurgeon with experience and publications in spinal surgery.)\n\nI am very sorry to hear of your current condition. Once the spinal cord has taken injury, from a fall and/or from progressive spinal stenosis and compression, it is difficult to be certain how much function someone will recover. Myelopathy has a very uncertain course: usually after surgery, about 1/3 get better, 1/3 stay the same, and 1/3 continue to deteriorate despite MR scans showing a decent result in terms of decompression of the cord (making space for it.) We are not yet very good at predicting who will be in which group (though research is ongoing.)\n\nIf, however, you have not had repeat imaging of your neck after surgery, I would recommend this to confirm that there is no residual compression of the spinal cord, and to assess the degree of injury to the cord. (You did not say if you had surgery on the front or back of the neck, or at how many levels.)\n\nI've listed a few links below that may be of interest (and have some diagrams.)\n\nStandard disclaimer: Medical advice obtained via a website such as this is for general informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for seeing a physician. No proper diagnosis or prognosis can be given without personal history and examination taking.
330840
is there a free clinic  near you so you can go see a doctor? i would try to do some relaxation techniques or yoga type stretches. Shoulder shrugs- raising your shoulders up and holding and releasing and bring them down and hold- as well as neck rolls with holds may help. if you cna go online maybe check out a yoga website for tips on helping neck pain. One such site is www.yogajournal.com. I just looked for you and am copying the link here: http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/529_1.cfm. \nIt begins like this: \nJudging from the complaints of my physical therapy clients, chronic neck tension is a modern American epidemic. Even the more benign consequences—the painful crick in your neck, the dull headache radiating from the back of your skull—can be mighty annoying. The more serious ones, like pinched nerves, arthritis, and damaged discs, can be debilitating. Fortunately, yoga can do wonders for neck problems while simultaneously teaching safer, healthier posture habits. But some of the poses that can help you, like Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), can also do harm if performed incorrectly. It's important to approach them with knowledge of proper alignment.\n\nLet's take a look at the muscles of the back of the neck. Why do they cause so much trouble, and how can we use yoga to help them function better? The primary muscles of the back of the neck are the levator scapulae, which extend from the cervical (neck) vertebrae to each inner upper scapula (shoulder blade). Lying on top of the levators and also inserting on the shoulder blades are the upper trapezius muscles, which originate on the base of the skull and the neck vertebrae. Together, these muscles lift the scapula and backbend the neck. The levators and trapezius muscles also help to turn the head and sidebend the neck.\n\nThe stress of a busy lifestyle with deadlines, difficult people, and lack of sleep certainly tightens neck and jaw muscles. A forward head posture is also a factor for many people. An average head weighs 12 to 15 pounds; when that weight sits forward of the central line of the spine, the muscles on the back of the neck have to work very hard to hold the head up against the pull of gravity. Whether due to stress or poor head-neck alignment, chronic tightness in the levator scapulae and the upper trapezius can lead to significant neck pain. As the muscles pull down on the base of the skull and upper neck, they also pull up on the scapula. All this adds up to compression on the cervical vertebra. Such tightness and compression can lead to arthritis, cause nerve pressure that makes pain radiate down the arm, and increase the likelihood of neck muscle injuries. \nHope this helps.
568722
I'm assuming you're talking about disc desiccation where the discs in the spinal cord actually lose their moisture and begin to dry out. Almost all individuals will lose some fluid content by their 40's but this may start earlier in life as well, depending on a number of factors including hereditary, previous injury and occupation.\n\nThere are a number of treatments available including nonoperative options such as rest, heat, analgesics, physical therapy, and in some cases manipulation. Surgical options can include decompressive surgery or decompression with fusion.  In some cases, disc replacement is possible.\n\nFor more information, go to Spinal Universe at www.spineuniverse.com. Good luck!
776308
I am an expert on back problems.  Not because I am a nurse, but because I have the same problem.  Has he ever had an MRI?  He may have herniated discs by now.  If these are not checked out, they can lead to ruptured disc and that is very, very serious.  I had surgery eventually.  Meantime, use what I have been telling everyone.  Apply heat to the area for about 10-15 min a session, followed by ice for the same amount of time.  I really don't condone acupuncture especially if he has bad disc.  I believe it could make it worse, that's just my personal opinion.  Tell your dad I will be praying for him.  I hurt just thinking about him.  By the way, I still have 5 more herniated discs and It hurts.  God bless your dad, and you for your concern.  You must bve a wonderful son to your parents.
865760
Ive got a simillar problem to Yours! I have to bulged disc's #3 and #5 in my lower lumbar, and let me tell you there is no quike fix. I got hurt at work last Jannuary 2006 and after 7 epidurals I am now slated for a full blown back surgury! I feel for you! I have chronic back pain, and have run the gauntlet looking for relief, I've tried, Perscription drugs, Loratab 10's 5 a day!(Same as Vicoden but no acetemetphen/Tylenol) Alchohol (Makes it worse (The pain). I most recently am using pot! I dont smoke it, but rather leach out the THC into butter and use it as a spread for toast or abit in my morning oatmeal whatever, And I by God Works. But I am going in for surgury on the 27th of this month. And at this point, Though I have heard all types of horror stories about back surgury, I welcome the promise of relief. Good luck to you!And hang in there
1026715
You may need to see a doctor about it, maybe you managed to pop one of your spinal bones so now it's in a weird position in your neck. This can cause your muscles to ache like crazy.\n\nMy friend did something like this in Martial Arts she got whiplash and caused her neck bone (just one of the discs) to mis-align....\nShe had to see a bone doctor (Chiropractor) who then popped it back into place after a few sessions..... and made her neck better after a month or so... but muscles were still a little weak.\n\nShe left it too long before seeing the doctor and the mis-alignment caused her muscles around the neck to go weak.\nHence the pains....\n\nEr? you didn't do anything hectic the few days before you started noticing the pain did you?!?!?!\n\nSorry if I'm scaring you, but just a thought in case this might help.
1051686
It could be something as simple as a nerve being impinged by a disc, repetitive motion injury, or carpal tunnel syndrome, or it might be indicative of something more serious.  (Please see the links below.)\n\nThis is not something that falls under the "self-help" category.  Certainly, it warrants going to a doctor.  You may need to start with your primary care physician, who should then refer you to a specialist.\n\nI was hit by a car 18 years ago, and due to several degenerative conditions in my neck and back, I'll frequently experience the same thing.  There are many different treatments, should the experts find that that is also your problem.  Best wishes to you!
753836
I wouldn't recommend taking Prednisone for a long time.\nYou gain weight and your skin becomes more fragile.\nHerniated disc is a general term for back pain with a specific cause.\nHNP herniated nucleus pulposus is the condition when the jelly-like center of your disc is squeezed out like toothpaste into the spinal canal putting pressure on your nerves. A slipped disc is the entire disc sliding out from between vertebrae putting pressure on your nerves. Both are managed with physical therapy at the onset. If it worsens, surgery is indicated. It never heals, you only get used to the pain, less and less, everyday.\nPhysical therapy is designed to make your back stronger so the weight on your spine doesn't make matters worse.
512899
You could have poped it, or strained it. If you have allergies, this can be a sign. You may have tortacolous or something more serious, so if it lasts more than three days or comes back, you should see a doctor. Alive or Tylonol works for neck pain. Good Luck.
807590
By the time you get the scalp tingling, you have a pretty chronic condition present.. Any bumps you have had to the head causes micro-trauma to the neck... the result is the chronic inflammatory condition that is generally sub acute.. When there is any stress to the body (or emotionally) it can trigger that sub-acute stage into the acute.. To determine the actuality of what I am saying, turn your head from one side to the other and see which side has restricted motion. There is unequal muscle tension in the neck which is subject to irritation by movement. It involve several of the cranial nerves, as you outlined in your description. You may also check for tenderness to pain by pressing at the base of the skull. All indicators of an active inflammatory process .\n\nYou may find much relief by visiting your doctor of Chiropractic.. These are routine problems they deal with daily.. even after patients have tried everything else.