Coming back from neck......

[2bshredded]

I'm coming back from hernaited discs in my C-4, 5 & 6. In has a been a real pain. 4 Facet joint injection and 2 Epidural's. Last one was 3 weeks ago and I think I'm good to go...Over the last year I have lifted, just not fullblown.

My left arm has taken the biggest hit...at one point my arm burned like it was on fire along with a numbing, I had shooting pain that was the worst pain I've ever had which is associated with c5. Here's the problem I see now, my left arm is not as strong and I noticed today my vascularity is nowhere what is was.....WTF! My right arm the veins are popping like a 9 month pregnant woman in July, the other is not there.

So do I try to work it extra harder, there is no difference in size so to speak...just weaker and no blood.
Any experience would be appreciated.

[barbndr]

Based on your symptoms, the herniations in you neck have effected the nerve roots to some degree that supply your left arm. Essentially, the left arm is not recieving the same amount of neural imput as the right (picture a power cord working at half capacity). Despite not losing any size (girth) I would bet that you've lost a fair amount of muscualture accounting for the strength loss. The reason for the vascularity difference is the same. If the problem is indeed solved (ie the compression on the nerve(s) is no longer present) the arm will come back to normal strength with regular bilateral lifting. If you still have nerve damage that is healing (very slow process) doing some extra unilateral work may not hurt. If the nerve is still compressed but you are pain free due to the epidural, then the symptoms are masked but the cause is still there. Basically, you can try to do extra with the left side, but with nerve being compromised progress will be very slow and minimal until successful resolution of nerve compression.

[BEER WHORE]

dude I got the same prob..my left arm veins are hid pretty deep my Right looks good. also what is a Facet joint injection? just wondering

[BEER WHORE]

I have bad disc in my c-4 c-5 it stings some times it burns but my left hand is weak shit now....

[hauss man]

yeah i fractured my c-7 in two places in october, and a smaller fracture in my back and heavy compression on my lower disks. i lost a lot of size in my legs and had and still have similar pains in them. after therapy i have been lifting for 2 months and strength is almost there just keep at it and good luck

[2bshredded]

Hey Bro,
Thanks for the post......I fear the compression is not complete becasue I'm still having some weird, unregular sensations in my arm.
I just really felt like hitting my chest hard today....went from decline up, 5x5, straight bar was OK, dumbs were a sign that something is wrong!

My typical thinking was work the weak part...and I did...saw some vascularity but nothing like it was, could feel the upper shoulder flailing to keep up....I fear something is not right! My instinct right now is to work the shit out of it to make it gain strength, I suppose that's what I will do unless I it gets to painful......It's a BITCH getting old! Should have never put my body through the abuse, I'm sure I'd be a better man....but then again F'it I had fun, most of the time.

[hauss man]

what does your spine doctor say about all of this

[2bshredded]

He's ready to do surgery, Cadaver parts and pieces. Tell you what, if this doesn't improve w/in the next three months I'm going to do it!
I'M TOO F'ING YOUNG TO BE THIS OLD!!

[2bshredded]

dude I got the same prob..my left arm veins are hid pretty deep my Right looks good. also what is a Facet joint injection? just wondering

Facet join injection is where the go in through the back of the neck or back and inject steroid/cortizone over the joints...you're completely out for this procedure.
Epidural is where they go ib the front or side of the neck and go inot the dural area of the spine and inject....they gave me Decadron and Cortizon the last time and I was awake.....this is becasue the want you to tell them if they get to close to the nerve....you'll feel it!!!!
If I ever have this again I will insist the do an Epidural tehe Facet J Injections didn't do ****.

[Doc.Sust]

Based on your symptoms, the herniations in you neck have effected the nerve roots to some degree that supply your left arm. Essentially, the left arm is not recieving the same amount of neural imput as the right (picture a power cord working at half capacity). Despite not losing any size (girth) I would bet that you've lost a fair amount of muscualture accounting for the strength loss. The reason for the vascularity difference is the same. If the problem is indeed solved (ie the compression on the nerve(s) is no longer present) the arm will come back to normal strength with regular bilateral lifting. If you still have nerve damage that is healing (very slow process) doing some extra unilateral work may not hurt. If the nerve is still compressed but you are pain free due to the epidural, then the symptoms are masked but the cause is still there. Basically, you can try to do extra with the left side, but with nerve being compromised progress will be very slow and minimal until successful resolution of nerve compression.

great post, sums it all up, my thoughts are exact

[2bshredded]

Based on your symptoms, the herniations in you neck have effected the nerve roots to some degree that supply your left arm. Essentially, the left arm is not recieving the same amount of neural imput as the right (picture a power cord working at half capacity). Despite not losing any size (girth) I would bet that you've lost a fair amount of muscualture accounting for the strength loss. The reason for the vascularity difference is the same. If the problem is indeed solved (ie the compression on the nerve(s) is no longer present) the arm will come back to normal strength with regular bilateral lifting. If you still have nerve damage that is healing (very slow process) doing some extra unilateral work may not hurt. If the nerve is still compressed but you are pain free due to the epidural, then the symptoms are masked but the cause is still there. Basically, you can try to do extra with the left side, but with nerve being compromised progress will be very slow and minimal until successful resolution of nerve compression.

Yea, I got to tell you this is a better explanantion than my Dr. gave me, but he basically said pretty much the same.
The compression seems to be uncompressed becasue I'm not having that pain any longer, but my arm is still acting very strange. It is the left arm and it has always been stronger than my right, just seems odd that it lost that much power in so little time. I'm wonedering if damage could be permanent, I have been working the left with extra reps but it's dissapointing as hell when you see the differerence is size.
Thanks again for your input.

-M

[barbndr]

The most frustrating part of it all is that the only way you're really going to know is time. Assuming that the nerve is no longer being compressed or compromised in any way, there is still damage that is present in that nerve (or nerves) based on your symptoms (arm acting strange). And, unfortunately, nerve damage is a very slow recovery. If you are dealing with actual structural nerve damage, the nerve heals at a rate of approximately 1-2mm per month. I'm going off memory for that statistic however the point is that it is very slow healing. I suggest paying careful attention to your progress. One sure sign that any type of neurological damage is healing is steady progress back to normal. If we were dealing with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) we would look for minute changes over weeks and months (ie grip strength increase of a pound a week or raising the arm fully against gravity whereas a month ago the patient could only lift it partly off the bed). I'm giving you extreme examples but the point is try to figure out if your arm is actually improving. If after one month you are still experiencing the same symptoms with no improvement in strength, you need to follow up with your MD.

If this occurs I suggest a Neurosurgeon or Orthopedist with a Spine Specialty. I know you would like to think that because the pain is gone, the injury is healed, however this may not be the case. An epidural, much like a cortisone shot, may only mask the symptoms. So, if after 4-6 weeks, you arm strength is not noticeably improved, you really need some further diagnostic testing (MRI best bet). I, personally, would not have another epidural without some additional diagnostics. Also, even if you don't have pain in a month, look for other signs. Is the arm as coordinated, does it react to temperature or feel temperature differently that its counterpart? Things like this tell you if there are still problems.

And, to answer your last question: Yes, there could be permanent damage. I've seen small nerve injuries that never heal, and massive nerve trauma return to almost 100% function. That's the thing about our nervous system, it's impossible to predict.

Monitor your own symptoms, and don't hesitate to seek other opinions. One person (myself definitely included) certainly doesn't hold all the answers.

[2bshredded]

Bar,
You produce some excellent posts and good information, don't know but it seems to be getting slightly better....I did some shoulder work as well as trap's. I'm not as unequal in my lifting movements as before...I'm notfavoringthat side as much plus the vascularity seems to be getting better on the lower part of my arm, the bicep is still lacking...it's there but it is small and broken up.

I guess I'll just keep working it, does'nt cause pain which could be a bad thing but I'm really optomistic this thing will work it self out.
I'm traveling next week but I'm going to get a second opinion as you suggested, my Dr. now is a Spine Specilaist and I've had 2 MRI'S 1 just 2 weeks ago. All it shows is the disc intruding into the space where it's not supposed to....nice medical terminology, huh. lol

Anyway, thanks for your help.

[barbndr]

Time will tell. Good luck to you. Keep us updated.