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Herniated Disks C3-C4

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TonKwon
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 54

Last year, i was diagnosed with (DDD) Degenerative Disk Disease, After i suffered a neck injury i was unable to lift my head off my shoulder for a couple days, went to the ER and it took the idiots a while to realize i had two herniated disks in my spine located at c3-c4.IThe doctor then told me i had to be physically unactive forever and that i would never be able to participate in any sport with contact. I went to massage therapy, physical therapy, and worked my muscles around my neck area so that i could one day do the things i dread to do. I still feel pain everyday running through my back and neck, but i'm still pushing. Any suggestions on what to do to make this pain go away?

Jan 19 2011 8:46AM
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maximiliaan
Posts: 7711 - Karma: 2,857
a sucks bro :(
one hint: look at your avatar
Jan 19 2011 9:04AM
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TonKwon
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 54
Yeah thats one thing that relieves some stress/pain.
Jan 19 2011 9:13AM
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derpina
Posts: 2186 - Karma: 55
Dude I'm going to the Chiro this week because I think I have herniated disks in my upper back! Can you explain the type of pain to me?

Mine's like super sharp, bone on bone grinding pain. It doesn't hurt when you push on my spine though, only when I move it. Is that the type of pain you have?
Jan 19 2011 12:03PM
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TonKwon
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 54
Disk herniation is painful in itself. When you get herniated disks there is a lot of other pains you'll feel that come along with it. Firstly, you'll start to get muscle spasms, when you get really bad knots in your neck or back, this is the worst pain ive ever felt hands down. also you will get numbness in your hands in fingers, according to how bad your disc is bulging also in your feet and knees. Any other questions you have im willing to answer, ive been living with this condition for almost 2 years now and i know plenty of ways to work around it. Also, when the weather is gloomy, you will in fact feel gloomy too. But as far as grinding bone to bone pain, yes that is from disc herniation, its because your disc is no longer supporting your spinal cord which causes it to grind.
Jan 19 2011 12:44PM
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derpina
Posts: 2186 - Karma: 55
Thanks for the feedback. BTW... if you're in that much pain for that long now why don't you have surgery to remove the disks and get them fused?
Jan 19 2011 1:55PM
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icon1234
Posts: 3081 - Karma: 1,475
prolly cuz spine surgery is serious business.
Jan 19 2011 2:01PM
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sunnyskiing
Posts: 41 - Karma: 15
FYI,  Chiropractors are not doctors.  Sounds like you will be receiving some spinal fusion in your future.  Then the pain killer will be Oxycontin, which works excellent!
Jan 19 2011 2:07PM
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derpina
Posts: 2186 - Karma: 55
Yeah I know, I had two this summer. If he's in that much pain and nothing else is working it sounds like that would be a good next step...
Jan 19 2011 2:08PM
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=FLO=
Posts: 1969 - Karma: 39

I have DDD as well. Herniated L4-L5 and L5-S1 really badly back in 2002.  Nothing took the pain away, i eventually had a discectamy to repair the discs.  This helped take the pain away immediately, but because of my DDD my discs wore down to the point they were gone and my vertebrae were scraping on each other.  I had a L4-S1 fusion in July of 2009.  It took alot of rehab but I am happy to say that I am living pain free.  Surgery could be in your future, but it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

And to the guy above who said get some Oxy's - don't.  It is the most addictive substance there is, next to heroin.  It is not worth going through addiction/withdrawals doubled with your back issues.  I have been through some serious issues with my back problems, and take my advice,  just stick to regular vicodin.  It will help the pain enough to live.  As soon as you move on to oxycontin/oxymorphone you will be an addict, no doubt about it.  Just rehab as hard as you can if that does not do it then a discectamy/laminectamy may be required.

Have you had epidural steroid injections yet?  They work for alot of people.  What does your MRI look like?  Is there enough disc left that the docs say it can be rehabbed or repaired?  Feel free to PM me with any questions.  If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to stay away from pain killers, they are so fucked up and ruin so many lives before you know it.

Jan 19 2011 2:18PM
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TonKwon
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 54

Thank you for someone else in the same boat as i am. My MRI shows that my discs are about 1 inch from my spine, meaning i would be paralyzed from the neck down as soon as they touch them. There is also a piece of calcium (Bone)  in between C3 which the doctor said he has NEVER seen before in an MRI or never even heard of before. Its not hurting, but its definetly not helping me out at all. And i thought about surgery, but the thing is im only 17 years old and risking a surgery like that could mean i could be in more pain that what i started with, and those are practically the exact words that the doctor said to me. In the future this may be a good route, but for now im just doing everything i can so i can ski in pursue in lacrosse indoor and out, In all is it worth it??

Jan 19 2011 3:17PM
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=FLO=
Posts: 1969 - Karma: 39
You need to see a spine specialist, or I would suggest a neurosurgeon.  You need an expert opinion on this one for sure.
Jan 19 2011 4:09PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
Weird....I always thought DC = DOCTOR of Chiropractic. But what do I know?

And Oxy, while fun, is a VERY dangerous rode to venture down.

Take =FLO='s advice. He speaks the truth.
Jan 19 2011 4:17PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
*road
Jan 19 2011 4:18PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
ha chiropractors are as qualified in medicine as accountants. See a specialist.
Jan 19 2011 4:31PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
in this specific instance, a specialist is certainly warranted, but to say that chiropractors aren't qualified in providing health care is ignorant.
Jan 19 2011 4:52PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
It's good to see that there are still signs of intelligent life on NS. Most people don't realize how rigorous their schooling is.

but i guess the fact that they are recognized as primary care physicians still doesn't mean they're doctors though.
Jan 19 2011 5:06PM
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