C6 Herniated disc - experience??

[Barracuda]

Been diagnosed after a CT scan with a herniated disc in my neck at C6. Pain in left arm and also numbness in left hand ... am on pain killers and anti inflamitories till i see a specialist.

Anyone had experience with this re time frames/action/time off bike.......anything??????

 

[JayKosta]

In addition to what your MD specialist says, be sure to describe your desire for cycling and explain the riding position, head/neck position, weight distribution, road shock, etc.

I'd be real careful to not risk a repeat problem (which would probably be worse).

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[brianf7]

Is the bike OK
Do you have tingeling on back of hands or arms? if so see a neurologist quickly.

Tell the doctors to keep their knives in the pocket look but dont touch.

I had fractur to C7 which is now worn away and fused with C6 keep it warm and dry in winter.

Get it sorted properly before you start racing make sure no nerve entrapment but in mean time shorten the stem and possibly raise it so when you do start riding again you wont be set back with pain.

A good cycling phisio will help you ounce all is clear

How did it happen I crashed with a police car who was on wrong side of the road head on and put my head through the windscreen. didnt do my bike any good somehow it shortened the wheelbase from 1 meter to 1/2 meter

 

[Marva32]

I've got a couple cervical discs which are degenerating, and have the same problem of pain in the neck along with numbness and tingling of the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Thankfully this is intermittent. Dr. has me on pain relievers and has given me a couple of does of oral steroids. I have seen a neurologist, but right now they are working at just treating it as it happens.

I wish you the best with it.

 

[Barracuda]

Thanks all ..... no particular reason for the herniation....woke up a bit sore last friday (1 week ago) and has gradually got worse till CT scans revealed c6 hernia of disc. Not sure what to do between now and this friday which is the visit to nuerologist?????

I have a trusted friend who rides bikes who is also an excellent chiro...... any thoughts on a visit there for an opinion???

 

[Marva32]

chiro probably wouldn't hurt, what's there to lose? Might want to consider a soft C collar, should relieve pressure on the disc. Wouldn't use it for riding.

 

[JayKosta]

Thanks all ..... no particular reason for the herniation....woke up a bit sore last friday (1 week ago) and has gradually got worse till CT scans revealed c6 hernia of disc. Not sure what to do between now and this friday which is the visit to nuerologist?????

I have a trusted friend who rides bikes who is also an excellent chiro...... any thoughts on a visit there for an opinion???

=========================================
Asking your chiro friend might help ease your mind, but my guess is that with your having a diagnosis of a herniated disc, he wouldn't suggest chiro treatment until the disc problem is resolved.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I wouldn't go to the chiropractor until you've seen the neurologist. Do one thing at a time here, and it's the neuro that's going to be the most knowledgeable about your specific situation.

If you get the inflammation down and the MD sends you to physical therapy, tell the PT's you're a serious cyclist. Once you get a regimen, do the PT exactly the way they tell you. Don't skimp once you start to feel better.

 

[Barracuda]

I wouldn't go to the chiropractor until you've seen the neurologist. Do one thing at a time here, and it's the neuro that's going to be the most knowledgeable about your specific situation.

If you get the inflammation down and the MD sends you to physical therapy, tell the PT's you're a serious cyclist. Once you get a regimen, do the PT exactly the way they tell you. Don't skimp once you start to feel better.

Thanks all again ...... apparently this "occurance" could have stemmed from an aussie rules injury some 15years ago, where I was hospitalised for a kick in the neck!.........

Maybe a sleeping giant........ anythoughts on this predisposition?? interesting stuff.....so's morphine...

 

[Boeing]

Been diagnosed after a CT scan with a herniated disc in my neck at C6. Pain in left arm and also numbness in left hand ... am on pain killers and anti inflamitories till i see a specialist.

Anyone had experience with this re time frames/action/time off bike.......anything??????

was this a bike induced problem?

physical therapy all the way every day for the rest of your life. do not underestimate the simple exercises they give you. you might need a cortisone injection to get you over the hump but dont rely on them

bike fit and position was not the cause of my back issues but recovery in that position was problematic. i took time out then when the pain was less I altered my fit until the issue resolved

I went with a shorter stem and inverted the stem to raise the bars for a bit..

 

[dsut4392]

chiro probably wouldn't hurt, what's there to lose? Might want to consider a soft C collar, should relieve pressure on the disc. Wouldn't use it for riding.

What's there to lose from chiro? Apart from permanent loss of sensation and possibly even motor control of the affected arm (and any other areas where innervation is potentially impinged by the herniated disc), not much.
Of course, you might think that perfectly worth risking for short-term symptomatic relief even though there is NO evidence of long term benefit from chiropractic treatment of any sort.

On the other hand, a soft c-collar sounds like a very sensible suggestion as long as use is only short term (i.e. don't wear it so long you lose muscle tone). If I were the OP, I would be managing inflammation of the affected area (several weeks rest at least, anti inflammatory medication in consultation with your doctor) followed by slowly working up strength to support the prolapse (physical therapy i.e. exercises, not "physiotherapy" like TENS/Ultrasound 'therapy' which is as much snake oil as chiro).

YMMV, but if there is no physiological or pharmacological basis of action for a treatment, and no evidence of a measurable positive effect on the outcome of the condition being treated, I'm not paying for it.

 

[Barracuda]

Some rally good replies ... thanks..

GP has had me on Morphine, Anti inflamitories and panadol.... still got til Friday to see the neurosurgeon.......(now tuesday night)

Laying down to sleep is the hard part, hence.... no sleep......

Anyone a neurologist on the forum????????

 

[Boeing]

I am a chiro believer. however if you indeed have a herniation I would avoid the Chiro until cleared by your Physio

 

[Barracuda]

On morphine till this friday where im scheduled for a cortisone injection under general anesthetic......

Hoping this will aleviate the need for an operation however left arm is very week .....

Not being on the bike is driving me nuts ......

 

[Marva32]

What's there to lose from chiro? Apart from permanent loss of sensation and possibly even motor control of the affected arm (and any other areas where innervation is potentially impinged by the herniated disc), not much.
Of course, you might think that perfectly worth risking for short-term symptomatic relief even though there is NO evidence of long term benefit from chiropractic treatment of any sort.

On the other hand, a soft c-collar sounds like a very sensible suggestion as long as use is only short term (i.e. don't wear it so long you lose muscle tone). If I were the OP, I would be managing inflammation of the affected area (several weeks rest at least, anti inflammatory medication in consultation with your doctor) followed by slowly working up strength to support the prolapse (physical therapy i.e. exercises, not "physiotherapy" like TENS/Ultrasound 'therapy' which is as much snake oil as chiro).

YMMV, but if there is no physiological or pharmacological basis of action for a treatment, and no evidence of a measurable positive effect on the outcome of the condition being treated, I'm not paying for it.

Wasn't saying he should have treatment, but to go see the chiro friend for suggestions

 

[Marva32]

On morphine till this friday where im scheduled for a cortisone injection under general anesthetic......

Hoping this will aleviate the need for an operation however left arm is very week .....

Not being on the bike is driving me nuts ......

I had a series of 3 epidural steroid injections over 2 months 2 years ago. They lasted for about 18 months before I had a flare-up, and even that was not as bad as it had been. Good luck.

 

[Barracuda]

ok ..... so came off morphine on tuesday night and had massive withdrawal symptoms and huge pain on wednesday .... after trolling the internet found that icing neck for 15 mins every hour for approx 10 hours subsided the pain and am today(saturday) relatively pain free apart from a dull ache in left arm and thumb and forefinger ....

what to expect now prior to revisit to neorosurgeon on wednesday ??????? Improvement i hope, but dont want a relapse !!!!!

??????

 

[Archibald]

Thanks all ..... no particular reason for the herniation....woke up a bit sore last friday (1 week ago) and has gradually got worse till CT scans revealed c6 hernia of disc. Not sure what to do between now and this friday which is the visit to nuerologist?????

I have a trusted friend who rides bikes who is also an excellent chiro...... any thoughts on a visit there for an opinion???

Yes, do yourself a favour and go see a chiro that is Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) trained - preferrably with Somato Respritory Integration (SRI).

I smashed myself up by pummelling myself into the ground from about four stories up. The only break was my coccycx (I landed feet first and compacted in upright), but the rest of the spine was a mess - nearly dislocated in 3 places and no one is sure how I didn't sever my spinal chord in those places (C1, C5/6 and L4).

I can't speak more highly of this type of treatment in terms of the results achieved. After 6 months of regular "snap, crackle n pop" chiro, I'd improved but not by a lot. Using NSA and SRI, I'm now almost textbook correct in my spine. No surgery, no physio and none of that regular "snap, crackle n pop" chiropractic.
Physio only treats the symptom, traditional chiro fixes the partial cause, but the NSA/SRI will actually correct that cause properly.

even though there is NO evidence of long term benefit from chiropractic treatment of any sort.

I'm living proof that there is, but not by "traditional" chiropractic, which is no doubt to what you refer.
Your physio only relieves the muscular pain, but does not free any "trapped" or jammed nerve which causes the muscular spasm in the first place. Your "traditional" chiro will free that nerve, but doesn't do anything to really keep that nerve free and prevent the body from doing what it did to jam that nerve, allowing for constant relapses...