Learn me.. Herniated disc in neck.

On second thought, never mind... I am already living this. And I don't like it. Just needed to vent.

Here's all you need to know: You don't want one of those.

Are you self medicating or were you prescribed something?

I like whiskey.

I had a good friend with one. He went in for surgery to have it fused. It worked for about 8 months and the next disk down in his neck failed worse than the first. It is apparently a common occurrence with that surgery.

I've got two in my neck and one in my lower back. They suck. A lot.

Doctors don't want to do surgery because what was mentioned above. Fusing disks just put more load on the others around it.

Ice, heat, massage, and PT are the only things that work (temporarily) for me. Lower and upper epidural injections hardly do anything.

I’ve had mine since January 17th, 1994 (Northridge Earthquake). I’ve found that sleeping on my back and using my pillow as a fulcrum to let the mass of my head exert a slight negative pressure on my vertebra keeps the pain from escalating to intolerable levels.

I see you live in Maryland…how would you feel about moving to Colorado or California or…well, you know.

And now I have more questions to ask the doctors. Thanks all...

I have had 2 fusions. First was in 1995 as a result of a car accident. No problems until 2014 when I got rear ended at a stop light. Now fused at c4/5/6. I have no issues at this point. Before the surgeries I was unable to work and mostly chair bound. Try alternative therapy first, but don't rule out surgery if that doesn't work for you. I did 3 months of physical therapy before the 2nd surgery with no real improvement.

I have 3 but didn't know or feel it until my hand stopped functioning. I've starting doing neck rotations and stretches in a hot shower and while in the pool 3 times a week. That and sleeping with proper neck support and only on the back had made solid progress.

Constant maintenance :-( Had one for about three years now. I make sure my computer monitor is elevated, and don't spend too much time with my neck bent in the wrong position. Stretches are good, looking at the ceiling helps.

I have lower back issues; 3 ruptured discs and facet arthropathy with a collapsed nerve canal.

The nerve canal hasn't caused any pain or problems so they have put off surgery and gave me a few injections. From what I understand, you want to do everything you can to avoid surgery unless its your last option.

So far the injections have done well (got them October of 2015). I'm constantly doing physical labor and it has kept things to a dull ache, but at least none of the crazy spasms that put me out for weeks.

In reply to RX Reven':

Maryland has that as well, a certificate system as opposed to a card. Currently no dispensaries, but it's reciprocal with D.C. on transport for getting scripts filled.

Do you have access to a warm or hot pool? If so I can give you a walk through on a few simple water stretches that help a ton