Neck Injuries: Herniated Disc

You are in a car accident.  Everything seems okay, no serious injuries.  You exchange information and file a police report.  You obtain temporary transportation and schedule for you car to get fixed.  


You wake up the next morning and you are stiff and sore.  Okay, you were in a car accident, it's to be expected.  Two weeks later....you can barely move.  What the heck?

You go to the Doctor and x-rays are taken.  You are now experiencing "tingling" or "numbness" in your fingers or hands.  

This is my story:

Pictured borrowed and owned by:  Laser Spine Institute

I thought I was fine until the pain happened two weeks later.  I couldn't adjust to the tingling in my fingers one day and the numbness the next.  After MONTHS of treatment I was sent for a MRI only to discover that I had an extruded herniated disc at C5/C6 and C6/C7.  It was explained to me in very technical terms which of course went over my head.  What I did learn and what I finally understood was this:  The "gel" that cushions the discs in my neck was extruding out and pushing on the nerves which caused my neck and arm pain plus the tingling or numbness sensation.  I went through months of pain and discomfort for something that could have been discovered much earlier had I know what I should have done.
I should have:

• Gone to the Doctor immediately after my car accident
• When the x-rays showed "nothing" wrong I should have insisted on a MRI

Pictured borrowed and owned by:  Laser Spine Institute 

Here's the thing:  As with all professions there are some out there that give the good Doctors a bad name.  I will not say that my Chiropractor was "bad" but I will say that it took too long for me to be referred out to get a MRI therefore took too long to be treated correctly.  I was treated and I did "feel" better; was able to stand up (the pain caused me to hunch over) and I was able to function, somewhat, normally...BUT my problem was not corrected or treated correctly until months later.  

My options were continue (correct) treatment, injections or surgery.  I opted for injections....met with the surgeon and was explained:  90% will find relief, 5% the injection will not help and 5% chance that it "may" make the situation worse.  Good odds, right?  Well, I fell into the 5% and since my injection have experienced a dull headache each and every minute of each and every day with days having excruciating headaches.

The point:  Find a Doctor who's first and only goal is to make you better, not file insurance claims.  Find a Doctor  who wants to KNOW what they are dealing with from the beginning of treatment.  And lastly, ASK QUESTIONS!!  Any good Doctor wants YOU to know what is going on.   Be a participant in your treatment not an observer.  

Knowing is Power....Trust is dangerous if put into the wrong hands.  You need to trust your Doctor but only if they deserve your trust and involve you in your treatment.  

What is your story?

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