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I've been watching the Olympics and thinking maybe I should get back into some kind of exercise program. But I've had neck pain off and on (especially when I do try to exercise). What can I do about t ...more
I've been told that my dizziness is probably coming from an old neck injury from high school but no one seems to know how to correct the problem. Can you suggest anything? Any exercises that might hel ...more
Tell me about balloon kyphoplasty to treat a spinal compression fracture. I read about this on-line but it sounds too good to be true. What's the downside? Vertebral compression fracture refers to a m ...more
I'm seeing a physiotherapist for neck pain from a car accident two months ago. She says I have "trigger points" that have to be released before I'll get my neck motion back. Is this a normal problem t ...more
I've had neck pain for years so I Googled 'neck pain' and your site came up first. Without seeing me, what can you tell me about the best way to get out of this hole I'm in? It is always a good idea t ...more
Can you run me through a list of things that could go wrong with a cervical disc replacement? I'm looking into this for myself. I have a C5-C6 degenerated disc. Don't want a fusion but not sure how go ...more
I've seen my regular doctor, a physiotherapist, and a chiropractor for a whiplash injury I got three months ago. I'm still no better and in pain every day. I don't know what to do next. What do you ad ...more
About six weeks ago, I had a car crash that put me in a neck brace for a month. Now that I'm out it's very difficult to turn my head. I certainly can't turn quickly and that's a major problem driving. ...more
I had a car accident last week that has left me shaken. I expected neck pain and got it. What I didn't expect was to be so dizzy. How long does this last? Studies show that up to 40 per cent of people ...more
I saw a special on TV about whiplash injuries. I was especially interested because I had a car accident three years ago and still have neck pain. What I wonder is how do they get those X-rays showing ...more
Please help me out here. I'm seeing a physiotherapist for neck pain following a terrible car accident I had three months ago. She tries to tell me some of my pain is coming from fear of movement. She ...more
I've had a neck fusion at C56 and now the C45 level is starting to go.Is it possible to have a disc replacement at C45 with a fusion at C56? And can I have the fusion removed and put a disc in there? ...more
I was told after my neck fusion that it's possible the disc above or below the fused level might start to break down from the added stress and strain. Doesn't having the bad segment fused stop motion ...more
I've been having some neck and back issues off and on for weeks. I've been warned by my parents not to have anyone crack my neck because it could cause paralysis. What about having the middle of my ba ...more
I was in a car wreck six months ago and diagnosed with a whiplash injury. Despite medical treatment, the pain and stiffness still hasn't completely gone away. The nurse practitioner I saw thought I wa ...more
I'm a college football player. The doc says I've had one too many stingers and the problem has become "chronic". What does that mean? As you already know, a stinger is an injury to a nerve in the neck ...more
Mother has been complaining about neck pain and stiffness for the last couple of months. She has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but it's only in her hands. Is it possible these new symptoms ...more
What's the difference between a stinger/burner and a neuropraxia? The term neuropraxia describes symptoms of bilateral (affecting both sides) burning, numbness, loss of sensation, and muscle weakness ...more
Can a person inherit Schmorl's nodes in the spine? My adult children and I all have these on X-rays. Schmorl's nodes represent a herniation of the disc material into the adjacent endplate. These defec ...more
I just came back from my six-month check-up after having artificial disc replacement surgery. They put the new disc in my neck at the C5-6 level. I guess I already have some bone growing where it shou ...more
If a person develops heterotopic ossification after a disc replacement in the neck, will it affect how long the implant lasts? It could though not enough research has been done to provide convincing e ...more
My mother just had neck surgery to fuse three of her cervical vertebrae. She's moving very stiffly and can hardly function. We keep asking the doctor if she should be in a brace but the answer is alwa ...more
I have neck pain that goes down my left arm. The doctor has ruled out heart symptoms and thinks it might be a pinched nerve. When I put a soft collar around my neck, the symptoms go away. Does that po ...more
Can you please explain a brachial plexus injury to me? My brother is a garbage man. His arm got caught in the automatic trash compactor. They say he has this type of nerve injury and may never recover ...more
Dad is 72-years old and is having more and more trouble walking. We know he has stenosis in his low back. He's also complaining about a shock sensation in his arms. Can these symptoms all come from hi ...more
I've been told that the neck and arm pain I have is from a condition called cervical myelopathy. No one seems able to tell me if I'll get better or not. What happens to most people with this problem? ...more
I've had a pinched nerve off and on in my neck for several years. I'm trying to avoid having surgery, so I've been seeing a physiotherapist. It seems to be helping. I really like the traction treatmen ...more
My physiotherapist was doing joint mobilizations and traction on me for a pinched nerve on the left side of my neck. But a new study showed that it didn't really help, so we've stopped using it. I def ...more