can't ride: C5-6 disc herniation home traction?

[jimcav]

So after 2 months of neck pain (really left trap) and numb/aching along a line from thumb to the back of my shoulder, I finally got an MRI as 1st step in a really frustrating series of health insurance hurdles to get epidural steroid. I have a "4mm left paracentral disc protrusion/herniation" that in conjunction with arthritis is causing "severe" foraminal narrowing with encroachment on the nerve. So as I sit in pain waiting for my insurance to authorize something, I was reviewing medical literature and see some positive results for cervical traction, but not much on the home versions--anyone have a result to share and give me hope? $300 home unit on amazon, or can I tie a rope to my bike helmet and to a 10 lb weight over a rafter??? This is a serious question--my doc just throws percocet or tramadol at me and i don't like those and i still hurt even if i use them (plus feel spacy)

[JWDR]

A datum of my experience. I have no experience with home traction but did traction 3 times a week for 10 weeks at the medical clinic and felt no improvement. The steroid epidural helped for 6-8 weeks before the pain returned in lower, less frequent form.

[pdmtong]

the home traction might help, but it really all depends on your condition.

my wife inverted her mtb a few times off the side of a steep drop. and after drugs, home traction, steroid injection, she finally needed a titanium plate to fuse C5-C6.

road riding is out since she cant easily hold her head up in the road position for long periods.

she can still single track, single track full suspension tandem, and lift-assisted DH.

[tylercheung]

It's really PT more or less. If you know any therapists, you can maybe hit them up informally for what to do on your own.

[vqdriver]

I had/have the same condition. A couple years ago i experienced a flareup of unprecedented pain. Doctors didnt want to operate and most just told me that it would self resolve in time. It did self resolve after a couple months and it sucked donkey balls the entire time. I tried all manner of pt, massage, chiro, acupuncture, etc during that span. Nothing seemed to help other than a stretch one prescient pt taught me. Its the chin to chest stretch which requires you to articulate your neck in a specific manner to be effective. Have someone teach you the proper method.
Afterwards, i always sleep with a neck roll and supported head. Its been relatively quiet since then, but that was a rough 2 months.

[OtayBW]

I have had nontrivial C5/6 problems for years and, for me, traction was the only thing that really helps. Of course, YMMV. Most effective was traction at a PT, but nowadays, I use an inversion table which is less effective, but IF the traction unit works for you, purchasing a home unit would be worth every penny. This is the single biggest fit/comfort issue for me on the bike.

One option, for home use, might be the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19UlUJvcQxo

Good luck!

[ahumblecycler]

My issue is at the other end - L3 - and I would not recommend shots. As said above, the pain relief is only a few months, but the side effects are long lasting. I will never take another injection. I turned to Yoga, specifically stretching/elongating style, along with core work. The message is that a shot is a band aid but not a solution; something that you are proposing with the neck stretching sounds like a solution.

FYSA, my PT (who was a woman) told me that nerves are like women - once you piss it off, it takes a long time before it settles. Even once the physical triggers are sorted, you may experience lingering nerve issues.

The key to find how to manage it. I still have hopes that the medical community will develop methods to truly treat bulging/deteriorated discs but until then Yoga is my first thing every morning.

I feel your (slightly different but still nerve) pain.

[teleguy57]

This:
FYSA, my PT (who was a woman) told me that nerves are like women - once you piss it off, it takes a long time before it settles. Even once the physical triggers are sorted, you may experience lingering nerve issues.

Mine was c6-7 bulge, took me six months of messing around before MRI and injection. The neuro told me the key result of the inject was to settle down the inflammation around the bulge so the nerves themselves could recover. Within a week of the injection I was back on the bike. When I start to get any neck stiffness this is my go to resource:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41gJcQL1kkL._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Good reminder for me to pull it out and get back on the exercises.

[Brian Cdn]

No med or treatment advice...
just well wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cheers..

[cmbicycles]

Have you looked into trac collars? It is basically a neck brace with an air pump that will gently push the head up to stretch the neck and can help relieve pressure. My better half had an auto accident followed by a year of PT for neck issues (still not back to normal). Was recommended to use the trac collar and discovered a set of still point inducers that also seem to be helping.

As always, being the internet and not being a doctor (or having stayed at a holiday inn express) ymmv. Check with your DR. or PT for recommendations specific to your situation. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[bluesea]

No med or treatment advice...
just well wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cheers..

Same here. I had a horribly fractured and herniated C disc in '83, memories of the CAT scan showing the bulge make me squirm.

[ColonelJLloyd]

I suffer from daily severe lower back pain. Mine was traumatic and I'm lucky to be alive and able to use my legs at all. I have experienced relief from regular stretching and did feel relief from traction while at the PT. I've considered getting a home unit, but never have. I've got enough titanium in my lumbar to set off some airport scanners.

In 2009 I received two steroid epidurals and they provided relief. Just a few months ago I received three in the same area and it provided no relief. What has provided some relief in the last few months has been getting down to ~195# from a high of over 220#. That extra weight was obviously more of a hindrance than I realized.

I have dealt with this for 18 years, now over half my life. Everyone is different, but I am convinced that a strong core (not easily done because many exercises aggravate the injury/condition) and habitual stretching/yoga can yield great results. It must be made a core priority in your life and I have not yet been able to commit to that. Life with work and a family including young children makes it difficult to commit to yoga several days a week, but I have friends for whom this has made an amazing difference. Personally, I just have to make that decision and execute.

I was told a few months ago that I will likely need further vertebrae fusions soon as the areas are substantially deteriorating. This is happening sooner than I expected, but it is what it is. It's not difficult to find perspective about that when I think about how I am lucky to be alive and to have a wonderful family to boot.

So, yes, I think traction (which is a form of stretching) could very well be beneficial to you. Anything you can do to improve flexibility and core strength while minimizing inflammation (diet) will likely pay dividends. Best of luck, my friend.

[TiHorse21]

So after 2 months of neck pain (really left trap) and numb/aching along a line from thumb to the back of my shoulder, I finally got an MRI as 1st step in a really frustrating series of health insurance hurdles to get epidural steroid. I have a "4mm left paracentral disc protrusion/herniation" that in conjunction with arthritis is causing "severe" foraminal narrowing with encroachment on the nerve. So as I sit in pain waiting for my insurance to authorize something, I was reviewing medical literature and see some positive results for cervical traction, but not much on the home versions--anyone have a result to share and give me hope? $300 home unit on amazon, or can I tie a rope to my bike helmet and to a 10 lb weight over a rafter??? This is a serious question--my doc just throws percocet or tramadol at me and i don't like those and i still hurt even if i use them (plus feel spacy)

Get a referral to a Neurosurgeon. Perhaps even a second opinion. This is, after all a cycling site and despite the good intentions by other's advise, not everyone's neck pain is caused and cured by same diseases or remedies.
The neck you save could be your own.

Jorge
Brandon, Fl

[CNY rider]

I experienced similar symptoms about 2 years ago.
The pain was significant down my right arm, and it really hurt for the first 30 minutes of every ride.
I went to a very wise physical therapist. He specialized in old school clinical diagnosis (that's why I sought him out) and we even came to a diagnosis without an MRI. Imagine that!
He put me in home traction with a pulley set and a frame that hooked to a large bag you filled with water.
He dispensed it to me from his office, which I suspect is what got my insurance to cover it.
I used the traction 5 o r 6 days a week and did stretches that he prescribed.
After a month of work, the problem was 95 percent resolved.
I still get some twinges if I spend a lot of time on a computer using the mouse with my right hand.

I would NOT just get traction equipment and start using it without a clinician experienced in treating this sort of problem advising me on how to do it. Too dangerous.

[ElvisMerckx]

I've been going through this for several years now -- three herniations in my c-spine. Traction does nothing and prescibed PT makes things worse. The only things that have helped are swimming (survival stroke only) as well as epidural and occipital nerve injections (and of course narcotics and alcohol, but I'm doing everything in my power to avoid those options).

Again, every spinal injury is unique, so get multiple opinions and try multiple treatments under the supervision of folks who do that for a living (and have PhDs hanging on their walls).

[BobO]

I had a C5-C6 issue for years that was worsened by a fairly nasty crash at the end of last year. Prior to the crash I had pain in the right shoulder (felt like an ice pick in the rotator), a constant dull ache in the trap, elbow pain (like tennis elbow) and numbness in the thumb. PT and muscle relaxers were somewhat effective at alleviating the pain. Immediately after the crash my arm was totally dead for about five minutes. From that point on I had neck pain that was worst at night, and debilitating arm pain. Nothing worked to lessen the pain, not injections, not traction, not PT, not even heavy narcotics.

I visited a number of doctors until I found a neurosurgeon who found some serious issues on the MRI including nerve impingement. He recommended ACDF (fusion) urgently because I was losing reflex response in my right arm and nerve damage was imminent. After the surgery he said it was, "twisted up pretty badly in there." I am about ten weeks post now, and I feel better than I have in years. The arm pain and numbness are gone. In addition, I am getting better power from my legs that I have in a couple of years. Doc says the main spine impingement likely had also affected leg function just slightly.

That's not to say that there aren't issues. My neck moves differently than it used to, but, my overall spine flexibility is better due to no pain in my neck. I have skin numbness from the incision to my chin that may or may not get back to 100%. Shaving is a bizarre experience now. Apparently my surgical results are not at all unusual, but, there are always surgical risks. YMMV.

My bigger point is that there are risks riding with a herniated disk. I did dramatically worsen my problem by crashing. Granted it was a nasty crash, but it can happen.

[Louis]

Shaving is a bizarre experience now.

One possible solution:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/92/13/4e/92134ef84239cd30c62b6bf6b34c6448.jpg

[BobO]

One possible solution:

Way ahead of you. :p

:beer:

[jimcav]

AND of course thank you to those wishing me well.
I am seeing a pain guy (initially for old compression fracture pain) and the C6 stuff developed after shoveling ice for my mom over x-mas.

I visited a number of doctors until I found a neurosurgeon who found some serious issues on the MRI including nerve impingement. He recommended ACDF (fusion) urgently because I was losing reflex response in my right arm and nerve damage was imminent. After the surgery he said it was, "twisted up pretty badly in there." I am about ten weeks post now, and I feel better than I have in years.

I expected to get epidural steroid injection, but now i have to get the contrast MRI before he will do it. And there is a chance he won't and then i have to go to neurosurgery. That scares the crap out of me as a lose family friend AND my late father -in-law both had bad outcomes for "simple" neck surgery. The simple outpatient procedure left him in a wheelchair!

I was really hoping to hear that certain exercises or traction would let the left herniation resolve/shift back. My pain doc is not pro-chiro or PT. My Primary care has requested PT, and 2 weeks on now and still no authorization.

jim

[BobO]

I was just trying to present you with a data point, you should of course, make the choices you're comfortable with. Good luck and feel free to ask me anything you'd like about my experience.

[thwart]

My pain doc is not pro-chiro or PT.

That's odd, IMO. Nothing to lose by trying PT. As CNY rider pointed out above, sometimes this alone can actually be the answer.

Some docs like procedures (epidural steroid injections, for example) a little too much...

[12snap]

My pain doc is not pro-chiro or PT.
jim


That's odd, IMO. Nothing to lose by trying PT. As CNY rider pointed out above, sometimes this alone can actually be the answer.

Some docs like procedures (epidural steroid injections, for example) a little too much...

I agree with thwart. Did your pain doc say why he is against PT? PT has helped me immensely with numerous injuries. It doesn't always work but more often than not it has. Have you considered getting another opinion from a different pain doctor?

[teleguy57]

Does your health plan require authorization to see a PT? In many plans at PT is considered a primary provider and requires no referral from a primary care MD or MD specialist. May be worth reviewing your contract.

And maybe consider whether you can see a different specialist? The neuro guy to whom I was referred did the MRI without contrast, then did the epidural under xray (or maybe contrast) to find the exact placement for which he was looking.

In any case, it does take a lot out mentally when injured and wanting to be better. Thwart and others have had much more serious stuff than I've ever had to deal with (he said knocking on his wooden head). Best wishes for you to hear positive stuff and have good progress.

[jimcav]

To be fair to my doc, he definitely wants to do steroid injection under flouroscopic guidance, that was from the 1st visit where i brought up my left arm issues. I asked him to try oral steroid first, which we did, and which didn't really help. Now I finally got the MRI but it was abnormal, so he wants the contrast mri to be sure it is safe to do the injection.

jim

Does your health plan require authorization to see a PT? In many plans at PT is considered a primary provider and requires no referral from a primary care MD or MD specialist. May be worth reviewing your contract.

And maybe consider whether you can see a different specialist? The neuro guy to whom I was referred did the MRI without contrast, then did the epidural under xray (or maybe contrast) to find the exact placement for which he was looking.

In any case, it does take a lot out mentally when injured and wanting to be better. Thwart and others have had much more serious stuff than I've ever had to deal with (he said knocking on his wooden head). Best wishes for you to hear positive stuff and have good progress.

[jimcav]

My MRI has a interpretation of possible syrinx vs artifact. So artifact is nothing, but syrinx is bad, so he wants the contrast MRI before doing anything. anything per him includes any chiro or PT--no explanation just he didn't want me to do it.

That's odd, IMO. Nothing to lose by trying PT. As CNY rider pointed out above, sometimes this alone can actually be the answer.

Some docs like procedures (epidural steroid injections, for example) a little too much...

[fuzzalow]

I have nothing to add as I have no experience with injury such as yours. But we have crossed paths before and I wish you well with getting over your malady and back to enjoying pedal revolutions on the bike.

[thwart]

My MRI has a interpretation of possible syrinx vs artifact. So artifact is nothing, but syrinx is bad, so he wants the contrast MRI before doing anything. anything per him includes any chiro or PT--no explanation just he didn't want me to do it.

Ah... then that makes more sense.

[jimcav]

Ah... then that makes more sense.

it leaves me in limbo and in pain and getting worse in terms of function and position. flexing my head fwd doesn't hurt, but extension (looking up) does and now it hurts when i drive. I feel like there ought to be an exercise or traction that could help and shouldn't create any sort of force to worsen anything--if i really have a syrinx I am not sure it would do anything to that either. just venting.. too much time on the couch

[BobO]

When my pain was at it's worst I found some comfort in my recliner fairly upright, feet up, with a corn cold pack behind my neck and my head tilted slightly forward. No heat, heat made it much, much worse. In addition in combination with the cold Allieve can help sometimes. If you can get some of the pressure off the nerve root you can get some relief.

[jimcav]

When my pain was at it's worst I found some comfort in my recliner fairly upright, feet up, with a corn cold pack behind my neck and my head tilted slightly forward. No heat, heat made it much, much worse. In addition in combination with the cold Allieve can help sometimes. If you can get some of the pressure off the nerve root you can get some relief.
i got a shiatsu massager thing on amazon but while it felt good while on, I think it made it worse. it has heat. i do notice that having my head flexed down a bit helps, so i will try your position with a bag of peas.

[BobO]

i got a shiatsu massager thing on amazon but while it felt good while on, I think it made it worse. it has heat. i do notice that having my head flexed down a bit helps, so i will try your position with a bag of peas.

Oh, I almost forgot, lumbar support helped too.

[ahumblecycler]

Try resting in the zero-G position, which is the astronaut position during take off to withstand physical harm and also what professional mattress stores use as a selling strategy. The position brings both the head/shoulder and legs upward a bit - use Google.

I find relief resting in the position although I cannot sleep in it - you may want to give it a try.