Neck Traction
Neck Traction
About herniated disks in the neck?
I’ve just received word that I have 2 herniated disks in my neck and 2 bulging disks. I was told by a neursurgeon that even if I didn’t require surgery I wouldn’t be able to lift over 20lbs for the rest of my life. The kicker is I’m 23 years old and I’m an athelete in mixed martial arts and proffessional wrestling. I have the info from my MRI if anyone needs that and I’ve already been to numerous websites. I guess what I’m lookin for is an answer without a dead end. I’ve been through traction and therapy which I’m still going through. I would really appreciate any feed back that would lead to treatment and get me back into sports again
The neck obviously is a very sensitive location to have disk problems. Even without wrestling and martial arts you are potentially in for significant problems during the rest of your life.
One thing I don’t quite understand is “herniated” and “bulging”. They are the same thing. Did you mean ruptured and herniated? Of did the doctor mean that the “herniated” disks were more bulged than the bulged disks?
Often times when a person has multiple disk problems doctors will not do procedures that they’d consider if it were only a single disk. For instance fusion of the vertebra is a possible action, but if you fuse too many vertebra you severely restrict motion of the head.
As tough as it may sound, there are career ending injuries. There are injuries that our current medical practice cannot treat and fix.
I have serious lower back problems that started when I ruptured a disk. I have had surgery, but it did not fix the problem, and I cannot even golf anymore, much less kickbox or do what professional wrestlers do.
You certainly have to be concerned about becoming the next Christoffer Reaves and you need to ask pointed questions of your doctors concerning the potential for damage that could lead to complete paralysis.
That all being said I have a Brother-In-Law who has had two neck surgeries, one fusion, the other to clean up spurs and chips. Both led to relief from the symptoms he was having at the time. He has give up sports (basketball) following the second surgery.
I’m going to add a few more comments. First, I developed my back problem in my upper 40′s. I had a cousin who had a back fusion in her 30′s that turned out alright so far. My dentist had a back disk removed 20+ years ago (no fusion or anything. Doc said it’d fill in with scar tissue) and he is in constant pain now.
The internet is a great place for interaction. I did extensive searching to find “cures.” In doing so you find people who were not cured. One thing I discovered was that people who had failed back fusions were living a hell on earth. The pain they were in every minute of the day was unbelievable. Depression was constant and severe amongst this group. I came to the conclusion that fusion was an absolute last resort because a failure effectively ended your life. Because of the lesser amount of weight supported, I suspect neck fusion failures are fewer. I do, however, suspect that the decision for a fusion ends your wrestling and MMA carear.
The other think is that often time heals. Some of these injuries can take a couple of years to heal. Even my back is better now than it was 2 years ago. I still get sensations in my feet and legs, but I have not had it completely go out on me in that time period, and I have been able to do non-jaring activites, even chainsawing, without severe aftereffects. Your’s may heal by itself to the point where you can resume activity but it could take significant time.
Good luck, I hope it turns out for you.
Neck Traction
Pneotrack home traction unit?
My physical therapist wants me to have one of these for my neck problems. All I can find is the over the door kind that holds water. Med-South doesn’t carry them or know where I can get one. Any ideas, other than ask my therapist? Who is out of town?
The discription my therapist gave me was that it fit like a neck brace and I could pump it while watching tv.
Does it have to be a “Pneotrack” (which I have never heard of). The Saunders traction unit is probably the most recognizable home pneumatic traction unit…readily available by any search engine.
http://www.medicalproductsonline.org/sacehode.html
cervical neck traction