Question
After experiencing worsening pain in my left arm and eventually neck pain over a 4 month period,  I went to see an Orthopedic Dr who sent me to have an MRI. The MRI revealed a moderate-sized atypical hemangioma within the right side of T1. Loss of cervical lordosis. C5-6 ?Small posterior endplate spurs efface the thecal sac without canal stenosis or neural displacement. Small left posterolateral herniation displaces the C7 root. This herniation likely extends to the claudal aspect of the left neural foramen. No cord deformity.

I went through PT with great succcess... the pain went away and felt good. This was about 11 months ago. Now I've started going to the gym and working out on a regular basis. I obviously did something I shouldn't have because the pain is back.  I know now how to treat myself (exercises, glides, TENS, Pronex collor for traction) but what I would like to know is what types of exercise/equipment should I avoid at the gym?  I am a 49 year old female in otherwise good health.


Answer
Consuelo,

Avoid any exercise that causes you to build muscle tone in the muscles of the neck or upper back.

TENS is not a treatment; neither is a collar; they only relieve pain, while the condition causing the pain -- excessively tight muscles -- remains.  The arm pain came from a pinched nerve near your neck, also resulting from too-tight neck muscles.

Your PT got you far enough to lose the symptoms but not far enough to erase the underlying condition, so it reappeared when your exercise program caused those muscles to get more contracted.

The notion of "building tone" is at fault.  It's a very popular, but misguided goal.  For more on that topic, you may read my article on weight training at somatics.com/page4b.htm.

You may read my article on whiplash injuries, which is relevant to your condition, at somatics.com/page4b.htm.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold