Hyneriated disc / pinched nerve in neck. Best course of treatment ?

Question

What would be the best course of treatment? Physical therapy or a chiropracter? Thanks.

Answer 1

Mine was so bad and I tried everything that I eventually had to have surgery to fuse the disk together. and wear a neck brace for a few weeks.

Answer 2

I think you're speaking about a "herniated disk", no? Were it me, I would start w/ chiropractic and work it in tandem w/ physical therapy. Chiropractic will attempt to heal/change the condition or remove it, physical therapy will strengthen the surrounding musculature and teach you different ways of moving, working your body and neck and moving, so that the condition does not recur. I would also go see a massage therapist. Many chiros already have one working out of their office. I STRONGLY recommend against surgery. I have had way too many clients have this not go well for them, including my dear sister. What also seems to happen is that when surgery is performed to fix one herniated disk, the disks on either side of the original site go out, too. Fix the cause, not the symptoms!!!! I avoid surgeons like the plague. At all costs. Also apply heat, it will help w/ the pain. If you are leery of going to see a chiropractor(and you shouldn't be), go see a D.O. instead.

Answer 3

Wow, I'm very sorry to hear this... I know how much an MRI costs because my wife needed one and insurance refused to pay... Some people who don't have the love of a dog or cat don't realize that they become an integral part of our families... Our last dog needed to be taken to the VET ER at 3:00am because he was suffering from seizures... the bill was a whopping $1800 for the immediate care and he ended up dying the next day ! I had no problem writing the check... it was the only thing to do. We all loved our dog. I would make my decision based on the dog's ability to recover fully or the quality of life he/she will have after all the treatments ! If there is no ability to guarantee the dog will make it, the decision is even harder... a dog living it's life in pain is no life at all ! God Bless you and I know whatever decision you make will be the right one !

Answer 4

I've had great luck with both chiropractors and physical therapists. It might be good to get both kinds of treatments if you can. PT will rehab your neck and chiropractic will help get you back in line. Feel better!

Answer 5

Research micro laser discectomy. There is only a handfull of docotors in the U.S. that use this new procedure but it is very promising and least invasive of all the surgeries. The most experienced doctor is in Los Angeles. You fly in and have the procedure done and fly back the same day with almost no time lost from work.

Answer 6

We essentially seek to do the same thing..restore the joint to a normal position. How we do it will vary. PT will primarily use movement and specific exercises (with education on what to do should it ever happen again) with some hands on techniqes...DCs will primarily use a hands on "adjustment" to do the same thing...restore the normal joint position.

Of course, as a PT, I am partial to my practice and highly recommend a PT with MDT experience. You can go to http://www.mckenziemdt.org to seek a provider...but of course, I am biased. I like showing the patient how they can take care of the problem and make them less dependent on me.

So, I imagine it's a matter of personal philosophy.

Answer 7

Acupuncture
Chiropractor
PT

Man in the neck though?, geez.

A combination of the three will help

Answer 8

physical therapy=they help you to learn how to build up muscles to protect the herniated disc and it also releaves the pinched nerve when doing them

Answer 9

Try all remedies, acupuncture, chiropractor, hand massage machines, masseur, heat pack, yoga.

Answer 10

I'd say both, honestly. I know it hurts a lot and anything you can think of to suppress it is the way to go!