Question
QUESTION: I'm 25, fell on my left shoulder about a month and a half ago.. Experienced pain in my left shoulder, which went away after about a week. During that time, I also had an x-ray of my shoulder taken which came out fine (I'm assuming an
x-ray of my spine was not taken at the time)
Recently, for about a week, the pain has returned. My left
thumb also has been "tingling" along with
noticeable weakness in the left forearm area, which has not
worsened, but not become better either. It's harder to pik up glasses, open jars, etc with my left hand.  The pain has become much better, but the weakness is still there, along with the tingling in my thumb.  I can feel nerve sensitivity
under my left armpit area as well and some stiffness in the neck area. I went to the ER on 6/29/2008, where xrays and am mri concluded I have a herniated disk at C5/C6... disk copies can be seen from below link (Follow directions)
I really want to avoid any invasive procedures, as a follow up with a neurosurgeon on 6/28/2008 told me I needed surgery and wanted wanted to put metal in me and fuse my spine and said he would want to do the surgery on Monday 7/1/2008. It was very upsetting news....and also, something did not seem right about that visit, and Im desperately exploring alternatives. Currently, I'm taking the Medrol dose pack and am desperately in search for an alternative solution. A family friend who is a chiropractor suggested aggressive VAXD theraphy along with active release theraphy and other exercises so hopefully all will return to normal and surgery will be the last option. So I'm looking into doctors down here in Orlando, FL and want to make sure I get the BEST treatment/equipment for my condition and one that works with UnitedHealth Insurance. Please see MRI results and please help me... it is a large herniation, but I believe these is still hope without an invasive procedure:

www.bccdl.com/keithruston/Back.zip  

Save it to your desktop.
After its done saving, double click on the file on your desktop and select "Extract All" and extract
it to your desktop.
Open the folder that it extracted (Folder name "back")
Double-click on DCSSTART.

At the top of the screen you will see:

ST -- select next study
SE -- select next series  in study
IM -- select next image

3) To increase brightness, right click your mouse and
move
toward the top of the image.  To decrease brightness,
right
click your mouse and move toward the bottom of the
image.
To increase contrast, right click and drag across
image
toward the right.  Right click and drag toward the
left of the image for decreased contrast.  Use the
magnifying glass
icon at the top of your screen to make images larger.






ANSWER: Hello Dhara,

Sorry to hear of your condition.

I agree with your chiropractic relative; certainly see a local family Doctor of Chiropractic for evaluation and possible treatment.

As long as there is no disc FRAGMENT, chiropractic should be a treatment option.  If there is a loose fragment, it can float anywhere, become lodged anywhere and cause problems anywhere.

As long as you can function, chiropractic is a viable treatment option.

Invasive procedures should be the option of last resort.

I have a patient I am currently seeing, who is now doing fine, that had a severely herniated cervical disc just 4 months ago.  Intensive chiropractic restored range of motion (initially there was none, ZERO range of motion), restored normal posture(initially forward antalgic head carriage- head bent forward terribly), and restored normal strength/ sensitivity to the arm/ hand fingers.  I saw the patient EVERY day for a month, every other day for two months, and now see her once every week.  She did not have to go for invasive procedures. She did not have to pay the deductibles and copayments for hospital, laboratory, anesthesia, and surgical services.  She saved her neck and probably saved money by going the conservative route.

I am unable to view you files for some reason.

See a local Doctor of Chiropractic.  VaxD is one approach, there are MANY different non-invasive spinal decompression tables and devices out there.  Decompression could be utilized along with many other chiropractic techniques.

A website I sometimes use to locate a Doctor:
http://www.Lifechangingcare.com  -usually a good source.

I wish you luck and Good Health Naturally,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC

http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your reply. Here's a follow- up on my situation: I saw 3 chiropractors today. The first had a cervical VAX-D machine, asked me a few questions, took a look at my MRI, and told me I needed to see another neurosurgeon, and my best bet would be neurosurgery...didn't even think the cervial VAXD would help.  The 2nd office -- they did some electro"probing" with a needle testing my motor and nerve waves...they concluded "nerve damage" ...infact I was the "perfect case for nerve damage", and referred me to an neurosurgeon they trust that is not "cut happy" They also had a vax-d table and traction available at their clinic.  The 3rd place, has a DMX9000? (supposely the best in the world, and FDA approved)...the DC there hadn't seen my MRI results yet, but seemed more positive and said he's seen cases like you have...people's legs numbing, etc...   My concern is time: how much time do I have before there is "permanent damage" ... the 2nd office today did that eletro-probing test (i forget what its called) to test how my nerves were doing and my motor activity and they pretty much concluded c6 nerve damage (is that permanent), then I'm hearing hope from someone entirely different. I know I shouldn't rush into surgery but I'm so concerned about the weakness in my left arm (mainly forearm) --what if I wait a little while try the therapy and it doesn't work, will this damage become permanent --what will I lose? will it be permanent? what will I regain? I've been weak for about a week now...pain is very minimal - just the weakness has been about the same, which scares me. It is a very LARGE herniation, but at the same time people I've seen are surprised I'm even able to talk and walk around and move around as I am telling them about my symptoms and am not in incredible, excruciating pain. Is that good or bad? How much time do I have to try therapy until permanent/irreversible damage were to set in? Please try taking a look at these results again -- have you seen worse?

www.bccdl.com/keithruston/Back.zip  

Save it to your desktop.
After its done saving, double click on the file on your desktop and select "Extract All" and extract
it to your desktop.
Open the folder that it extracted (Folder name "back")
Double-click on DCSSTART.

At the top of the screen you will see:

ST -- select next study
SE -- select next series  in study
IM -- select next image

3) To increase brightness, right click your mouse and
move
toward the top of the image.  To decrease brightness,
right
click your mouse and move toward the bottom of the
image.
To increase contrast, right click and drag across
image
toward the right.  Right click and drag toward the
left of the image for decreased contrast.  Use the
magnifying glass
icon at the top of your screen to make images larger.  

Answer
Hello Dhara,

Sorry , for some reason I cannot view your file online, maybe my computer?

First- on the permanency of the nerve damage- that is difficult to predict: if the nerve has a lot of irritation/ compression, a nerve can have permanent damage in a matter of minutes/ hours; if the nerve has minimal compression, you may lose strength, even feeling, but it can take months to years before the damage becomes permanent.  If you can function, then the nerve should be able to repair itself.

Two out of three Doctors of Chiropractic were very pessimistic.  Sorry, but if 2/3 are doubtful, I think I have to be prepared for a failure in the natural approach--- but I would try!  
A month or six weeks of treatment will not cause any further permanent damage, and perhaps could show progress in the right direction, BUT IT MIGHT NOT WORK.  But, the month or two wait should not cause further permanent damage.

The Doctor who touted 'FDA' Approved equipment is touting an aspect that every decompression or traction device has in every practitioners office.  There are many different types of tables/ devices out there that create a decompressive effect.  Some big fancy tables, some small plain tables; more important then the table is the Doctor applying the treatment.  I recommend http://www.LifeChangingCare.com as a website to find doctors who utilize decompression successfully.

I think I would attempt the spinal decompression.  I would give it a month or two.   If things are the same at that point, then I would revisit the surgical approach.  Once surgery has been done, major changes have been made in your structure, sometimes successful, sometimes not.  As a Doctor of Chiropractic I am biased against surgery by seeing surgical failures.  Only you can weigh what is best for you, and you seem to be actively seeking info- then you can make that best decision for yourself.

I believe on this board I have posted answers on spinal decompression in the past, see if you can locate those discussions for further information.  Also on this board are discussions on herniated discs.

I am sorry for your situation, I wish you good luck and good health naturally, your Staten Island Chiropractor signing off.