Bulging/herniated disc in neck....home remedies?

[Dueller]

I think I'm developing a herniated/bulging disc in my lower neck. Slight pain where neck meets shoulders, tingling/pain radiating to right shoulder down right arm to mid-forearm.

Any home remedies/exercisies/etc for relief? Reason I don't want to go to doc just yet is I'm trying to change insurance coverage and don't want a diagnosis before I change due to pre-existing exclusions.

Another fine commentary on our messed up health care system in this country.

[Rikao4]

well if you wait long enough the pain and tingling will stop..
as will the use of your arm..
remedy..go see Dr.
D..don't screw around with this..
if you do..you will yourself fk'd..
lost the use of my L. (dominant) arm for a few months..
brachial nerve damage..not fun...
for grins..stick offending arm/hand into pocket..
now go about your day..
this is what could happen quickly ..
mine set in within 24 hrs..

go see a Dr.

Rika

[ramonesfreak]

there is not much you should do until you know for sure what the problem is. if your disc is encroaching a nerve, you dont want to be doing exercises that can make it worse.

[pmajka]

Dr will give you pills and send you to Physical therapy....which is more excercise...
Consult with a Chiropractor. He/She will at least tell you if they can do somthing to fix it.

[ramonesfreak]

if you have radicular symptoms, the usual protocol is to get an MRI before ordering PT. im no doctor but the majority of my clients involve spine injuries. its stupid to go to PT or a chiro without knowing how the nerve is being involved

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by srandallf

if you have radicular symptoms, the usual protocol is to get an MRI before ordering PT. im no doctor but the majority of my clients involve spine injuries. its stupid to go to PT or a chiro without knowing how the nerve is being involved

If a Chiro so much as touches your back without at LEAST a full x-ray set, preferably an MRI, then don't ever go there again. They should march you right out of the office until you have that info.

[TheMentat]

Tighten a hose clamp around your neck to try to pop it back in.

[dhoward]

Goose grease and Jimson-weed poultice.

[gr8fl4porsche]

As stated, MRI is the answer.

[azasadny]

Get to a real Dr immediately, not a chiropractor.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by azasadny

Get to a real Dr immediately, not a chiropractor.

Chiropractors are real doctors. They simply do not do x-rays and MRIs generally. Some do, if you can find them.

Oh, you mean "real doctor" as in "someone who will pump you full of drugs instead of solving the problem"?

[sailchef]

Every morning I stand under the shower with the nozzle adjusted for the heavy massage type of spray, not the fine mist (doesn't do anything) I let the warm to hot water massage my neck and back for at least 10-15 minutes every day while I do a little "soft" stretching in the shower at the same time to work it all out. This has been a morning tradition everyday for the last 10 - 15 years. Its cured a lot of pain.

[madmmac]

Do not go to a chiropractor first.

I was having similar symptoms as you and I went to a chiropractor for the first time in my life--at 45. 1 because I knew him and 2 because he was close and convenient.

He took a full set of x-rays and determined that my atlas was out by x-amount of degrees. Did a starting "mild" according to him adjustment and I left. Nothing else remarkable "appeared" to him in the x-rays.

A few hours later I was in excruciating pain.

I then went to my regular Dr. who sent me in for an MRI. One ruptured cervical disc and one herniated.

Regular Dr sent me to a specialist who stated that a chiropractic adjustment could have left me paralyzed.

Go to a regular Dr and do not put it off. The best relief I got at home was an over the door traction device like this http://www.amazon.com/OTC-Over-Cervical-Traction-Complete/dp/B000JNLT0I/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1241038077&sr=8-3
about 20 minutes at a time a few times a day.

Good luck,

[Bill Douglas]

Anti-inflamatories (voltaren). And keep your neck straight. In other words bring your chin in until you have a "double chin" then relax it a bit.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by madmmac

Do not go to a chiropractor first.

This is probably the best advice you will get.

[Pazuzu]

HOWEVER. Once you have a good idea of what is going on from said MRI, you CAN and possible SHOULD go to the Chiropractor. They are fully capable of giving a full adjustment even when you have disk issues, as long as they have the X-ray/MRI reports. The help that they give will make your disk therapy work better, because they will get your core system back in shape, so your body can take the strain off of the damaged disk.

If you go to one who seems uncomfortable dealing with disk issues, OR who doesn't seem to care, then go somewhere else. Yes, there are lots of crappy Chiros but the rest of them will help you.

[Tobra]

This thread is intended as a joke, right? Go to a doctor, do not pass go, do not collect $200

[gchappel]

If you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express- you could take a knife, dip it in alcohol and make a small incision....................
Go to a Doctor
Gary

[LWJ]

Ok. First, lets discuss the insurance piece. I assume you have an individual plan? Yes? If so, there is a pre-existing exclusion in Oregon (I can't talk about other states) for 6 months. If this is GROUP coverage, there is NO pre-existing exclusion (in Oregon). If you are talking about a group plan, this may be a non-issue.

Second, I have had a similar issue. The above advice is correct. Get it looked at by a doctor. MRI's are best. Chiros can give help. They can hurt as well. I was prescribed traction as discussed above. It may have helped or I may have just healed. It is all kind of a dark science.

Good luck.
Larry

[targa911S]

Get a foam collar, wear it all the time. get a neck pillow for your bed. use heat and ice alternating for 20 minutes each. Start and finish with ice. Do 2 reps of each. Use anti inflammetories. Rest and do not drive, you probably already know how much motion hurts. I'm no doctor but I had what you have and that's what they made me do.