bulging/herniated discs in the neck and nerve pain

Hi Sherry,

My struggle with back issues started almost 20 years ago, with a couple of broken lumbar vertebrae and a fusion.  A few years later this was followed by a couple of blown disc in the same area, and then a few years after that, an auto accident left me with some cracked cervical vertebrae and fusion. So, I can certainly feel your pain! I now have chronic flank pain, as described by my PM Dr., that is nerve pain in the intercostal region.

As for your questions:

1) I have never had a successful cortizone injection, at least in my back.  I had an intercostal nerve block done a few months ago that gave me about 3 weeks of decent relief, but that was all.

2) I have not had too many (5 or 6 total?), especially since my lumbar fusion made a large bone mass down there and makes it difficult to get needles in there.  The last L5 block they tried they had to go through the tailbone - that freakin hurt!

3) I never had surgery for disc issues, but I know that times and procedures have changed since my issues in the mid 90's.  I wouldn't look at it as a bad thing if it is proposed.

4) I don't really know the answer to this one, but my guess is that the cure is it "blowing out". 

5) Nerve pain is the worse pain for treating I have ever experienced.  I am going to start sounding like a drug rep here, but I have found 10x more relief with Lyrica than with any narcotic.  My "normal" is far from normal, but we have to adapt, and I am sure you understand that.  I accept that I am never going to be 100% pain free, but anytime I find something that makes my days liveable (Lyrica), I certainly appreciate it!

Take care of you, and please keep us posted on your progress!

N8

Hey Sherry!

I am right there with you.  I have a herniated disc with impingement.  I am trying hard to cure it without surgery.  My PCP has stated that if the herniation was caused by injury/poor posture, poor muscle tone then it can cure itself.  He has seen discs go back into correct position with lots of PT, stretching and exercise. 

I have heard that this can take a long time; from one to two years.  I can't even attempt to answer your other questions.  I had epicondolitis once and was told that over time cortisone can deteriorate cartilage.  I had three injuctions and then worked hard with a PT to get rid of that one.  I don't really know about long term cortisone use in your neck. 

Good luck.  I hope you can find some good answers and I hope you can avoid that nerve pain.

Hi, Red,
I'll just share my experience with neck pain over a good 25 year period. I've never had cortisone injections in my neck, but they've never worked in other areas except my hands (for tendons - and that took a series of 3 injections). I think that cortisone injectins aren't designed to cure but to manage pain. If you can get 6 months of relief that's pretty good. Also, it means they are able to locate the nerve that is causing the pain, so possibly a radiofrequency procedure might work for you. I've not had one, but others here have. They injure the nerve so it can't transmit pain impulses, but it will grow back over time.

On the other hand, I've managed my neck problems with lots of PT - and I still do the exercises I was taught, and when things get back wear my soft neck collar for a couple of days. Also good ergonomics - sitting, computer position, standing, sleeping (I think we had the pillow discussion awhile ago), etc. My MRI showed bulging disks back in the early 90's. I've never had another cervical spine MRI and don't want to unless I something worsens. I will manage it on my own. But good PT, and even finding a good massage therapist (I am VERY careful about who I let touch my neck - PT or massage therapists have also made things worse in the past) have been for me essential. And the right stretches. Also, carpal tunnel surgery on both hands. I put that off for a long time, believing the nerve pain and numbness in my hands were from neck problems, then finally they got so bad I had my right hand done and the pain in my hands was gone. So there are a lot of things to check into before cervical spine surgery, but if you've done everything it may be time for at least a surgical consult.

Also - my strong opinion is that chiropractors can do a lot of harm to necks, and I read this in a Harvard study a few years ago, plus had personal experience with it. So I'd stay away from that for the neck (but does help with lower spine).

Hope this helps some!

PaLady

Thanks everyone! These answers helped me a lot. It's good to see the different experiences everyone has had.

PALady, yes we discussed the pillow and I whole heartedly agree that a good pillow makes the world of difference! But I too went to PT for a couple years so I learned the excersizes as well and in which I continue to do. I also have a soft cervical collar that I wear sometimes when my neck gets a bit "whacky". I do have a lot of hand problems (CT, Trigger finger, arthritis) but I doubt the nerve pain is from that. Because when I had the nerve pain, I was also having some bad issues with my neck as well.

You know, my SIL keeps trying to get me to see her chiro and she ravesa bout how good he is. She even has a bulging disc in her L area in which he is treating. I dunno, me personally, don't care for chiro's. They scare me! lol

 

 

   Dear Red,

     Good morning *huggs* It is really good to see you again. I hope you are a finding time to relax, youve got to be in so much pain. I do not know how you do it. I personally think neck and feet are the worst! I mean, how on earth are you suppoed to "not use" those body parts so they can heal? *sigh* Terribly sorry you have to go through it.

       You know, I went to Chiropractor early on. Now in my case, at first(4yrs ago) , my X ray were "normal". So, of course, I went to physical therapy and chiropractor. I kept it up despite the literal "constant lvl 5 pain". Literally every day. Was hard. The chiropractor was never able to "adjust" anything but  the area between my shoulderblades.( I was seeing him for, at the time, lumbar pain) But! That did provide enough releif to being upper body exercise. It never helped my lower region, but that was also my first experience with "stimulators". There was no denying those helped ALOT on my lower back.  Now I have my own TeNS unit and goodness! I just love Mr.T !

     I always say "couldnt hurt to try" but in the case of your neck.. I would be cautious. I have known many many people who have gone to chriopractors for their necks and it "seems" to be the releif is often only a day or 2. Just my impression thou. *huggs* I have no first hand knowladge of chiropratic treatment in the neck

*warm huggs*

     dani