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Three months ago, I started feeling extreme pain in neck, back, and left hand fingers. I have had doctor visits, X-rays, nerve conduction study, chiropractor visits, physical therapy and a MRI. This Monday I got the results from my MRI of my neck. I have a herniated disc between c6and c7 and bulging disc at C4 & C5 and C5 & C6. I had an appointment with a neurosurgeon today. He prescribed Gabapentin, which is suppose to calm the nerve pain I’m having in my left hand fingers as he believes some fibers of my nerve are being pinched. Also, I’m to get an epidural steroid shot. I was informed that a herniated disc never goes away. I watched some videos online. Some say that herniated discs can be healed, others say they never stopped having pain. I’m so scared, I feel like my life is over. I’m only 46. I don’t want to be in pain for the rest of my life.

Has anyone experienced this kind of herniated disc before that can share their experience with me? What works and what doesn't?

Hi there. I feel your pain, literally. But your life is not over. It’s not a good diagnosis, but it is something you can live with and live well. I have C5-7 herniations with a bone spur on nerve bundle at C7 diagnosed in my 40’s, many of the same symptoms, including the neuropathy. I did not have surgery due to the number of discs involved and the degenerative nature of my arthritis. The prognosis was if surgery were done to correct 5-7, the problem would reoccur higher or lower in the neck. Instead we opted for the spinal steroid injections, physical therapy and a radical change to my posture and lifestyle.

Do you spend a lot of time on the computer without stretching? Do you have poor posture while sitting or standing? Those you can work on right now to help alleviate the pressure on the spine. Strengthening the core muscles in the neck and back is a slow process but helps in the long term. Self traction with a rolled up towel lying on your back can ease the compression and give some relief. Gentle range of motion exercises, heat therapy and stim treatments can help as well. The things I bought myself that I have used consistently over the years are a battery operated stim unit I use at home like they did at PT, some exercise bands and a half roll for laying on for a few of my exercises.

I have lived with this for decades now and the pain comes and goes and an impingement or spasm can set me back a day or two, but I baby my neck when it happens, take a flexeril or baclofen to relax the muscles and do my stretches until things improve. So far it always has.

The injections are a short term fix, and in the first few days hurt a little more, but eased the pain for a few weeks after. It was not a cure for me.

I did not try Gabapentin for nerve pain, but have family who did and hated the side effects, one of which was sleepwalking!

Degenerative disc disease is just something I live with but it is not debilitating. I assume this is because I have worked so hard on my PT and posture and avoid aggravating situations like prolonged computer time or overhead lifting. My follow up MRI’s have shown some improvements in the initial damage and desorption of that spur that was causing so much pain. As predicted, the joints above, C3-4 are showing desiccation now, which means I just have to keep going with the pt exercises and working my range of motion. A good physical therapist can teach you so much about the connections in the body and how to help heal.

I think the best thing you can do right now is not panic. Next, get into physical therapy, and educate yourself about neck and back posture. Don’t sit immobile in front of a computer for more than 15 minutes. Set a timer. My neurologist said computer geeks were some of his best clients due to the prolonged stress on the neck.

Best to you, hang in there, take care, and welcome to another shitty club.

Edited to add I do not recommend chiropractic adjustments for this condition and my neurosurgeon absolutely did not want anyone cracking my neck in any way. The potential for damage is too great. The body is amazing in how it can heal if you help it.

[This message edited by whatisloveanyway at 12:12 PM, Thursday, March 7th]

I can’t believe I wrote all that and forgot to mention how crucial a proper pillow is for neck problems. I have tried them all, and the most expensive were the least helpful. My go to is a down pillow in a sham cover that keeps it from flattening in the night. Whatever you choose, try to keep the neck parallel to the mattress surface, not bent at an angle. Some of my worst pain has come after sleeping on a hotel pillow with too little support.

Also forgot to add the nerve pain diminished as my PT progressed and the pressure came off the nerve bundle. I only get nerve pain when I have aggravated it. I got a book on Amazon called How to Heal your Neck, part of a series, including shoulder and back, which are also problem areas for me. Very useful exercises and education. Wishing you a quick recovery.

I just had ( mid January) an anterior cervical discectomy & fusion at C5-6 due to a herniated disc and spinal stenosis. Pretty much the same symptoms that you were describing. The nerve pain that went down my arm and into my hand and fingers was horrible and never relented. Steroids, gabapentin, anti-inflammatories, nothing really touched it. It got to a point where I could barely grip anything, my fingers tingled constantly like they were asleep.

I suffered for two months and had to go through the lengthy required medical processes. Had to have physical therapy for six weeks before surgery could even be considered. I finally got my MRI and got the answer I knew was causing the problem. I decided to forgo injections because it’s just a Band-Aid; I wanted total and permanent relief.

I woke up from surgery completely pain-free. My post-op healing is really more letting the fusion happen and being careful for a 8-12 weeks. I’m also in physical therapy twice a week to get everything strong again. I’m feeling wonderful! So much that I have to bear in mind that I’m still healing and therefore need to be careful not to overdo it.

I also have some degenerative disease in other discs but I cannot imagine going through the pain that I went through on a constant and permanent basis. So if and when the time comes and other issues arise, I’ll address them. I do not regret having the surgery whatsoever.

Hope this helps and sending mojo for pain relief and healing!

[This message edited by Lalagirl at 4:35 PM, Thursday, March 7th]

I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with this. I've not experienced it personally, but my H had a bulging disk in his lower back and it was horrible. He literally almost lost his will to live. Like Lalagirl said, insurance made him try shots, muscle relaxers, and gabapentin first, and nothing worked. At all. Finally, they allowed the surgery and the pain instantly vanished.

I hope that you find relief soon.

Do you spend a lot of time on the computer without stretching? Do you have poor posture while sitting or standing?

Yes, I work on a computer all day and every other weekend I'm spending 4 hours straight driving to pick up my kids from their dad's house. I hold a lot of my emotions in my body... and the muscles in my back are super tight. the chiropractor has mentioned several times that my 4th rib on my left side keeps moving out of it's proper placement.

The injections are a short term fix, and in the first few days hurt a little more, but eased the pain for a few weeks after. It was not a cure for me.

that's what I'm afraid of.....I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life.

welcome to another shitty club.

I need to stop joining such shitty clubs.

I do not recommend chiropractic adjustments for this condition and my neurosurgeon absolutely did not want anyone cracking my neck in any way.

Luckily I haven't let a chiropractor touch my neck.

I'm still trying to come to terms.

how crucial a proper pillow is for neck problems

Fortunately, I'm already sleeping with a cervical pillow.

I will definitely check out the book How to Heal your Neck

Wishing you a quick recovery.

From your finger tips to God's ears.

my fingers tingled constantly like they were asleep.

Lalagirl, that is exactly how my left index finger feels. It hurt so much I even thought that chopping off my finger would stop hurting but I know it would only keep spreading.

Thank you for sharing your experience and I wish you a quick recovery.

SacredSoul33, I can completely understand how your husband felt. thank you for sharing.

[This message edited by courageous at 5:04 AM, Friday, March 8th]

I need to stop joining such shitty clubs.

You just made the SI Quote thread. I snorted when I laughed.

I know ex-coworkers who have had similar issues and PT was very helpful for them.

A friend of mine has had to have some cervical spine discs fused and swears by her stimulator and swimming. The swimming helps her relax, so I'm not sure if it's the relaxation or the non-impact swimming that helps.

Good luck, and I hope you find what works for you.

I need to stop joining such shitty clubs.

You just made the SI Quote thread. I snorted when I laughed.

Well it's true....so many shitty clubs keeping knocking on my door to join and I'm such a pushover that I can't tell them no.... that or someone really hates me and keeps sending my info in to become a member.

This is something that you can improve the symptoms of. Do the PT, get the injections, do the massage therapy. Ask for muscle relaxers for bedtime. A big part of the cervical nerve pain is because the nerves are compressed due to things being out of place and large muscle groups getting tight and pulling thins further out of place.

As a former leader in the orthopedic arena I would always caution anyone from having surgery on their neck or back especially if there is an introduction of hardware. There is a phenomenon where the hardware wears down then next higher or lower Vertebrae and that leads to need for more surgery and so on.

As a RN for more than 32 years m6 lumbar spine and SI joint are destroyed. Herniation at every level, and pain secondary to it. I have a pain mgmt dr that will do injections and rasioablation therapy when things get worse. I also have stretches I do religiously to help decrease the pressure. Lost a bunch of weight to get that pull off my body as well.

Lastly keep in mind when you see an ortho they make their money doing surgery. See a PM&R dr. Work with PT. they can help heal you.

I really hope I improve. The pain has been constant for the last 3 months. I don't know if it's the pain or the meds I'm taking or if any of this is affecting my brain, I'm forgetting the name of things that I knew the day before, reading things wrong, and making more mistakes at work.

I have a family member dealing with this, too. Multiple doctors appointments, PT, cervical epidural for the pain and inflammation, etc.

They recently discovered a yoga program by former wrestler Diamond Dallas Page, and they swear that since they started doing DDP Yoga, they feel the most relief that they have in months, so maybe something to check out?

Also, like whatisloveanyways mentioned, they got a relatively inexpensive neck pillow off of Amazon, and that's helped some, too.

I have degenerative disc disease and a lot of spine issues. I have had multiple injections and ablations without much success. My doctor won't recommend surgery and next up is a spinal cord stimulator which I am terrified of doing.

I recommend doing PT and altering the way you use your phone and laptop. My symptoms are worse when I use my phone a lot or sit in certain positions in bed. Be mindful of what you are doing when symptoms get worse. I cannot do upper body weight lifting or much movement above my head like tree trimming for example.

Learning your limitations is the best way to help manage symptoms. I do yoga and pilates regularly but always have been athletic. I think it I was not as athletic as I am, my symptoms would be a lot worse.

I haven’t read the whole thread bug a chiropractor could do wonders.