I have been having Neck, shoulder, and back pain come and go for 15 years now. Went to the doctor when it first started and a few times over the last 15 years and was told it was just muscle spasms. About a month ago, while unloading a 4 wheeler, the pain returned but this time with numbness/tingling in my left arm. I go see my GP and he does x-rays then sends me for MRI. A few days later his nurse calls and tells me I have a bulging disc at C4 and C6 and the bulge at C4 has minimal contact with my spinal cord. She goes on to tell me that they are going to refer me to a specialist. At this point I'm thinking that some meds and pysical therapy will fix me right up.

Friday I go to appointment with specialist and he examines me and finds weakness and loss of feeling in my left arm. He then pulls up my MRI and shows me where the problem is. C5/C6 herniated disc, cervical spinal stenosis with myelopathy. Then he said there is just a small bone spur at C4. I was like WTF, that's quite a bit different than a bulging disc. Next friday I have to go in for a Myelogram so he can see how bad the stenosis is. From what I've read about Myelograms......they suck. I'll have to be on bed rest for 24 hours after it is done and can't get up for ANYTHING. I sure hope I don't have to have surgery, but it's not looking good.

Has anyone else here gone through anything like this before?

 

My father had a similar deal. They put 2 rods on each side of his spine. He was out for 6 months. IMO it would not hurt to get a second opinion.

 

After I get the results from the myelogram, I plan to get a second opinion.

 

Sorry to hear about your back problems. I have had off and on back problems for about 12 years. I just dont try and do some of the crazy crap I did when I was younger.
Never got to the point of bone spurs and bulging disks for me though, I left working in the shop because my back issues and carpeltunnel acting up.
I used to wake up with numb arms and tingling hands and feet every day.
Hope they can fix you up! Stay away from cortizone, I hear it's a short term fix that causes more issues.

 

I have gotten cortizone before for my back problems. I have a l4/l5 herniation, and a t12 herniation. The cortizone really didn't do anything... the latest thing I had for the pain was a facet block injection.... that seemed to help, but it made it so my mid back area hurt more. Probably just took the pain away from the lower back and revealed more damage in my mid back. So I am back to the pain management specialist again next week. Don't want surgery either.