NECK INJURY (Bulging Disc) Will HGH and TEST help me recover?

[Headholio]

I have, and have had, bulging discs in my neck.
Some important things to note:
1. Sometimes the bulge will recede enough that you will be symptom free after some time of rest and PT. You will probably always have damaged disks, but the bulge can shrink to where it doesn't press on any nerves.
2. Surgery is the last option!
3. Find a good PT or chiropractor. That's what they do!
4. Traction! The best thing I have found for nerve pressure in the neck is traction. There are devices you can find on line like on EBay - inflatable neck braces, weighted traction set ups you hang from your door, etc. Inversion tables or boots for hanging can also help. You can also try stretching your neck by grabbing the base of your skull in the back and pulling upward and over. You need to be gentle and experiment with the right location and direction. When you find a good stretch you will know it as you will feel instant increase in feeling, warmth and blood flow in your arm, or a similar effect.
5. Invest in a traction pillow or other neck support pillow. The one I use is the arc4life brand.
6. Massage is also good if you are lucky enough to have someone at home who can give you a good one!

One time my neck was so messed up I had no feeling in my thumb and index finger of my right hand, and my barbell curl on that side was less than half of my left side. Physical therapy helped, but it wasn't until I got a home traction set up that it completely resolved itself. I went to see surgeons, but I'm glad I didn't go that route.

PS: I don't think AAS/GH will help with this in any way.
In fact muscle tightness is your enemy (which is why the doc gave you muscle relaxers).

 

[Stocks_and_Steroids]

when you abuse lifting and mess with anti inflammatories this is what happens. why the hell would a lifter take prednisone? thats just lack of common sense

you are pretty much fucked for life now. hopefully everyone reading this learns from this guys mistakes... if a doctor EVER EVER EVER gives you prednisone and he knows you lift he needs to get his teeth knocked out on the spot. its worse than giving an addict oxycontin

I was prescribed Prednisone AFTER the injury and MRI report of imflammation. I have seen 1 PC doctor, 1 Spine specialist and 1 surgeon and they all agreed anti-imflammatories are standard course of action when disc issues and pinched nerves are problems. I agree Prednisone is nothing to be played with or taken just for small pain. But this is the worst pain in my life lasting for weeks.

 

[Stocks_and_Steroids]

I have, and have had, bulging discs in my neck.
Some important things to note:
1. Sometimes the bulge will recede enough that you will be symptom free after some time of rest and PT. You will probably always have damaged disks, but the bulge can shrink to where it doesn't press on any nerves.
2. Surgery is the last option!
3. Find a good PT or chiropractor. That's what they do!
4. Traction! The best thing I have found for nerve pressure in the neck is traction. There are devices you can find on line like on EBay - inflatable neck braces, weighted traction set ups you hang from your door, etc. Inversion tables or boots for hanging can also help. You can also try stretching your neck by grabbing the base of your skull in the back and pulling upward and over. You need to be gentle and experiment with the right location and direction. When you find a good stretch you will know it as you will feel instant increase in feeling, warmth and blood flow in your arm, or a similar effect.
5. Invest in a traction pillow or other neck support pillow. The one I use is the arc4life brand.
6. Massage is also good if you are lucky enough to have someone at home who can give you a good one!

One time my neck was so messed up I had no feeling in my thumb and index finger of my right hand, and my barbell curl on that side was less than half of my left side. Physical therapy helped, but it wasn't until I got a home traction set up that it completely resolved itself. I went to see surgeons, but I'm glad I didn't go that route.

PS: I don't think AAS/GH will help with this in any way.
In fact muscle tightness is your enemy (which is why the doc gave you muscle relaxers).

Unfortunately yesterday after the surgeon reviewed my MRI video my disc are herniated and will never go back to pre injury. The imflammation can be controlled but my issue is now beyond bulging disc. I was told that its either fight this the rest of my life or Disectomy to correct the problem. I am not wanting surgery but I have nerve damage in my right arm already and it could easily progress.
I have been working with a Phsyical Therapist and doing everything I can do. I havent even lifted anything over 10 pounds in a month since this began that was not recommended by the PT. BUT, Unless there is a miraculous recovery I will be getting surgery on the Feb 22.Sucks its come to this but I want a normal life back. Not years of rehab. There is no fusion of dics. Just cutting out around the nerve the bad part of the disc I am told. The surgery is 1 hr and rehab 1 month and luckily I live in Houston, Texas where we literally have the best doctors in the world. And my surgeon couldnt have better credentials. I just hope he lives up to them. Thanks guys for the advice but this one doesnt seem like its going to be realistic for me without surgery if I ever want to see inside a gym again. God Bless. iF ANYONE HAS HAD A DISCETOMY, it would be nice to hear how it went. Everyone I know personally that had one said it was the best thing they ever did. As most people that have a herniated disc realize the pain is beyond imaginable.

 

[Headholio]

Unfortunately yesterday after the surgeon reviewed my MRI video my disc are herniated and will never go back to pre injury. The imflammation can be controlled but my issue is now beyond bulging disc. I was told that its either fight this the rest of my life or Disectomy to correct the problem. I am not wanting surgery but I have nerve damage in my right arm already and it could easily progress.
I have been working with a Phsyical Therapist and doing everything I can do. I havent even lifted anything over 10 pounds in a month since this began that was not recommended by the PT. BUT, Unless there is a miraculous recovery I will be getting surgery on the Feb 22.Sucks its come to this but I want a normal life back. Not years of rehab. There is no fusion of dics. Just cutting out around the nerve the bad part of the disc I am told. The surgery is 1 hr and rehab 1 month and luckily I live in Houston, Texas where we literally have the best doctors in the world. And my surgeon couldnt have better credentials. I just hope he lives up to them. Thanks guys for the advice but this one doesnt seem like its going to be realistic for me without surgery if I ever want to see inside a gym again. God Bless. iF ANYONE HAS HAD A DISCETOMY, it would be nice to hear how it went. Everyone I know personally that had one said it was the best thing they ever did. As most people that have a herniated disc realize the pain is beyond imaginable.

Your disks will never heal back to normal, but the pressure on the nerve could stop if the bulge in the disk shrinks. I had the same thing. Just because you have bulged disks, doesn't mean you need surgery!

Lots of people have bulged disks, maybe even a majority. It doesn't have to mean it will bother you for life. When I got a heart scan a few months ago they saw bulged disks in my thorasic vertebrae that I didn't even know about because they cause no symptoms.

The problem with my neck went away, but if I got an MRI today you would still see the disk problems.

Bottom line: What's the hurry? A good doctor would tell you to live with it until it is so debilitating (pain or lack of fucntion) that you have no choice but to get surgery. Are you in that category?

I would give it 2 months. Do what I said in my post above. Traction!

 

[Headholio]

I wish there was more activity in this thread. I remember a similar discussion recently where there were a few members with good advice and some not so good stories about surgery.

I seriously think you need to postpone. You just got hurt and you are going under the knife in a week? It doesn't make sense. Wait and try to heal.

 

[Stocks_and_Steroids]

Your disks will never heal back to normal, but the pressure on the nerve could stop if the bulge in the disk shrinks. I had the same thing. Just because you have bulged disks, doesn't mean you need surgery!

Lots of people have bulged disks, maybe even a majority. It doesn't have to mean it will bother you for life. When I got a heart scan a few months ago they saw bulged disks in my thorasic vertebrae that I didn't even know about because they cause no symptoms.

The problem with my neck went away, but if I got an MRI today you would still see the disk problems.

Bottom line: What's the hurry? A good doctor would tell you to live with it until it is so debilitating (pain or lack of fucntion) that you have no choice but to get surgery. Are you in that category?

I would give it 2 months. Do what I said in my post above. Traction!

Let me clarify, when I first wrote this thread the disc was thought to be just 'bulging' at that time from the MRI report.
But after the Video fro the MRI was reviewed I am told it is "herniated". I am under the assumption bulging people have and rarely cause problems but herniated are beyond what therapy can repair. 'Repair' being the key word.
Now this has been a MONTH of HELL of agonizing pain that only this week subsided to less pain but still constant. My right arm is very weak still.
My concern is IF I do get over the acute pain and gain strength back.
Will I have to baby myself in the gym and and any phsyical activity?
Will I have to deal with relapses like I experienced the last month? And if so take a few months to recover each time?
I am a all or nothing person and lifting high rep light weight is not my idea of training. If I am not going to failure then Idoubt I am progressing. As my Phsyical Therapist said yesterday. "IF I decide to not get surgery there is a real likelihood that I will have to change my lifstyle". As he explained the truth of therapy only without surgery. And in no way was he encouraging me for surgery. He just knew from meeting me that I am not like most of his clients that will be okay with never touching a heavy weight again. He was just preparing me for some truths.
As far as the Surgeon goes , sure he has a financial incentive to get me in surgery. But unless he ws flat out lieing. I asked him point blank 'can I buy some time to use therapy'. He then said "that the nerve damage is progressing and the disc injury state is serious and he strongly hoped I didn't". Also my phsyical therapist agreed that it takes a long time to recover from serious nerve damage.
I would like to hear of someone who has had a "herniated disc' who has recovered to near pre injury levels and not feeling pain when they move a certain way. I dread having a way of life where I am scared to move my body a certain way for fear of pain.
I dont mean weight training type movements. I already know to use good form and I just cant do certain movements like military barbells etc.
At 40 years old, I guess all the heavy weghts for 20 years of training takes it toll. Look at Ronnie Coleman who uses good form but $800 pound squats are brutal on the joints and body.
I am pretty confused now what to do but I cant deal with going thru this again next year.
If anyone has had a Disectomy I would love to hear their story also. I am sure there is some here.

 

[MonkeyBurglar]

Unfortunately yesterday after the surgeon reviewed my MRI video my disc are herniated and will never go back to pre injury. The imflammation can be controlled but my issue is now beyond bulging disc. I was told that its either fight this the rest of my life or Disectomy to correct the problem. I am not wanting surgery but I have nerve damage in my right arm already and it could easily progress.
I have been working with a Phsyical Therapist and doing everything I can do. I havent even lifted anything over 10 pounds in a month since this began that was not recommended by the PT. BUT, Unless there is a miraculous recovery I will be getting surgery on the Feb 22.Sucks its come to this but I want a normal life back. Not years of rehab. There is no fusion of dics. Just cutting out around the nerve the bad part of the disc I am told. The surgery is 1 hr and rehab 1 month and luckily I live in Houston, Texas where we literally have the best doctors in the world. And my surgeon couldnt have better credentials. I just hope he lives up to them. Thanks guys for the advice but this one doesnt seem like its going to be realistic for me without surgery if I ever want to see inside a gym again. God Bless. iF ANYONE HAS HAD A DISCETOMY, it would be nice to hear how it went. Everyone I know personally that had one said it was the best thing they ever did. As most people that have a herniated disc realize the pain is beyond imaginable.

Hi Stocks & Steroids, very sorry to hear about your plight.
I have had a c6-c7 dysectomy and will be more than happy to fill you in on my personal journey.
I suffered a workplace injury in Oct 2007 and started to suffer with intense pain a day later, with loss of feeling down into the left ring finger and loss of strength in my left side of body.
I was only able to sleep for between 1-2 hours a time during this period while maxed out on panadine forte.
Compo came through , I saw a Neuro Surgeon , was told i had a perforated disc impinging on my spinal cord and surgery was necessary, or spend time in a wheelchair.
Had surgery March 2008 ( 5 months later ) , surgery went well , but I suffered from a more intense pain as soon as i woke up from surgery, I now know that this was due to the release on the compressed nerve, and my body adjusting to whatever they did during surgery.

I will mention right now that I am completely pain free, and back into Biking , Running and
Strength work ( weights or Bodyweight depending on how i feel ).

I will also mention that it was explained to me that nerves take along time to regenerate, about 1mm per month - (this was were all my pain came from post surgery,)
And that the CNS resets itself and therefore I would have to rebuild all strength and endurance.

The things I found that worked for myself post surgery are:

This is a journey - not a race.
Educate - I was lucky to participate in a 8 week pain management course.
Painkillers at the start are your friend ( i was maxed out on Tramadol- synthetic morphine )
because you need to be able to function, socialise and interact with people.
Once you get your shit together get off those painkillers , they are not your friend.
PUSHING THROUGH THE PAIN WILL SET YOU BACK.
Hydro- therapy and Rehab Yoga are awesome a great combo of heat and mobility.
Stopping any activity before it ( Neck, Back, Arm, Finger ) hurts, because we are reprogramming the CNS.
Bodyweight exercises in full range of movement
Walking and jogging
Biking- Road and MTB
PATIENCE

I have obviously condensed this post as my journey has been going for 5+ years and I am very fortunate with the professionals, family and friends that i had surrounding me, if you would like
to know more let me know.
I wish you all the best with your surgery and rehab.

Regards
Craig

 

[DAxelrod]

Good thread. Thanks monkeyburg. I have less serious neck problems and I found your post helpful and inspiring

The posters arguing against doctors advise towards a guy in " unimaginable pain" with a herniated disc in his neck and progressive nerve damage are disgustingly ignorant and if this was my site I would perma ban them all. If this guy listened to that advice his life could be ruined. I don't care if you're an "elite bodybuilder", you should be ashamed of yourself

 

[Headholio]

Good thread. Thanks monkeyburg. I have less serious neck problems and I found your post helpful and inspiring

The posters arguing against doctors advise towards a guy in " unimaginable pain" with a herniated disc in his neck and progressive nerve damage are disgustingly ignorant and if this was my site I would perma ban them all. If this guy listened to that advice his life could be ruined. I don't care if you're an "elite bodybuilder", you should be ashamed of yourself

Listen genius, I'm talking from experience and saying what excellent doctors have told me. Try to heal naturally and save surgery for a last resort. I have also gone through the same thing, and did in fact heal naturally. I also know people who have had to resort to surgery, (I don't blame them they would not have healed). They got the pain relief they needed but not full recovery. One guy I know had vertebral fusion in his neck and has no more pain, but lost significant range of motion. When he looks around he has to turn his whole body. Do more reading on it. I know what I'm talking about.
With that said, I don't know the specifics of this guys injury. But in general, going in for disc surgery without a second opinion is just wrong, and doing it one month after injury with no second opinion is crazy IMO.

 

[elite7777]

Hey man, I have two herniated dics in my lower back. I recommend reading Dr Sarno's book. It helped me...