Herniated Cervical Disc

[mmabox]

Hey guys. I had this thread in the Marial Arts section and thought it would be more appropriate here so I am reposting it. Thanks for any information.

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Hey guys. I am an ex pro boxer and have now been practicing MMA for about a year and three weeks ago I was rolling with my trainer and practicing chokes. We were going over guillotine defense and at one point we were going at it pretty hard. He cranked on my neck a little, I tapped and then after it was over went to sit down and drink some water. Both of my arms felt "different". The hurt a little but I thought it was due to the roll session. That night I woke up with excruciating pain down my right arm and shoulder. I ALMOST called 911 but managed to wait it out and go to the ER in the morning. Well, after getting an MRI, it turns out I have a herniated disc c6/c7. I have right arm pain specifically in my forearm, tingling in the hands, and VERY weak triceps. It has been three weeks and I have had two epicurals and am DREADING the prospect of surgery. Has anybody out there had a similiar injury and how did your recover turn out? This has really got me bummed and for now my training is completely off. Thanks for any info.

[Vizigoth]

I offer this advice from the position of one who has two completely crushed discs, six herniated discs, and bulges in every other disc: Hold off on surgery and flee from any doctor that is pushing for it right away. Most of your symptoms will ease with a little time and proper treatment. Hook up with a doctor that specializes in sports medicine. A lot of your condition is from prior activities in sports. Have the doc hook you up with a physical therapist that can ease those symptoms and offer you some immediate relief.

The reason that you are experiencing pain, is that the walls of your disc are weakened from age and multiple traumas. With enough pressure, the fluid remaining in the disc has forced a bulge to form in the wall of the disc. That bulge presses on the nerve going through the channel in the vertebra to the spinal cord creating excruciating pain. Right now, that area is massively inflamed which makes the symptoms worse. Keep ice on it to reduce inflammation. The doctor has undoubtedly got you on some pretty serious anti-inflammatories. Stay on them, and when they are depleted, start a course of Ibuprofen (Advil) or Naproxen Sodium (Aleve). Do not take those drugs together, as they are a bad combination. It is likely that one will work better for you than the other and only by experitmenting will you see what works best.

It is likely that the doctor will order an MRI to see what the conditions of the tissues are in at the moment. If you are a big guy, have them use radioactive dye to help the imaging process. I have a 50" chest, and if dye is not used, the images are useless for my doctors. As you were a boxer, I would expect that the nerve channels in most of your vertebrae are narrowed due to bone spurring from the repeated traumas it has experienced from all the blows you have taken over the years. Bone spurs (calcium deposits) add to the pressure put on those nerves.

If you run into a great physical therapist, you may be lucky enough to find one with the skill necessary to "fix" the herniation. After the inflammation has gone down enough, it may be possible to press directly on the hernia, and force the fluid that keeps it inflated back into the main part of the disc, relieving the pressure and allowing you to enjoy life once more. A great chiropractor may also be able to execute this tricky manuver for you. If they succeed in doing so, the wall of the disc will be weak forever and it will take very little to re-injure it, so be careful. I have had discs that were "fixed" in this fashion over the years. If the herniation is too large, such a treatment will not be possible.

As you age, the fluid levels in those discs will recede, and eventually the spine will become hyper-flexible as a result of the fact that the discs are all stretched out of shape, and there is no fluid left in them to help cushion the nerves and vertabrae. I have six herniated discs and two totally collapsed discs. I still have not had surgery to correct them, as I have never met anyone for whom back surgery was mostly successful. I have met many people that had back surgery that ended in disaster. It is certain that I will be having back surgery sometime in the future, but I will put if off as long as I can function. I gave up contact sports long ago, and that is sad. But, if you have bad discs in your spine, should you be doing contact sports?

If you do decide to do surgery, have a Neurosurgeon do the work. Do not have an orthopedic surgeon do the cutting. Orthos specialize in joint and bone issues, not in problems with the nervous system. Post surgery scar tissue development can turn your life into Hell. How well do you scar? Do you generate a lot of scar tissue or just a little? That factor alone can dramatically affect how well you will recover from surgery.

In the meantime, consider using alternative therapies, such as chiropractors, massage, and acupuncture. I use a mix of those three and am able to hold down a full time job and do photography in my spare time. Without them, I would not be able to function and would be forced to take the surgery route. Good luck, buddy, and do not move too fast in this situation. Doing so may cause you to endure a lifetime of regret.

[mmabox]

Thanks for the info Vizigoth. My one herniated disc pales in comparison to your condition. I can't believe I'm complaining so much! More than anything it is the frustration of not being able to work out as I was. I went from rolling with a world champion and feeling strong to not even being able to do ONE push-up! I am taking Oxycodone, Methocarbam, and Naprosyn which helps out alot but this feeling in my arm (feels like my fore-arm is in a vice) and no triceps strength is bothersome to say the least. The surgery that my Neuro wants to perform is Anterior discectomy with spine fusion. I will give it more time and hopefully it will resolve. In the meantime, I'm gonna take up a new hobby and try to stay positive. Again, thanks!

[Vizigoth]

I understand where you are at far better than most. I was doing powerlifting and had built myself up to a 1700 pound series when I was in the first of three serious auto accidents. At least my great strength and condition kept me out of a wheel chair or worse. The guy that hit me was killed. The feelings of helplessness followed by depression were difficult to deal with. In the space of seconds, I had gone from being someone no one dared fuck with to being the biggest wimp on Earth. My arms are like jelly now compared to what they used to be.

The pressure on your nerves is creating the clenching (spasming) of your arm muscles. It will get better as time goes on and inflammation and swelling reduces. Naprosyn is a brand name for the generic name of Naproxen Sodium. The best known commercial name for it is Aleve. If you are having to buy the drug yourself, you can get Aleve quite cheaply at Costco. You will find that simply by changing position will alter the shape of your spine and relieve the pressure on the impinged nerve. See if you can find a book called, "Strain and Counterstrain." It will give you an understanding of the mechanical aspects of the need to build your muscle groups evenly to keep the back properly aligned and the muscles loose, and less pressure on individual nerves. If you can't find it, let me know, and I will dig up my copy to provide you with author and publisher information.

Having the doc cut out part of your disc may be the answer in the long run for you. I encourage you to wait as long as you can handle it, as the technology is changing rapidly right now. Under the "Medical Procedures" Section, see what Liza Laurence has to say about Nucleoplasty. It is a fairly new technology, and there is a fair chance you doctor does not do it or know about it. I have seen great advances in Microsurgery techniques in the nineteen years since my first major auto accident. The longer I wait, the more assured I feel that my eventual surgery will be a success and the more likely I will be able to continue my life the way it is now. It may not be wonderful, but it is a lot better than many of the folks I have seen who have received poor quality results from back surgery. Feel free to PM me any time.

Viz

[scrappy2]

mmabox,
I replied to your post in the martial arts section. I was injured in the same area as you and had the surgery done.