Please help! My dad has a herniated disk in his neck!?
602787
Try here for a better understanding of what could/needs to be done physically about his problem...\nhttp://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSENF000/9339/10131.html#diagnosis\nIf he has insurance, definitely start there and get him taken care of, as the problem could get worse. If he was injured at work, the workman's comp should cover. There are guidelines (national) that they HAVE to abide by. Get on the phone, hit the net, do whatever it is you have to do, and do it now before he endures any more pain, or his condition worsens. He deserves his compensation, and you might have to get a lawyer. There are many lawyers who deal only in comp. cases, and do not require payment unless there is a settlement. Take care, and care of him, and good luck!
137161
I have 2 slipped discs in my neck and was using a heating pad.  I found out that made it worse.  Now I use an ice pack.  It takes the swelling down around the nerves and helps with the pain.  Just remember not to leave it on very long.
756486
There really is no literature that supports the theory that surgery for cervical disc herniation helps the nerve root heal quicker.\n\nSymptoms of a cervical herniated disc \nA cervical herniated disc will typically cause pain patterns and neurological deficits as follows:\n\nC4 - C5 (C5 nerve root) - Can cause weakness in the deltoid muscle in the upper arm. Does not usually cause numbness or tingling. Can cause shoulder pain.\n\nTreatments for a cervical herniated disc \nThe majority of the time, the arm pain from a cervical herniated disc can be controlled with medication, and conservative (non-surgical) treatments alone are enough to resolve the condition. \n\nOnce the arm pain does start to improve it is unlikely to return, although it may take longer for the weakness and numbness/tingling to improve. If the arm pain gets better it is acceptable to continue with conservative treatment, as there really is no literature that supports the theory that surgery for cervical disc herniation helps the nerve root heal faster. \n\nAll treatments for a cervical herniated disc are essentially designed to help resolve the arm pain, and usually the weakness and numbness/tingling will resolve with time.
1036215
JS,\nI'm somewhat familiar with your situation as I'm pretty much in the same boat.  I'm 54 and have degenerative disk disease (DDD) with 11 herniated and/or bulging disks in my upper and lower back.  It sounds like you might have the same thing along with the scoliosis.  Have you had an MRI of your upper back?  It's not a big deal knowing it, since there's no cure or treatment for DDD, in fact they're not sure what causes it.  The bottom line with DDD is there's nothing they can do but treat the pain.  Injuries to the spinal cord or the nerves that attach to the spinal cord do not heal themselves nor will they "reroute" themselves as other nerves in your body sometimes can.  With spinal nerve damage, once it happens, you've got it forever.\n\nI've got a damaged nerve on the left side of the T3/T4 disk that's been causing me constant pain for over 3 years now.  I was coughing, of all things, and blew the disk out, which crushed or dented the nerve.  I've been in constant, terrible pain ever since.  Every hour, every day, it hasn't let up, not even for a second.  There's no "comfortable position," no way to ease that "ice pick in the back" pain I have.  It just "is" and it takes over every aspect of your life.  Sometimes I do something, move a certain way, and bingo, the pain shoots up near the top of the scale.  Sometimes it goes back to "normal" (around a 3 or 4 on the pain scale) after a few minutes and sometimes it stays up there around an 8 or 9 for two or three days. Sometimes I can do some particular thing without making it worse and then I do the same thing a week later and I'm back in the jackpot.  It seems there's no reason or rhyme to it.  \n\nI've had 5 Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI), which unfortunately did nothing but give me diabetes, one more thing I have to deal with.  Ok, I should say that the docs think the ESI *did* work, in that it caused the disk to shrink just as it was supposed to, but unfortunately the physical damage to the nerve was already done and that's what is causing the chronic pain.  \n\nI'm taking some pretty strong pain killers, morphine and codeine (can you spell "addict"?), plus I've just started Lyrica.  I tried Neurontin a couple of years ago but it didn't help.  I'm hoping the Lyrica will help this time and maybe I can get off the morphine, which, for one thing doesn't work all that well but also it has some bad side effects.  Mine aren't as bad as some I've talked to, but they're bad enough.  Yes, I know it could be worse and while I have a great deal of sympathy for others that are worse off than me, hearing about the plight of someone else doesn't make me feel any better.\n  \nI'm also taking some stuff called Zanaflex (generic name: Tizanidine) which, while it has some side effects, really helped when I started getting extremely sharp, radiating pains that went from the damaged nerve at the T3/T4 site, down the back of my left arm and up the back of my neck.  The Zanaflex stopped the pain right away and it's one of the best meds I've ever taken when it comes to doing what it's supposed to.  I stopped taking it for a day and the pains came back, so I know it's working.  Zanaflex is a muscle relaxer and apparently the pain in my arm and neck were the result of muscle spasms generated by the nerve damage in my back.\n\nThe biggest problem I have with it is that it knocks me out cold!  I've talked to others that have had different, intolerable, side effects, so it's not going to work for everyone.  I'm supposed to take 4mg three times a day but instead I take two of them (8mg) before I go to bed.  It has a dual effect of stopping the pain plus it's a fantastic sleep aid - but you better not change your mind about sleeping after you take it!  \n\nOne of the best things about it is that it
113398
I had a herniated disk in my neck at the C4/C5 level. I lived with it for 7 years. In those seven years, I went to acupuncturists, chiropractors, went through physical therapy, had medical massages, and many, many pain pills.\n\nWhen the pain gets to the point where you can't sleep through the night and you are having a hard time walking, then it is time for surgery.\n\nAs with any surgery, do your research. With this surgery, the surgeon is dealing with your spinal cord. Find the top 5 neurosurgeons in your county or state (depending on how big your state is) and go to one of them. I was fortunate. My surgical team consisted of two of the top 5 in NY state. The whole team and hospital were wonderful.\n\nBecause I waited 7 years...I have permanent nerve damage that I wouldn't have if I had gone sooner. Do you have pinched nerves because of the herniation? You don't mention how long you have dealth with the pain, so just keep this in mind.\n\nAlso, I'm not sure if surgery on the lower back is the same as on the upper back/neck area, but I had to pretty much learn how to walk again after having my neck worked on. It was very slow at first, but when I went home from the hospital, I had to go up three flights of stairs to get to my apartment, not an easy hurdle. \n\nThey cut through the front of my neck to get to the back, pretty freaky thought, huh? Honestly though, the surgeon said that from a surgeon's point of view, it was easier and safer to do the surgery that way.\n\nI wish you the best of luck and hope you at the very least consider having an MRI to see how close the herniation is to your spinal cord. You do not want to be paralyzed just because you were trying to prevent surgery.
31843
You MUST go see a specialist.  Sounds to me like you have stenosis in one or more of the disks in your neck.  There are several outcomes possible...your body healing itself with traction helping a great deal to let the disks "absorb" back in...anti-inflamatories, massage, strengthening exercises...or surgery if needed.  I am not a medical professional so I am just sharing what I know...but you need professional advise.  Good luck to you!
772004
Hi Ash.  Please consider seeing your family Chiropractor.  You may have a spinal subluxation, a rib fixation, myofascial triggerpoints, a hiatal hernia, or lots of other things that Chiropractors are able to diagnose and correct.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
811131
Come on people. He probably feels as uncomfortable teaching it, as you all do listening to him. But IT IS HIS JOB. Sooo when he said he feels your pain, he probably meant, "it seem uncomfortable, and like a big pain in the "neck" (or a hassle per say) but I do not think for one moment he was referring to it being any kind of physical pain.  Quit reading more into it then it was. The poor guy is just trying to do his job (too bad this is the part of it that SUX.)
582166
Call the hospital, darling. There could be something wrong with your father. And try to get him to stop drinking and smoking, that's probably what's effecting his heart. But you do need to call the doctor, NOW, if he's complaining of severe chest pains. Good Luck!
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!
218943
Sounds like a ruptured C Spine Disk.
926472
as long as he can get on a plane and sit that long.... but when he comes to CA he won't be covered under medicaid or anything for like 6 months, so make sure that's squared away before you do anything. A shattered vertebra, if it was treated with a vertebroplasty...which i think they usually do, it's just like super glue pumped in to hold the bone together...those work really well and are set within a few hours.... the hospital stay might be a day or two until the patient can handle walking around and all their stuff is stable....good luck
571284
You have my sympathy..back problems are so debilitating,I know,having suffered for many years,ranging from Sciatica to a Prolapsed Disc.\nMy advise to you would be,plenty of rest with a cold compress on the affected area,pain-relief and anti-inflammatory and a cream/ointment designed for muscle strain etc.\nMaybe you could ask someone to massage some Tea Tree and Lavender blended with a good carrier oil such as,Almond,into the lower back using as much pressure as is comfortable for you.\nIf any of the above don't improve your condition then I suggest you visit a Chiropractor or see your GP and ask for an x-ray just to rule out anything more serious such as disc problems or trapped nerves.\nI wish you a speedy recovery and hope you are feeling better very soon.
264684
Medication is just not going to cut it for a ruptured disc. In fact...I don't even see how you can stand to be sitting at the computer! You are probably going to have to have surgery. Good Luck.......
1024526
Try checking out spine-health.com. I've had sciatica which is when the sciatic nerve is pinched or impinged upon sometimes by normal wear and tear and sometimes by a strain/slight injury (even without realizing it). It can also be caused by a disc problem. The pain is real and it usually effects the upper thigh and sometimes the hip and can radiate downwards. I use ice and Motrin. Of course your mom should check with her doc to make sure she can take an anti-inflammatory if indeed that is what it ends up being. That spine-health.com has a list of issues dealing with bulging discs, herniated discs etc. The bulging disc can range from mild to severe but there are treatments available that are successful. Also there is a ligament (can't remember the name of it at the moment) that runs outside and just below the hip through the outside of the buttock to the thigh that even if just strained can cause much pain. It's good she's getting an MRI to determine whether it's actually disc involvement or muscular in nature. I'm not a doctor, just played a lot of sports so have a bit of experience with some of these. Good Luck.
254433
herniated disc 10-12-01. GET A LAWYER! the fact the injury happened on the job is the real issue, not weather or not you are working there now. If wc paid once they will continue until your doctor releases you. If you need surgery find as much about the surgeon as possible. Alot of times ins companies give you to the lowest bidder so be careful. Keep in touch if you need anything, I'm on messenger. Its good to know that you did report it, and start treatment. Chris 26 m GA
301241
I have mild scoliosis along with a herniated disc in my lower back.  I've only had one bout of very severe pain and it lasted about 4 months.  It was so bad it kept me awake at night and I walked with a limp and I thought I was going to have to have surgery but I really wanted to avoid that.  I went to a chiropractor and he did help the limp but the pain only got worse.  What finally helped me get rid of the pain was when my doctor prescribed a round of Prednisone to help with the inflammation.  It finally eased the pain enough that I could get some sleep.  After I finished the Prednisone and was enough better that I could at least function, he sent me to a Physical Therapist to learn some helpful exercises.  I had to do them every day but the improvement in the pain was definitely enough to keep me doing the exercises.  The next step for me was weigh loss. I lost 115 pounds and started doing all kinds of different exercises from aerobics, to running, to weight lifting.  I have been completely pain free for over almost a year and a half now and I managed to avoid surgery.  Good luck with your pain, I know it's excruciating and miserable to have to live with back pain.  I hope you get it resovled soon.