c4/c5 injury :-(

[toby]

Jesus Chirst. After the nerve damage I had few months ago (from a Aiki Jujutsu try out class, land flat on the mat 50KPH), I now have a dodgy sensation on my lower back when I bend my neck backward.

Osteo said it is inflamation and ask me to go back to him if it doesn't get any better in a few weeks time. I called him up and he said come to his colleague for another session. All he did was write me a ref for XRAY.

So I went to my Chinese Doctor who fixed my rotator cuff before. He told me what's wrong (something to do with hee nature curve of my neck..C4 and C5). I had 4 sessions with him. It is getting better but not much, and it is $85 a session. Everyone around me said he is ripping me off.

I went to a GP and he sent me to get a C/T scan. I'm kinda worried what's happen...

I laid off all my KB training at the moment. FML.

[Paul in Hobart]

Suggest you get the CT scan , post haste. And stay off training until it's reviewed.

[toby]

Had it done last week and getting the result today :-(

[toby]

Bulging discs it is...:(
Now waiting for my appointment with the Neurologist in St Vincent.

[Paul in Hobart]

Bulging discs it is...:(
Now waiting for my appointment with the Neurologist in St Vincent.
It is my belief that a bulge as opposed to rupture is caused by muscle tightness/trigger points (occasionally there are structural abnormalities including effect of any past trauma).

If you do not adress the tightness the problem will persist, putting you at risk of disc protrusion. Problem is , pain causes reflexive tightening and a vicious cycle.

Are you at risk of neck problems because of your work ; have you had past injury eg whiplash , is your neck usually a bit stiff?

A host of different sports put one at risk of spinal injury.
Recently I fell on my butt and hit my head , doing double "box" jumps onto a wet tree stump in the dark when I was tired. It was a reminder that certain activities are risky...I was lucky.

I hope Victor VD weighs in on this one soon. In the meantime , take it easy and spend some time reading up on cervical disc bulging so you will be informed when your neurologist makes his assessment. Also, a good physio will be able to assess any underlying muscular/pattern imbalances in your body.

A disc bulge is like "you have been warned".

[toby]

I'm now looking at my handsome 16KG Kettlebell. Where can I continue pressing you overhead, my friend?

I'm relatively loose with my neck. But I extend my neck quite a lot doing Deadlift

Past injuries:
1) I fell few years ago running in a ice factory (I was doing a music video there, not some sort of drugs raid running from the polices). Hit my head on the rafter and fell on my back.
2) Fell on my bum when I was playing in the snow a year ago.
3) Dropped on the mat in a very high spend by a akijujutsu teacher.

I have just type up my result:
"Conclusion
Multi-level cervical spondylosis.
Disc Bulge at C3-C4 and C4-C5 levels.
Focal posterior central disc protrusion at C5-C6 level impinging the thecal sac and causing spinal canal stenosis."

If you have too much time to kill and want to read about the full version, here you are:

Findings:
The alignment of the cervical spine is anatomic. The vertebral body heights are maintained. The facets are aslo well aligned.

The atlanto-dental interval and atlanto-axial joints are relatively unremarkable.

There are neurocentral joint gegenerative changes at C3-C4 and C5-C6 levels and to a lesser extent at C6-C7. Cervical spondylosis demonstrated at C3-C4 and more prominently at C5-C6 level and to a lesser extent at C6-C7

Marginal osteophytic lipping identified with little reduction in the posterior aspect of the disc height. Mild spondylotic changes identified at C4-C5 level.

Mild broad based disc bulge demonsrated at C3-C4 and C4-C5level.

Flattening of the anterior theca identified at these levels

At C5-C6 disc level there is a relatively large focal posterior central disc protrusion impining the anterior theca and there is a significant central spinal canal stenosis. There is also bilateral foraminal stenosis more so on the right side with bilateral foraminal disc bulge - disc bars. Slight right foraminal stenosis identifed at C6-C7 level.

[Paul in Hobart]

Toby , when are you getting your medical opinion? Those are significant findings - so stay away from trouble until you get the opinion. Im not so sure deadlifting is going to be good for you. And being dropped on a mat at high speed has not been good. Lots of walking for now!

[toby]

I haven't been DL for few weeks.
I was doing ROP but Stopped around a week ago
I got the result yesterday and they booked me in and no training for now about from riding bike to get gelato! :D

[toby]

Have a appointment with Neurosurgeon but it is a month away.
I can't feel the sensation anymore (but I haven't bend my neck back neither) and really want to get back to training!