Herniated cervical disc questions
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?
14 comments posted: Thursday, March 7th, 2024
Need help/ suggestions... my fingers have been asleep/tingling for 3 weeks
Shortly after Thanksgiving I noticed a slight twinge in my neck, shoulders and back when I leaned forward or other position changes. One the way home from work the 2nd day, I noticed the tips of my fingers on my left hand were numb (thumb, index, and middle finger). The next morning, I was in excruciating pain every time I tried to turn my head or move my arms. By the time I got to work I was in tears and unimaginable pain. The pain felt like I had hit my funny bone but I felt it throughout my entire left arm and it was a constant pain that increased even more when I would try to move my head. Also, the numbness started moving up to my wrist.
I went to a chiropractor and they were able to reduce the tingling/ numbness (it had been slowly progressing up my hand and was at already up to my wrist) back to the 3 fingers and I was able to sit without constant pain. They said my fourth rib was out which was causing the muscles to tense. Then I went to a masseuse and they were able to get the shoulder/back/neck pain to stop. By that night I had a bruise from the top of my arm all the way down to my elbow. The pain in my hand still hurt so I went to urgent care (around 7 pm) where they stated that my fingers' numbness were due to carpal tunnel syndrome, my back pain was more than likely either psychosomatic response to depression or a strained my rhomboid muscle. By the time I was at urgent care I was having muscle spams in my back and arm. They gave me a steroid shot and a special splint to wear on my wrist in the evenings.
The splint made the pain worse and caused pain in my forearm. I went to my primary doctor- they said it definitely was something going on in my back and that I might have carpal tunnel syndrome that was made worse by the back/neck pain but it wasn't the origin of the pain. They had me get x-rays of my shoulder, neck, and upper back. The x-rays showed that I have early stages arthritis in my neck and back but didn't show anything else out of the ordinary. I was prescribed prednisone and a muscle relaxer. I was given a referral to a neurologist for a nerve study. The nerve study results showed no nerve damage, it is not carpal tunnel syndrome, and it is more than likely a pinched nerve between my C4 and C6.
My 3 fingers still feel like they have fallen asleep and are just waking up....it's a constant tingling feeling and when I touched anything I have sharp pain like being shocked and I can't feel anything else because they also feel numb. Sometimes it will get really bad and it feels like someone hit my fingertips with a hammer.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience. IF you did, what helped them? Or if anyone can recommend some exercises or really anything that could possibly give me relief.
I'm pretty sure there is some kind of compression of the vertebrae in neck area. I can feel a sharp lighting like pain travel down my neck, arm, and ending at the tips of my fingers.
I have been told an assortment of things of what I can do going forward for relief: get an MRI, surgery, physical therapy, massage, chiropractor and/or even pain management.
The bills are racking up (I don't have "insurance" it's a medical expense sharing plan 
) and I am tired of being in constant pain. I do take muscle relaxers every night... it doesn't stop the tingling but it prevents it from getting worse again. I'm exhausted and tired of being in pain. Any suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated/ helpful.
5 comments posted: Thursday, December 21st, 2023
What are your favorite movies and tv shows?
Another post made me think that we can help each other find new shows and movies to watch.
What genre of shows do you like?
What are some shows/movies that you really liked?
What are some shows/movies that you completely disliked or had to stop watching several minutes or halfway through?
I'll start.... I love scary movies these days, Pre-Dday the I have never seen a Friday the 13th movie or Halloween, Mirrors and the grudge scared me after watching those 2 I had my exh check the rooms before I walked in. I couldn't stand to see the bathroom mirror from my bed. And yes, I to pull the shower curtain back to make sure someone isn't in the shower. From either that anti-pressant or the depression they don't scare me or make hard to sleep at im
I like the scare and startles but none of the overkill of gore.
I like mysteries, psychological thrillers, who-didits, romances, revenge, some science, law order, dark
39 comments posted: Friday, March 4th, 2022
Just so weary
I’m just so weary and worn out. Work has been rough for the last year. We have been short handed and haven’t been able to get anyone to show up once they have been hired. I normally just "assist" 3 people but I have been assisting 10 for over a year. I have a heavy workload because I multi task and do a good job. I have been working they lunch or taking home work (I’m salary so I don’t get paid overtime). There’s just too much work for me. The company is nice and are family oriented but I work with a majority of men and they have wives at home taking care of their kids.
Meanwhile in my house the kids have been picking on each other… and me. I really wish I had someone to lighten my load or even talk to. Thanks for letting me vent.
8 comments posted: Thursday, March 3rd, 2022
Suggestions for mystery/ thriller authors
I'm running out of books by my favorite authors. I need some suggestions. I enjoy reading the following:
Patricia Cornwell
James Patterson
Mary Higgins Clark
Iris Johansen
What's your favorite mystery author?
27 comments posted: Tuesday, August 25th, 2015
Stupid picture Friday
183 comments posted: Friday, March 20th, 2015
Fun activity with the kids
So a friend of mine told me that when you open the package of a bandaid you can see a small glow or spark. I went through a lot of band aids (with the kids) 
It was really fun but we had a lot of band aids without wrappers. Last week I discovered that breathe right strips when opened can create a blue light/spark. and the best part is you can close the package and open it over and over again and you can still get the spark/light.
What are some fun things you have done with your kids?
11 comments posted: Friday, March 13th, 2015
Stupid picture friday
78 comments posted: Friday, March 13th, 2015
Stupid Picture Friday!!!
130 comments posted: Friday, February 20th, 2015
Stupid picture Friday
119 comments posted: Friday, February 13th, 2015
Stupid picture Friday
128 comments posted: Friday, December 5th, 2014
