Herniated Disc

Well, I have been having neck pain on and off since WLS in late December.  It has recently gotten worse, and I had an xray.  It showed a problem, so I had an MRI.  I have a herniated disc at C5-C6 area of my neck!  I am frustrated!   The doctor put me on no lifting over 5 pounds, no pushing or pulling, and no long driving until I see the neurosurgeon.  This all means that I can't work! (I'm a nurse) I couldn't even finish out my day today! So, I am home doing nothing until June 5, which was the first appt that I could get with a neurosurgeon.  So, I won't make it to the picnic.  A 4 hour drive is more than I can do right now.  Signed, Frustrated (Marilyn)

Marilyn, So sorry to hear of your health issue. I imagine it is very uncomfortable and quite frustrating for you.  I don't have any herniated discs, but I do have several bulging ones in my neck and in my lower back and I know how much they bother me from time to time. As difficult and frustrating as I am sure it will be for you, take this time to rest and relax and focus on you for a bit.  Keep us posted on how you are doing and what you find out from the doctor. My prayers are with you,

Marilyn I'm sorry to hear about your neck and I hope everything comes out ok......I hate that you won't make the picnic but it is understandable......take care of yourself and give me a call if I can help you in any way WENDY

Marilyn, I'm so sorry about your new problem. I have two bulging discs in my lower back and something called foraminal stenosis. Some how this is pinching a nerve and I feel the pain mostly in my right hip. I can't do much right now. All the weight in my belly area puts pressure on my lower back and it is very painful to stand and walk. I'm having epidural steroid injections on May 23. Is something like that an option for you? I think it mostly helps with the pain but not much else. I'm sorry you wont be able to work. Will your job be secure until something can be done for you? I hope so. Please keep us posted and take good care of yourself. Blessings, Karen

HI Marilyn, first off I truly understand your problem.  I just had C 5-7 fixed.  They were herinated.  They will have to do surgery. I had mine done April 9 of this year, they will remove bone and marrow from your hip to fusion the disks, put in a plate and screws to support the disks.  Now here's something for you to really think about.  I am in more pain now then I was prior to the surgery.  It causes me extreme migrains.  Everything in your front of your neck will be moved to the left.  I was in the hospital one day. Three days later I was readmitted for dehydration because I couldn't swallow anything.  Still can't.  Had my throat dialated this morning so that I could swallow food and liquids.  I still choke trying to swallow, it goes into my windpipe and into my lungs, causing me to asperate it out my nose.  I won't eat in public now because of this.  Make sure they do not put the tube down your nose as it can rupture your new pouch.   I have to have surgery again at 12pm today, and more on May 29th.  My right vocal cord is now paralyzed causing me to have to strain to talk and breath at the same time.  The vocal cords close when you eat, open when you breath. Mine stays open.  I am seeking an attorney.  A friend of my sons had the exact same surgery and it's been over two years. He still can't move his head, can't lift over 5lbs, can't even chop wood.  I had a new grandson born on May 8th, he weighs 7 lbs, after just a couple of minutes I have to sit down because the pain in my neck gets worse as he's over 5 lbs.  I don't even put on my seat belt until I am ready to go forward as I can't move my neck at all.  I have a strained whisper of a voice.  My ENT has to fill the vocal cord with gel so that the left side will meet the right side so that it will close.  It may last one month or 6 months,  if the gel doesn't work, then he will have to go in, replace the right nerve, muscle, and vocal cord.  So please becareful.  My surgeon just kept saying that it was from the swelling in my neck.  It's been over 5 weeks, I have no swelling, and I have no voice.  Swallowing even liquids is difficult.  I'll keep you in my prayers that your procedure will go smoothly.  You still won't be able to lift over 5 lbs.  It puts too much strain on your neck where the metal plate and screws are.   I know being a nurse, it involves a lot of lifting.  Just be extra careful.   May God be with you in this new journey.  Kathy

OMG Kathy, how aweful for you.  I certainly hope something can be done to help you.  I am planning on trying not to have surgery.  I am hoping that epidural steroid injections will shrink the herniation enough for it to go back into the disc.  If that doesn't work, I will go to Memphis to my neurosurgeon friend, Clarence Watridge with Semmes Murphy.  He is one of the best neurosurgeons in the country.  His daughter and my son used to figure skate together and he is a wonderful Christian. Anyway, I believe that he does microsurgery, and I would like to try that before I go the spinal fusion route.  Hope you feel better soon, you are in my prayers. Marilyn

HI Marlyn, the epidural steroid injections, are for pain,  and steroids will cause you to put some weight on. When mine were just bulging, I had to see a chiropractor and physical therapy to stretch my neck to get the disks back into place.  Once they herinated, the only way to get them back into place was for surgery.  The dr.s don't want to take chances that the disks will rupture.  I would check with your friend in Memphis for a second opinion.  Just remember if you can get treatments for the pain, and can still function without surgery, go for that first.  The pain pills (Dilauda) helped, but then it got to the point I couldn't move my neck to even look behind me when backing up.   Still can't, have to turn my entire body to back up.  Once I am ready to start driving forward, then I can put on my seat belt.  Should they have to do surgery, here's a tip, take a hand towel to put between your shoulder and the seat belt, especially if you are a passenger.  The seat belt will irritate the incision that.  If you are laying down in bed or on the couch, when you start to sit up, use a pillow to put around your head and neck to support your head, that will help with the pain.  I still have to do this and it's been over 5 weeks.  I finally went and had my son get my recliner out of storage so that I could sleep and sit up without the pillow.   Let me know what you find out.  You're in my prayers, I pray you don't have to have this surgery,  Take care.  I'm not trying to scare you, as others have had this surgery with no problems except they can no longer lift over 5lbs and they are limited when it comes to chopping wood, mowing the grass, certain house hold chores like vacuuming.  Becareful.   May God be with you Kathy

Marilyn, At first, my pcp nurse told me my disc were herniated because she wasn't sure what "extruded" meant so I did some research on ruptured discs. What I read seems to indicate that in many cases, the discs can heal themselves. Is this a possibility in your case? I hope you wont need surgery. Karen

Hate to hear about your news. I understand about the drive. You need to take care of "Marilyn". Bummer that you couldn't see the neurosurgeon, maybe he will have a cancelation before June 5th and they get you in sooner. I hope that you will feel better soon. See ya on the 20th. I will try to remember to bring pics from Sat for ya'll to see. Cheryl Cheryl