New. Hi everyone!

[LAngel511]

Hi everyone! I am a 29 year old female who is newly diagnosed.

I want to share a back story. I was a gymnastics coach for years and was hit in the face and had my nose broken. My neck pain started soon after about 2-3 times a year and was severe and would last about a week. Very painful couldnt turn my head or look back. Being that I was so young no one diagnosed me dispite seeing different doctors.

Recently my neck pain started up (now going on 3 weeks ) and did not subside. It is the worst upon waking (very stiff and limited range of motion) and gets better to almost just an annoyance at the end of day.

My chiropractor who I love and trust sent me for a xray showed my reverse curve but thats it, sent me for an MRI and showed Moderate disk bulging and Annular tear at c5-6.

I am not even 30 and of course began to freak out. My pain is not horrible. It is going on three weeks and my third chiropractor appointment, I have been given a few at home things to do.

My chiropractor does not think I need to see a nerologist. I think I should? I am so scared of surgery because I am a hairstylist and mom of two (6 months and 2 years) no idea how I would even be able to have surgery.

Does this heal on its own? Does anyone have a similar diagnosis?

I am so thankful for this forum!

[Jim M2]

Hi Laura,

Sorry to hear about your cervical spine. Is your pain mostly central? Do you have radiating pain to your arms and hands? I don't know the anwer to your question buy it wouldn't hurt to see a neurologist or neurosurgeon if you can find one who is excellent. That's the challenge, finding a really good doctor.

There's not usually any way to rush into a surgery unless nerve damage is imminent. They usually require conservative treatments such as physical therapy and up to six months to let the body try to deal with it naturally.

Jim

[Maria]

Welcome to the forum! I was 28 when I first injured my low back working as an RN in San Francisco. My advice would be to get a 2nd opinion with a really good neurosurgeon. Not that you need surgery (I wouldn't know that) just that you should have a few really reputable opinions I think because it is your cervical spine.

So do yourself a favor and don't think about whether you could afford the surgery or the time off or anything like that just focus on getting one or two very reputable opinions. That would be my advice.

It could well be that a shot of Toradol (non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication) could help you out quite a bit with spasms and pain so you might want to check that out too. I get a 60mg IM (intramuscular) injection when my back or neck seizes up on me with muscle spasms and creates a lot of pain (like when I cannot turn my head at all or am locked into one painful position).

Also for educational purposes check out this website: ChiroGeek's Home Page
you can read about pretty much anything to do with the spine there.

Take care and keep us posted on what happens with your neck if you have time!

Maria

[LAngel511]

Thank you so much for your replies!

Does anyone know where I could look up great neurologist in Illinois?

Do I need to see a neurologist or neurosurgeon?

Jim- I do not have any pain or numbness in my arm at all. When I see my chiro he will do some prodding around and then I will experience the numb effect but ONLY then.

My biggest issue is waking up extremely stiff and in pain and by the end of the day it is 99% better. Its frustrating waking every morning.

Is my tear worse than the bulge? Does this sort of thing get better on its own? Or almost always need surgery?

[Jim M2]

Neurologist vs neurosurgeon? My guess would be a neurosurgeon is better for your situation. A neurosurgeon probably knows the orthopedic side of your problem better and this is the root cause of our issues. Your best bet for finding a good doctor is to use your network of family, friend and coworkers. There are a zillion ratings websites which I don't particularly trust but I would expect my choice of a doctor to at least not have a bad rating.

There's no way anyone here can answer the surgery question. I'll simply point out that symptoms do not always align well with pathologies seen in the imaging. With that said the primary factors for surgery are how much pain you are in and how restricted your lifestyle has become. In many cases we can't be fixed by surgery we just have to learn how to deal with it. This is especially true for back problems.

[LAngel511]

I am in pain in the morning. Best described as a very stuff neck for about two hours. Then it's like zero pain. For ten years now about once or twice a year I get flare ups that last a week. This flare up was December 1 and while it has improved as I mentioned above I am still in discomfort every morning.i have the tear and bulge but also moderate stenosis and a reversal curve of spine so I am currently working with a chiro. Although lots of people told me not to? I figured I needed a neurosurgeon because I don't have any Nero symptoms. When I am being worked on my fingers will go numb but that is the only time.