Question
Dear doctor:  

I have a lot of pain in my upper back, shoulder, hand and fingers.  I have an mri shows that my c3-4, c4-5 c5-6 has disc bulge with moderate anterior thecal sac impingement, no foraminal impingement.  C6-7 has left paracentral disc herniated, there is severc thecal sac impingement.  There is no foraminal impingement.

I went to see a chiropractor in Manhattan NY.  He put me in decompress machine, he said I need 20 times visit, then I will be fine.  Now I just finish 7 sections.  But I haven抰 felt better, I feel more paint in my hand and my left hand feels weaker.  Should I continue this cervical decompress?  He ask me the last time if I am feeling better, I said no.  and I asked should I feel better now?  The he said no, it need more times.  i have so much hope when I star to do this clerical decompress.  Now I am not sure.

I also have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand.  He used cold leaser for my right hand.  But I still feel burns on my right hand and finger.

I am so depress, I have more body ache then I even had.  And I am only 30 years old.

Thank you in advance.

connie  

Answer
Dear Connie,

Intervertebral disc decompression machines are designed to have a cumulative effect, so yes there is a protocol of anywhere between 20-24 visits of increasing traction to complete the program.  It is also common for a patients pain level to increase for the first few visits, so this is not out of the ordinary.  But I have to wonder why you have some much disc injury as a 30 year old...were you in a car crash or had a major trauma??

Anyway...about half way through the program you should also start doing rehab exercises outlined by your doctor, and this should have been explained to you as well before you started the program.  Decompression without functional rehab is not very effective in the long run because the deconditioning in the spine has not be addressed...so make sure you are doing the rehab as well.  Moreover, the utilization of moist heat before traction and ice immediately after traction will help reduce pain levels, increase flexibility and make decompression traction more tolerable.

I would suggest that go through with the rest of the treatment program, but before you do, make sure that you address your concerns to the treating chiropractic physician and have him explain everything in detail to you again.  One of the most important parts of any treatment protocol is that the patient understands fully why you are doing something and what to expect...this is also called informed consent.

Now addressing the carpal tunnel issue...first is this true carpal tunnel...pain in the palm, first finger and/or thumb that moves up the wrist...often worse at night and with repetitive motions of the hand and wrist?  If so, then the chiropractor should be adjusting the wrist, you can use night splints along with stretching devices for the wrist, and increase your B6 consumption.  However, numbness, tingling, pain into the hand can easily be the result on nerve compression/irritation in the neck.  This is called pain in a dermatomal distribution and is common with disk bulges if they compress the spinal cord or an exiting nerve root.  Additional findings may be a loss of grip strength or  forearm strength.  This issue needs to be cleared up first with a proper differential diagnosis.

Hope this helps Connie.  Good Luck.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net