I was diagnosed with the same thing in C-3,4 and 6, if I recall correctly. I went to a neuro surgeon and had the MRI to document it. He said the cure was to operate, go in through the front of the neck and slice off the herniations, the expanded portions of the discs that are pressing against the nerve bundles. He said it takes about 3 weeks to recuperate fromthe surgery. He had just done his partner a few weeks before that.
When my wife heard about the surgery, she filled her lid. She has no foundness for doctors or surgery. But it's my neck!
My symptoms were similar but notwhere near as severe. I also have a numbness in my finger tips but when I had carpal tunnel surgery, they said it was carpal tunnel syndrome, not from the nerve bundles in the neck. I'd have that checked if I were you!!!
This was all about 8-10 years ago. I get the aches in my shoulder sometimes. Weight lifting helped strengthen my neck muscles. That helps a lot. Otherwise, it's life as normal.
My friend is a chiropractor and he tried some light therapy to help the shoulder pain BEFORE I learned the true cause. As I suspected, the neurosurgeon said if he tried serious therapy, he could have killed me. As with most good chiropractors, a full set of Xrays would have revealed the cause and they'd never do their real serious, heavy duty therapy on that neck. I don't recommend that course of action.
Oh, Advil/Motrin/ibuprofen(the chemical name) helps keep down the swelling. Herniation of the disc is just another form of inflammation. SO the ibuprofen cna help.
If the pain is debilitating, and you do say you can't bowl, I strongly, STRONGLY suggest taking those MRIs to a neurosurgeon, not just an orthopedic surgeon. (I do bowl 3 - 5 times a week.)
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
