Cervical discs, bulging, facing ACDF

[William Hutson]

C6-7 issue. Disc bulging/pinching off spinal column. Can see this in the MRI. Some additional discs higher up appear also to be starting encroaching. "clumsy fingers", sometimes headache, substantial los of strength left arm.

My wife says she's noticed my posture stinks lately...head leaning forward. Cause/effect ??

Doc says ACDF, and he'll also be using some sort of adult stem cell in to grow bone.

If anyone has healed w/out surgery, please tell me how they went about it.

Has anyone actually seen their own before/after MRI showing true regression?

Appreciate any advice. Within days of giving the doc the go-ahead.

Thanks.

Bill

[Mike Mallory]

Definitely see a mckenzie trained PT, and/or NUCCA chiropractor first.

I really can't stress this enough!

Getting the segments fused is only treating the end symptom of an underlying mechanical problem that you havent found yet. WHy is your C6/C7 bulging? Is your T-spine locked up, and it's becopme hypermobile? Do you have an atlas imbalance?

We refer to C6 as a 'slave joint' because it responds to what going on either above or below.........It never just bulges on its own unless you drop a weight on your head or something (acute injury)

Once you get surgery, you lock up the segment, and then over time all the other segments are going to go to. Typically it takes 3-4 years after surgery until the disc above/below is trashed......I know you may be in pain, but some time to examine your options; you can't come back from a fusionl which starts an IMMEDIATE regression.

[William Hutson]

Mike,

Many thanks for the alternatives.

Have you seen before and after MRIs on cervical discs, showing repair/regression of them due to McKenzie PT or Chiro?

Is it common?

My neurosurgeon seems cautious but is recommending I wear a hard collar while driving until I have them fixed. He's concerned that I may be "one whiplash away from lights out."

[Brian Strump]

Hard collar when driving? It's illegal in Mecklenburg County, in NC and I see that you are in Cary.

Most surgeons nowadays only use cervical collars in the most extreme(unstable) cases, post surgical, or don't follow any new protocols from the last 5-10 years.

Than, and +1 to what Mike said.

[Mike Mallory]

Originally Posted by William Hutson

Mike,

Many thanks for the alternatives.

Have you seen before and after MRIs on cervical discs, showing repair/regression of them due to McKenzie PT or Chiro?

Is it common?

"

Yep, it does happen.

With just a disc bulge, it should be able to pop right back in........herniations are more difficult to work with.

In other words, since you've got the structure essentially intact, it should be able to right itself.

[William Hutson]

Thanks for the details / advice so far.

So. Has anyone seen legit before and after photos of discs realigned due to PT, exercises, time, something other than surgery? How common/likely is this?

How long does it take?

Continued thanks.

Bill

[Steven Low]

Eh, discs tend to be variable from person to person.

Some can "unbulge" themselves with improved posture and such.

There's not going to be any real concrete answers for you unfortunately since there's a lot of variability from person to person.

Like the guys above said get yourself to a qualified professional... especially with the certifications above.

[William Hutson]

Thanks all.

Brian gave me a good lead for someone in my "neck" of the woods.

I guess it's hard to show pre & post MRIs. They're expensive and it's hard to get them prescribed.

I think I am going to delay surgery and try some good PT.

[Robert Pierce]

For safety reasons, never let a chiropractor touch your neck. Dissections of cervical arteries can and have occured. WFS:
http://www.quackwatch.org/01Quackery...irostroke.html
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/...e2=tf_ipsecsha
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/9/1424

In the absence of good RCT that show that it helps, it is not worth the risk, however low.

[Brian Strump]

Hey Robert, it's been a while. Was wondering when you were planning on rearing your babble again.

I'm going to keep it at that, since I'm fortunate enough not to work with any medical professions that that don't continue to find what few articles are out there about the dangers of chiropractic.

Even orthopedic surgeons would laugh at your garbage.