Resolved question:
My aunt has been suffering from neck pain from the past two weeks. When she is lying on the bed she doesn't feel any pain. But when she sits,stands and keep walking she feels severe pain on the back of her neck and in the left shoulder. she even can't raise her left hand.
The MRI report says "diffuse disc bulges at c3-c4, c4-c5, c5-c6 and c6-c7 causing indentation over anterior thecal sack bilateral neutral recess narrowing and minimcal compression over the bilateral exiting nerve roots more so at the level of c5-c6".
As per the MRI report, our local Doctor did cervical traction with weights treatement for a week long. Then my aunt started feeling better and we stopped the traction treatment. Again after two days she started feeling the pain. Would you suggest whether the cervical traction is the right one OR she needs any other kind of treatment.
Thanks,
Srinivas.k
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Orthopedic Surgeon
Hello,
Thank you for your consult at DoctorSpring.
I have read your question with diligence. Five year results with cervical or lumber disc prolapse shows that physical therapy and surgery have equal results. Looking at complete details I will suggest you to guide her for traction therapy and
TENS therapy. This will help in reduction of pain. She will feel more better for long time if she continue this intermittent traction therapy at home also. She should also learn neck strengthening exercises from her therapist.
Hope this all will help her. Please let me know if you have any further queries.
Take care
Thanks for the helpful information. We will continue traction therapy and neck excercises. But how long the therapy should be taken, does it to be taken for life long? In which cases Doctor's prefer surgery rather than traction therapy? If any special symptoms provoke surgery, would you let us know those symptoms?
You are welcome.If there is continuous abnormal sensations at any part of body,loss of muscle power or weakness,difficulty during urination and defecation then these are red flag signs and surgery is indicated. Only presence of mild pain or intermittent abnormal sensations without any significant involvement of cord or nerve root in MRI can be treated intermittently with conservative therapy for 2-3 times a week.
Hope this will help you. Please let me know if you have any queries.
One of my questions in the previous query are not answered. How long the traction therapy should be taken, does it to be taken for life long?
If there are no symptoms then you may stop this.This is the reason why I have told you to take it intermittently.
With best wishes.