Question
Hello,
I just had a MRI and was diagnosed on 8-12-08 for a herniated disc C5.  My doctor is going to refer me to a neurologist or neurology.  I have read up on this on the internet and want to avoid surgery.  What are my chances of eliminating my neck pain and left shoulder pain plus I am starting to get headaches.  I am a 58 year old male and have had six surgeries in the past two years.  2 surgeries on my rotor cuff, 2 surgeries on my foot and 2 surgeries for a hernia. Can I do exercises and physical therapy for this?  I did about 2 weeks of physical therapy that did not help but at that point I was not diagnosed with a herniated disc, they just thought I had a stiff neck.  I look forward to hearing back from you.
How many years have you been a doctor?  What type of degree do you have?  
Sincerely,
James

Answer
James,
First of all, I apologize for not responding sooner as we have recently had twins and I have been helping my wife as well as running my practice, so I am sorry for that.
I have been helping people since 1995 and have been a student ever since.  I will always continue to learn and strive to be the best that I can be to help as many people as possible to get well.  The degree that I hold is a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree which I obtained from LIFE University in Atlanta.  I also took hundreds of hours in post-doctorate work specializing in Upper Cervical Specific Care, which I practice exclusively in my clinic in St Louis, MO.
We help many children and adults with herniated discs to get well without the use of harmful drugs or surgery, so I want you to get surgery out of your mind for the time being and reserve that for a last resort option.  You have over a 90% chance that you do not need surgery.  Just because you have chosen to go to doctors that get paid to give people drugs and perform surgeries, does not mean that this is what you actually need.  It just means that this is what they know and get paid for, and so this is what they will tell you to do.  
What you want to do is go to a Doctor that is paid to help you to get well in a most conservative manner, not to give you harmful drugs and surgery.
The only way to get well is to have the cause located and corrected.  Everything else is merely treating the effects of your problem ie.  Physical Therapy, Drugs, Surgery, and with these you will never get well.
Yours in Best Health,
Dr Rob Arnone
St Louis, MO
314.995.5719