About three weeks ago I was diagnosed with a c6-7 disc herniation affecting my right upper extremity and torso. I lost 75% of the strength in my right tricep, pec, and lat. Wondering if anyone had any experience/advice with this injury? I’m scheduled to have an EMG and will consult with a nuero surgeon regarding my prognosis. I’ld rather not have surgery.
Is it possible to get my strength back without surgery?
It all depends on what your neuro surgeon finds. I would imagine that if the symptoms are stable you will go through a trial of conservative care to see if you can centralize your pain. If your symptoms are progressive then the situation becomes more bleak.
My experience only:.
In response to neck pain, loss of strength in my left arm (neuro exam showed missing reflexes too), and parathesia (numbness) in my left thumb and forearm, I had an MRI done in Oct 1994. Note that the symptoms started about 6mo post auto accident (I was rear ended on the freeway). I was 39 yo at the time of the MRI.
C2-3: Normal
C3-4: There are osteophytes arising along the ucinate processes bilaterally. No significant neural foraminal stenosis. No spinal stenosis.
C4-5: Osteophytes are seen arising along the uncinate processes bilaterally. No significant spinal stenosis or neural foraminal stenosis.
C5-6: A moderate right lateral disc protrusion is present with associated posterior ostephytes. There is impingement on the right ventral aspect of the cervical cord with compression. There is mild neural foraminal stenosis on the left secondary to osteophytes along the uncinate process.
C6-7: A moderate broad-based disc protrusion is present with associated posterior osteophytes. There are also osteophytes arising along the uncinate process on the left. There is impingement on the cervical cord with mild spinal stenosis. There is also neural foraminal stenosis on the left.
C7-T1: Normal
Conclusion: 1) Mild spinal stenosis at C6-7 with impingement on the ventral aspect of the cervical cord. Neural foraminal stenosis seen on the left. 2) Right lateral disc protrusion at C5-6 with associated spondylosis and impingement on the right ventral aspect of the cervical cord. Mild spinal stenosis and left neural foraminal stenosis.
The treatment was 2400mg of ibuprofen/day for 8 weeks with evaluation for surgery at the end of that time. At the end of eight weeks strength and relexes on the left side had returned; neck pain was gone. The parathesia in the thumb and part of the forearm remained and does so to this day.
At about ten weeks I worked up the courage to resume lifting complete with squats and deadlifts. I did not ask the doctor if I could because I was afraid he would say “no.” (I didn’t consider this a bad move as I had gotten so much conflicting advice from the various “specialists” that I didn’t really even trust that I would get a meaningful answer.)
In the 20 years since, lifting has never caused any problems with my neck.
Thanks for your feedback. I’m encouraged that I can recover conservatively as I have little pain and no numbness. My right side is much weaker than my left, but, I can already feel my strength slowly returning. I’m also going to resume squatting and deadlifting. I’ll have to be careful with the overhead and bench presses. Considering the decreased strength in my right side, would DB’s be a better choice than barbells for the presses ?
[quote]Jimwoop wrote:
Thanks for your feedback. I’m encouraged that I can recover conservatively as I have little pain and no numbness. My right side is much weaker than my left, but, I can already feel my strength slowly returning. I’m also going to resume squatting and deadlifting. I’ll have to be careful with the overhead and bench presses. Considering the decreased strength in my right side, would DB’s be a better choice than barbells for the presses ? [/quote]
Physiotherapy works well for this condition
You should probably get your cervix checked out…
Just kidding, good luck with your recovery.
Same on my left side, lost long head of tricep and radial side of forearm. Pain intense enough that I wanted to kill puppies. MRI shows C6-7 central/left sided disc herniation. EMG showed loss of neural activity.
2 surgeons wanted to cut and effect a fusion. One with donor bone from my pelvis, the other cadaver.
Went to PT instead. The therapist taught me to chin tuck and elongate the c spine as a matter of my day to day to open foraminal space. Did a lot of upper chest stretching to alleviate guarding in that area. Took a while but now all is pretty much good to go, though my L tricep does look different than the right.
The pain and tingling did persist but I go to a pain guy who has treated that with inhibitory neurotransmitter meds. Aaaah.
I make sure that I lift with neutral spine now, always, head aligned to my spine with a bit of a chin tuck for all movements, none of that chin up crap that everyone thinks they have to do.
Seriously, that period of my life sucked, cervical collar, crazy pain, fiddler crab physique.
Anyway, in all sincerity, my very best wishes to you.