neck and back pain- numb hands

[Bab?k]

Hello everyone! Im so glad I stumbled across this forum! Like most people on here- Im desperate for help and advice.

Im 36, and since last August, Ive been suffering from numbness and pins and needles in both hands. A few weeks later I started to get some neck pain although nothing severe. After many upsetting visits to the GP ( who swore I was suffering from depression and it was all in my head!) I self referred to physio who then , after a few weeks unsuccessful treatment, sent me for an MRi. after weeks of allsorts of theories ( carpal tunnel etc) Ive now discovered I have bulging discs in my neck, thoracic and lumbar regions ( have awful sciatica too).
Ive also been seeing a chiropracter for 2 months but nothing has improved.

The reason Im so destroyed over this is because Im a professional artist, My hands seem to be getting worse with permanent pins and needles. I dont really have much neck pain although they reckon the cervical disc is the culprit. I get a lot of pain in the thoracic and lumbar area though.

Im desperate not to have surgery- is there anyone out there who has suffered anything similar and has a story to tell? They say they are just going to keep their eye on me but my main concern is permanent damage to my hands- they are my life!

Im so upset and cant face thinking about what might happen. Is there anyone who can please help?

Thanks....sorry to moan!

Kathy x

 

[ARok5]

Hi there

Sorry to hear of your problems.

may I suggest that you have a look at the Bowen technique as a gentle hands-on therapy which may be helpful to you.

There is a forum on this site but also try [link=http://www.bowtech.com]www.bowtech.com[/link] and read some of the information on this site or just put Bowen Technique into the search engine and have a read.

I must confess here that, as a Bowen therapist, I am biased, but also find that Bowen can help people with many difficult to resolve problems.

Best wishes

JJ

 

[Alper Tunga K]

Hi Katink,

It seems that you have dislocated and / or pinched nerves in you neck, back and possibly in your shoulders.

What I would suggest to you, is to see an excelent Massage Therapist and tell him / her what you are going through and he / she will help you quite a bit. I am not sure that they will relieve all of your problems as it requires special skills to reset dislocated and / pinched nerves.

Good Luck

Joe

 

[Pierra]

I too have those symptoms and I insisted on seeing a orthopod for a second opinion, he thinks I have a compressed cord because of a displaced C7 in my neck. If it is they can fix it by surgery. I am having a MRI today.

I hope they do surgery as I think not having it treated could be a major problem if I get shunted in the car, whip lash injury with a dodgy neck is worrying. So Do have surgery if its offered.

You have to insist to get what you want, the choice of hospitals is up to you. I asked for a proper orthopaedic hospital referal, which I got.

If I need surgery it will be a neurosurgeon that will do it.

 

[mundox]

Hello Caringsoul,

Surgery should be the last thing on your mind. A compressed cord is a compressed nerve which is a pinched and / or a dislocated nerve and you should be seeing an Alternate way such as Massage Therapist, Chiro, Osteopath, etc. before going to the extreme.

I have resetted many dislocated and / or pinched nerves and it is easy if you know what you are doing and there is no danger. If you check me out, you will see that I am telling you the truth.

Good Luck

Joe

 

[Me Fornever]

Thanks Joe, I will see results of the MRI first and see what consultant says.

Displaced C7 in my neck may be dodgy for any manipulation?

 

[Prowler]

Thankyou so much everyone for your replies.
Painless Joe- Im really interested in your technique...massage isnt something Id thought about as I assumed this was too far gone to have any effect. I have to admit though- my 15 or so visits to a chiropracter really isnt doing much at all, yet Im too scared to not have any treatment at all!
Would a massage therapist know how to work around disc problems? Im a little worried they could do more harm!

Thanks for the help- it sounds really promising and Ill give anything a try rather than have surgery at the moment!

Kathy

 

[Komkommer]

Hello Kathy,

Good to hear that you will go through Alternative Medicine first before goingfor an operation. I know you are suffering as it is very painful what you have and Iam with you on this.

As for the Massage Therapist, you should be looking for an experience one and if not too shy, try a man first as they have strong hands but if you find a woman who is a bit strong, give her a try. Do not be affraid to question the Massage Therapist on anything you want to know and they will give you an answer regarless. Massage Therapists work the lymphatic and blood circulatory systems, the muscles, looseling the nerves and the skin,helping to loose some weightat the sametime. Trust me on this as it will help you. He or she should let you know as to the visits ie: once a week, twice a week, once every two weeks, etc.. You will feel a big difference after the first session and a bigger one after the second session.

Please, keep us to date on your treatments / recovery.

Good Luck

Joe

 

[MelBo]

Hi Katink

I had the same problem as you. In the end I lost most of the feeling in my right hand and a great deal in my left.

It was found that one of my discs had collapsed and was blocking the spinal fluid moving easily.

I ended up having the disc removed and a cage inserted into my neck. I tried everything before going for surgery as an holistic therapist myself, but nothing gave me the feeling back in my hands until I had the op. Even then I still can't feel the ends of my fingers in my right hand through nerve damage, but can now write again (I am left handed)and don't drop things all the time.

By all means try every avenue going, but don't write off the surgery option however dangerous it can be.

 

[DexterSamuel]

Yes I agree, I wont consider alternatives for me till I know fully what the MRI scan shows.
If the consultant says manipulation or chiropratie will manipulate the disc back then I will have a go, but I personally dont think he will.

 

[samld021]

Hi Antari

Im so sorry youve suffered the same problem- horrid isnt it? Im reluctantly trying to admit to myself that surgery may be the only option I have left- Im just so terrified. I wondered if you would mind pleasetelling me a few things about it...how long you were in hospital, the recovery time etc? It would really help a lot! I also wondered how long you had the problem initially, before you started to lose the feeling in your hands? Im very worried I wont ever get it back- being an artist its a matter of life and death for me sadly.

Thanks for your help

Kathy x

 

[The Doctor]

Hi Katink
Just as a brake, tyre and exhaust specialist garage is likely to recommend new brakes, tyres and exhaust, a surgeon will always recommend the operation. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, aw how cute,) the International Journal for Clinicians recommends exploring all avenues of “conservative” treatment before recommending Cervical Spinal Fusion/ Discectomy.
I am not saying surgery is the wrong choice for you. Think carefully before making the decision to take this route.

 

[Millo]

You may find the following book interesting:

Dr. [link=http://www.answers.com/topic/john-e-sarno]John E. Sarno[/link]- Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection (ISBN 0-446-39230-8)