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Cervical Radiculopathy

Dangling Unit

Dangling Unit

MuscleHead
Jan 2, 2011
678
82
About 1.5-years ago, my C5/6 disc was slightly pinching off a nerve. My orthopaedic surgeon had me try physical therapy, but it didn't work. So, she had me get an injection in my neck. It worked great.

The end of this February, I woke with a pain in my shoulder blade area. Over a couple days it progressively got worse. The pain went from my right side rhomboid, through my blade, tricep, and forearm. The tips of my thumb, index, and middle finger were numb. Within two-weeks, my right rhomboid, lat, pec, and tricep atrophied to less than 1/4 of what they were, while my left side stayed the same. It was very depressing, especially when it was just a couple weeks from going to Hawaii for a bit.

We tried another injection, but it only worked a little. I went to Hawaii in pain, with an upper body looking like I only worked the left side. I was taking Percocet 7.5 three to four times a day, and that didn't make the pain go completely away.

When I returned, we did another MRI. My C5/6 disc was slightly herniated and my C6/7 was severely herniated. The entire C6/7 nerve root was blocked. My orthopaedic surgeon said another injection would be futile and I needed surgery, but recommended I had a neurosurgeon do it.

A couple weeks later, I was under the knife for an anterior cervical discectomy fusion and plating on C5/6 and C6/7. Recovery was easy. I was mowing the lawn and gardening a couple days after being discharged. My throat was sore and I still have a slight lump in it some three-weeks later, but no pain. I returned to the gym a couple days ago and did leg workouts, but without squats, as I didn't want to rest a bar across it and do something to injure the fusion area. The neurosurgeon gave me a prescription for physical therapy, but said I don't have to use it, because I'm active. He said it's mostly for the lazies. I'm going to go so I can get massages paid for by the insurance company. The total bill for the surgeon, anesthesiologist, hospital, overnight stay, etc. was $62,000 and change. I'm glad I have a $0 deductible insurance policy.

The bad thing about this is no one can tell me exactly how I herniated the discs. I have great posture (ballroom dancing helps with that) and don't participate in anything that would normally cause it, e.g. football, motorcycle riding. I grew up in martial arts, but became inactive in that about 10-years ago. The only stress I put on that area is the bar from heavy squats. Any thoughts?

Well, on the path to recovery, hoping I don't have nerve damage and can build this right side back to where it was.
 
DF

DF

VIP Member
Jul 7, 2012
352
65
Most disc herniations are caused by repetitive stress unless acute trauma is involved.
 
Dangling Unit

Dangling Unit

MuscleHead
Jan 2, 2011
678
82
Would the bar across the neck/upper back for squats cause that, though?
 
DF

DF

VIP Member
Jul 7, 2012
352
65
Would the bar across the neck/upper back for squats cause that, though?

Its not very likely that squats would have caused that type of injury. Things to consider would be type of work, past motor vehicle accident. A fall, old sports injury ect....
 
Dangling Unit

Dangling Unit

MuscleHead
Jan 2, 2011
678
82
Today was the first day back to working the upper body. I decided to just work triceps and ease back into it. For the next few months, I will only be working my right side. I was only able to use 7.5#, for 9, on tricep extensions. I wanted to cry. I knew I had lost considerable strength, but I didn't think it would be so great.
 
Warrior45

Warrior45

TID Board Of Directors
Nov 9, 2012
1,042
310
Im glad you are doing better and back in the gym. Keep your head up bro.
 
Zomb131

Zomb131

MuscleHead
Jan 31, 2011
1,125
264
They won't be able to answer how YOU did it.

Why didn't you see a reputable chiropractor first before medication and then surgery?

Bulging disk in the C5/C6 area would indicate a possible brachial plexus issue (C5-T1).
 
Dangling Unit

Dangling Unit

MuscleHead
Jan 2, 2011
678
82
I won't go see a chriopractor. I would've tried acupuncture, a Tibetan monk, and snake venom before a chiropractor. The MRI showed 8-mm (four slices) of disc pressing on my spinal column. The right C6/7 nerve root was completely blocked and C5/6 was slightly. Wouldn't a brachial plexus issue be caused by the herniated disc, not the other way around?
 
TheExperiment

TheExperiment

Member
May 29, 2013
46
3
When my L5-S1 herniated into the spinal cord, I was sleeping. I woke up and couldn't feel my left leg. I had played basketball the day before and stretched at night, but other than that, I have no clue how it happened. I guess the stress over time finally caused it to blow and I'm guessing that is what happened in your case my friend.

Hope your recovery continues to do well!
 
M

markoniin

Member
Apr 30, 2015
10
0
This is not a light disease please go to specialist hurry up
 
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