Pinched Nerve--Could Be Serious--Opinions Please.

[Atomic Punk]

I have a pinched nerve in my neck at C6 or 7, I think. Did it getting off the couch of all things. Not very glamorous, I know.

Some backround first, if I may: I had the same injury to a greater extent about 7 years ago. During that time, I made the decision that I would stop lifting until the nerve became released. I probably still COULD have lifted at the time, but made the decision to stop, because it WAS a spinal injury and I definitely didn't want to further damage the area. So I took 2 weeks off, until one day at the Chiros office while hooked uo to the "stim" machine, I felt the disk pop back into place, and the nerve-pain immediately cease. So a few days later, I come back to the gym. First workout--BACK. First exercise: Lat Pulls to the Front. Bottom Line: I was fine with my right side, but with the left(and this is NO LIE) I couldn't pull down 40 pounds. Christ guys, usually the weight of most pulldown attachments alone would make that weight fall. THAT is how atrophied the muscles became from lack of a signal from the brain to the muscle, due to the nerve pinch. Not to mention the fact that I chose not to lift, which MIGHT have lessened the amount of atrophy I experienced at the time. Which brings me to my point & question:

I have the same injury right now to a lesser extent, as I said. I have to make the decision again to either lift, or stop. I feel like I will definitely help to eliminate much of the loss of strength that will surely follow, if I keep training, but the thought of possibly making it worse by lifting and further damaging it is always in the back of my mind as well. I really don't want to have to go through 4 months of re-strengthening my whole left side again if I chose to not lift. Then again, I dont want to fuck up and put myself into immediate candidacy for surgery either. FUCK!@

What would you do? Thanks

 

[Lord_Suston]

go see a chiropractor

 

[Atomic Punk]

go see a chiropractor

Eh. I don't believe in what they do bro. I like the stim, but the whole "crack your bones" thing to me does dick. Ever see Chris Rock talk about Chiros? That's how I feel. My problems(imo) are more from muscle over-development of my right side, as compared to the left. Thus resulting in uneven sheer stressors on my spine, causing it to pull out of place to one side or the other. I think stretching & perhaps the occasional massage will be better for me actually. I have also started to incorporate a LOT more 1 arm(at a time) lifts as well, to pull the left side up to speed.

What would you do about the lifting though, if you were me?

 

[Lord_Suston]

Chris Rock is funny but know nothing about medicine, I wouldn't lift due to uneven stress place on your body. If you don't believe in Chiros go see a md or neuro specialist to take a look at it.

I also would think about your future, lift a some now and never lift again, or wait and rebound quickly

 

[DBCooper]

Chiro, with heat therapy and ultrasound fixed me last time, an adjustment most likely is very needed.

 

[Warpath]

Go see a chiro unless you want pain pills or to go under the knife.