- Joined
- Jun 18, 2002
- Messages
- 5,048
2 years ago, I posted a thread about problems I was having in my left bicep. Without explanation my strength suddenly dropped in that bicep. Dante and Mainevent posted that it sounded like a disc/nerve impingement issue. At that time and at Dante’s suggestion, I changed my habit of using 2 pillows under my head and slept in a more flat position. I also did a program of neck stretching. The problem seemingly vanished as fast as it came.
The problem came roaring back in a big way right before Christmas. After a period of heavy training through the fall and winter and the next day after a heavy shoulder/shrug workout, I woke up with acute neck pain. The pain radiated down my neck into my left trap and into my left arm. I had tingling, numbness, even down to my finger tips and bicep weakness. My left forearm and hand/fingers felt almost half asleep at times. I could not get comfortable day or night. I tried ART with my chiropractor. That helped the pain somewhat but the pain wasn’t getting better very quickly. I was also concerned with the obvious nerve issues in that arm.
I went to a group of sports ortho doctors I have been going to for many years. I saw the doc that specializes in spine and cervical issues. Well, after x-rays and an MRI the diagnosis is in… I have cervical bone spurs on C4, C5 and C6 and they are irritating and inflaming nerves. There are no herniated discs, but there is some degeneration. Nerve with bone contact is not a good combination. He put me on a strong NSAID and a med to help with nerve inflammation. My pain is 95% better. The numbness and tingleing is also better. I still have significant left bicep weakness. I start my PT this week. I did get the green light to go to the gym and do certain things. You will understand that after being away from the gym 3 weeks, that helps my sanity.
Hopefully I will continue to improve and the PT does the trick because I do not want those 3 vertebrae fused. That would be the last solution if nothing else works and the situation deteriorates. My doctor did tell me that the outcome on this particular operation is consistantly good.
From my research, it seems these bones spurs tend to happen over time with age, injury or as a result of stresses the bone has incurred. I cannot help but think that the heavy stresses and demands I have put on my spine after 30+ years of lifting (especially all the deads, shrugs, etc.) has contributed to the process in my case. When I get past this and back to the gym full time, a major overhaul of my training methods is way overdue.
Roll with it Brick. Not the first time.
The problem came roaring back in a big way right before Christmas. After a period of heavy training through the fall and winter and the next day after a heavy shoulder/shrug workout, I woke up with acute neck pain. The pain radiated down my neck into my left trap and into my left arm. I had tingling, numbness, even down to my finger tips and bicep weakness. My left forearm and hand/fingers felt almost half asleep at times. I could not get comfortable day or night. I tried ART with my chiropractor. That helped the pain somewhat but the pain wasn’t getting better very quickly. I was also concerned with the obvious nerve issues in that arm.
I went to a group of sports ortho doctors I have been going to for many years. I saw the doc that specializes in spine and cervical issues. Well, after x-rays and an MRI the diagnosis is in… I have cervical bone spurs on C4, C5 and C6 and they are irritating and inflaming nerves. There are no herniated discs, but there is some degeneration. Nerve with bone contact is not a good combination. He put me on a strong NSAID and a med to help with nerve inflammation. My pain is 95% better. The numbness and tingleing is also better. I still have significant left bicep weakness. I start my PT this week. I did get the green light to go to the gym and do certain things. You will understand that after being away from the gym 3 weeks, that helps my sanity.
Hopefully I will continue to improve and the PT does the trick because I do not want those 3 vertebrae fused. That would be the last solution if nothing else works and the situation deteriorates. My doctor did tell me that the outcome on this particular operation is consistantly good.
From my research, it seems these bones spurs tend to happen over time with age, injury or as a result of stresses the bone has incurred. I cannot help but think that the heavy stresses and demands I have put on my spine after 30+ years of lifting (especially all the deads, shrugs, etc.) has contributed to the process in my case. When I get past this and back to the gym full time, a major overhaul of my training methods is way overdue.
Roll with it Brick. Not the first time.