I've been having numbness and tingling in the right arm for 2 weeks. I got
an MRI last Friday, and it showed that I had herniated cervical disks
(that's slipped disks in the neck in layperson-speak) at the following
levels: C3-C4, C4-C5, and C5-C6 (this last level is where it's worst). I
haven't experienced any loss of strength and coordination (yet). Based on
the advice of a friend of mine that has had the same problem, I've avoided
any exercise that could involve bending or stretching of the neck (so just
stationary cycling for now), restricted myself to lifting no more than 10
lbs. at a time, and am taking anti-inflammatory medication. I'm awaiting a
(timely) referral to a neurosurgeon.
My questions to my fellow Masters swimmers:
1. Have any of you ever experienced this problem?
2. If the answer to (1) is yes, then what sort of treatment (medical and
non-medical) did you receive?
3. Are there any specific things I should be avoiding, swimming-wise (certain strokes, drills, etc? I assume diving is out of the question) and exercise-wise?
4. Before I saw what my MRI looked like (I'm an Internal Medicine MD, so I
could see my MRI was abnormal), I had continued to swim, and actually felt
that swimming helped me feel better. Does anyone out there know if swimming can actually put you at risk for this type of injury?
Physicians, as a rule, tend to err on the side of rest and inactivity for
recovery from any injury, so if anyone has any evidence that states that I can
keep up with at least some swimming while I find out what my course of
treatment will be, I would certainly be grateful for that. I've only started
to get seriously back into swimming since last fall, and was actually
starting to feel good about my swimming, so this recent setback has me
really bummed out at present :-(
Dear Robert,
I herniated my C4-5 disc on May 25th. I was mowing the lawn and suddenly my left should and the left side of my neck spasmed and locked. Overnight, the pain became intense and my symptoms spread to the right should and neck and the upper back. I went to the emergency room where they took x-rays. The ER physician diagnosed a neck sprain and sent me home with muscle relaxants and painkillers. Over three days the symptoms responded to rest and medication. I could function again but the cramps and pain where still there. I was also suffering from sharp stabbing pains in my neck. I followed up with my personal GP who proscribed more rest, stretching and more medication. We discussed swimming and he recommended that I restrict my activities to backstroke and kicking. I went to one swim practice that week. I was convinced that swimming would help break up the knots and help me get better. I didn’t last 45 minutes. After one week of this therapy my neck and shoulder had not improved so my GP ordered an MRI for the next Monday. Naturally, since the MRI was scheduled, my symptoms improved over the weekend. I swam about 2500 yards that Sunday. I felt I was out of the woods and on my way to recovery.
Tuesday morning (now two weeks from the initial symptoms) my GP called me early in the morning. He faxed me my MRI report. I had a large extruded disc herniation that was midline at C4-5 and compressing the spinal cord. My GP insisted that I see a “neck specialist” right away. My GP indicated that I could be at a very high risk for significant damage to my cord and restricted my activities to just working and sleeping. I made an appointment with the Orthopedic Spine Surgeon he recommended. The earliest appointment was three weeks out. Since my GP had me scared to death, I called every neurosurgeon in town until I finally secured an appointment for the next afternoon. After examining my films and me the neurosurgeon told me I needed a cervical discetomy and echoed my GP’s statements about the risks. He told me that he didn’t do surgeries anymore but he could recommend a couple of people. One was the surgeon I had already scheduled. I mentioned that I had an appointment with this doctor in two weeks. The neurosurgeon told me that was too far out, and the longer I delayed surgery the worst my situation could become. He walked down the hall and had them move my appointment up to Monday.
The five days were agonizing. I spent the majority of my time researching Cervical Disc fusions and calling every medical professional I knew. Almost everyone recommended that I see a neurosurgeon – not an orthopedic surgeon. I discovered that there is a group of surgeons (mostly orthopedic) that consider themselves to be “spine specialists.” They have restricted their practice to treating spinal injuries and have completed fellowships. They do more than surgery. They also provide rehabilitation and physical therapy.
The gentleman I saw Monday was a spine specialist. He told me no surgery and to resume my normal activities (but no bungy jumping, parachuting or roller coasters). He said surgery was a LAST RESORT and that I had made a remarkable recovery in a short time. Needless to say, I had fully prepared myself for the worse and this news was a bit shocking. I got a second opinion from another “spine specialist” who repeated the same advice – no surgery, resume swimming, and manage your activities according to your symptoms. Both spine surgeons told me that the disc might be reabsorbed and that we should “watch it” but don’t live in fear. I’m back in the water and I feel great. I still have occasional pangs and “flashes” of numbness but I’m getting better.
I learned a few things that I would pass on. 1) See a spine specialist. They have different philosophies. They are more accessible that neurosurgeons and can offer many forms of treatment.
2) Get a second (or third) opinion. 3) Swimming is great therapy. Because I’m a swimmer, I have recovered faster. 4) Pay very close attention to your posture. I damaged my neck because I spend hours on the phone, hours on the computer and I read in bed. All these activities put undue stress on your cervical vertebrae unless you pay very close attention to your neck.
Good luck,
Michael
Dear Robert,
I herniated my C4-5 disc on May 25th. I was mowing the lawn and suddenly my left should and the left side of my neck spasmed and locked. Overnight, the pain became intense and my symptoms spread to the right should and neck and the upper back. I went to the emergency room where they took x-rays. The ER physician diagnosed a neck sprain and sent me home with muscle relaxants and painkillers. Over three days the symptoms responded to rest and medication. I could function again but the cramps and pain where still there. I was also suffering from sharp stabbing pains in my neck. I followed up with my personal GP who proscribed more rest, stretching and more medication. We discussed swimming and he recommended that I restrict my activities to backstroke and kicking. I went to one swim practice that week. I was convinced that swimming would help break up the knots and help me get better. I didn’t last 45 minutes. After one week of this therapy my neck and shoulder had not improved so my GP ordered an MRI for the next Monday. Naturally, since the MRI was scheduled, my symptoms improved over the weekend. I swam about 2500 yards that Sunday. I felt I was out of the woods and on my way to recovery.
Tuesday morning (now two weeks from the initial symptoms) my GP called me early in the morning. He faxed me my MRI report. I had a large extruded disc herniation that was midline at C4-5 and compressing the spinal cord. My GP insisted that I see a “neck specialist” right away. My GP indicated that I could be at a very high risk for significant damage to my cord and restricted my activities to just working and sleeping. I made an appointment with the Orthopedic Spine Surgeon he recommended. The earliest appointment was three weeks out. Since my GP had me scared to death, I called every neurosurgeon in town until I finally secured an appointment for the next afternoon. After examining my films and me the neurosurgeon told me I needed a cervical discetomy and echoed my GP’s statements about the risks. He told me that he didn’t do surgeries anymore but he could recommend a couple of people. One was the surgeon I had already scheduled. I mentioned that I had an appointment with this doctor in two weeks. The neurosurgeon told me that was too far out, and the longer I delayed surgery the worst my situation could become. He walked down the hall and had them move my appointment up to Monday.
The five days were agonizing. I spent the majority of my time researching Cervical Disc fusions and calling every medical professional I knew. Almost everyone recommended that I see a neurosurgeon – not an orthopedic surgeon. I discovered that there is a group of surgeons (mostly orthopedic) that consider themselves to be “spine specialists.” They have restricted their practice to treating spinal injuries and have completed fellowships. They do more than surgery. They also provide rehabilitation and physical therapy.
The gentleman I saw Monday was a spine specialist. He told me no surgery and to resume my normal activities (but no bungy jumping, parachuting or roller coasters). He said surgery was a LAST RESORT and that I had made a remarkable recovery in a short time. Needless to say, I had fully prepared myself for the worse and this news was a bit shocking. I got a second opinion from another “spine specialist” who repeated the same advice – no surgery, resume swimming, and manage your activities according to your symptoms. Both spine surgeons told me that the disc might be reabsorbed and that we should “watch it” but don’t live in fear. I’m back in the water and I feel great. I still have occasional pangs and “flashes” of numbness but I’m getting better.
I learned a few things that I would pass on. 1) See a spine specialist. They have different philosophies. They are more accessible that neurosurgeons and can offer many forms of treatment.
2) Get a second (or third) opinion. 3) Swimming is great therapy. Because I’m a swimmer, I have recovered faster. 4) Pay very close attention to your posture. I damaged my neck because I spend hours on the phone, hours on the computer and I read in bed. All these activities put undue stress on your cervical vertebrae unless you pay very close attention to your neck.
Good luck,
Michael
