Turns out I have a disc bulge between two of my cervicals and it’s pinching a nerve, which is very very painful and weakening my arm and finger sensitivity.

I’m not here asking for advice, rather to get an idea of what’s down the road for me depending on the type of treatment I’ll end up following. I am seeing a doctor, I have an appointment tomorrow. I also had a CT scan done.

So basically if you’ve had something similar anywhere on your spine I’d appreciate to know about it. Did you recover fully? How long did it take? What treatment did you follow? Did you complement it with anything such as specialized exercises, acupuncture, massage or else?

  • hammy@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Took about 3 months. Mine was 2 disc bulges pinched a nerve that ran down my leg. At first The whole front of my left thigh felt like a big steam burn. The area got smaller slowly and by 3 months it was just a thin line, about a finger width from the top front of my thigh to knee that is just numb to this day.

    The pain in my spine was roughly along the same time line.

    The treatment I had was just over the counter pain medicine and then physical therapy to strengthen muscles around the area, apparently more muscle makes it less likely to compress and pinch a nerve again.

    • plofi@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Yup, strengthening the back muscles is the most important part. I got rid of my lower back pain by sitting like this for half an hour (sometimes more) after I wake up: https://lowbackpainprogram.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/how-to-sit-to-relieve-back-pain.jpg

      At the start it’s a bit hard before the necessary muscles toughen up, but after a couple of days it’s no problem at all and that sitting pose is quite enjoyable. Thats the only lower back strengthening I do daily and for the past six months I feel the best I felt since I injured my lower back so I highly recommend it.

    • Mothra@mander.xyzOP
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      2 months ago

      So if the knee is still numb- you didn’t recover fully, is that correct? Was this recent or a long time ago?

      Will keep in mind the muscle strengthening, I’m sure I’ll get a referral for a physiotherapist at some point.