Question
i have cord compression at c-5-6. i have degenerative disc disease, problem vertebrae at c-5/6/7/ with prolapsed discs inbetween. it was a injury in 2001, but i've since developed Raynaurds and osteo arthritis, also muscular problems, and prolapsed disc in lower back.
As you can imagine i have problems anywhere and everywhere with no warning, i was due to have operation but they decided to be conservative, then decided it was advisable not have an operation, i am mostly ok as long as i listen to my body and be very sensible.
finally my question i recently had my blood pressure checked
and after had flutters, they seemed much stronger than i've had before but first time after my pressure checked, i also had blood tests but blood wasnt for coming out, finally some spluttered out,
why is this, what is it, compression, muscular in chest area, Raynaurds. i didnt ask nurse at time, i didnt think she could help. I would just like to know, to understand whats happening to my body.
many thanks, hope you can help

Answer

Hanna Somatic Educatio Hello, Susan,

The usual cause of disc problems is excessive spinal muscular tension, which causes disc compression.

Injuries typically trigger such excessive muscular tension as protective muscular reflexes.  It sounds as if your entire spinal musculature and the muscles of your chest are involved.

I think your physicians were laudable for deciding on a more conservative approach.  I think it will serve you.

The most direct approach, and the most conservative one in this situation, is to undergo training in muscular control to reduce the excessive muscular activity.  That will relieve disc compression and spinal stress.  The discipline is called, "clinical somatic education" and it's a relatively new discipline not well known.

I have done some write-ups on that subject.

Relevant to you:

http://www.somatics.com/whiplash.htm
relevant to neck injuries

http://www.somatics.com/chronic_back_pain.htm
http://www.somatics.com/back_pain.htm
relevant to your prolapsed disc in your low back

As to the blood tests, I can only speculate that muscular contractions are compressing blood vessels and interfering with flow.

As to the Raynaud's Disease, I'm not an expert on the condition, but it sounds like a sympathetic nervous system ("CNS") reaction to the shock of your injury, which causes constriction of surface blood vessels.

I think you can get substantial relief from clinical somatic education.

Practitioners:
http://www.hannasomatics.com/practitioners

I think there are two practitioners in the U.K.; you also have the (slower) option of self-treatment by means of somatic exercises.  

regard,
Lawrence Gold