HomeAnswersNeurologydisc bulgeI am in constant pain due to disc protrusion. Will surgery help?

I am in constant pain due to disc protrusion. Will surgery help?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At June 15, 2018
Reviewed AtSeptember 13, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have a small midline disc protrusion at C6/C7. Mild left side neural foramen C5/6 and C6/7 due to foraminal disc bulges. I am in constant pain daily and did three months with a chiro twice a week which has not helped and I am currently in my fourth week doing some kind of laser treatment (similar to acupuncture) followed by ultrasound treatment which has not helped either. Will surgery help? I am 39 and trying to have a baby (been doing IVF) want to try and fix the problem so it is not an issue when I have a baby. This has really impacted my life, I can no longer work as a carer as it is too physical for me and causes me too much pain. I can barely clean my own house and now have a cleaner helping me. I am desperate and scared it is going to get worse and that I will be in more pain when I am finally pregnant. Also, why are they wanting to repeat the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in four months for the thoracic spine?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. May I know what kind of pain you have? Is it radiating to your fingers starting from the neck? Do you have pain in both the hands or only tingling sensations? Any aggravating or relieving factors? You have been asked to repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after some time due to a small lesion in the thoracic cord which is of unclear significance.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Sharp pain in the left neck, burning pain around upper back between shoulder blades when I try to do something like light housework. Pins and needles in left hand and fingers, throbbing migraines at least two to three time a week. I had a car accident last year and that is when the pain started. Before the accident, I was pain-free, was working, exercising four times a week, now I can barely do anything.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. Burning pain around the chest can be explained by the thoracic lesion in the spinal cord which may be post-traumatic since there is no enhancement post contrast. Migraine will require a prophylactic medication like Amitriptyline 10 mg every night for a month at least along with Paracetamol for mild headaches and Sumatriptan 10 mg for severe headaches. For tingling sensations and burning sensations, I suggest Pregabalin (Lyrica) 75 mg 0-0-1 for a month. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and start taking the medicines with their consent.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Nene Devavrat Harihar
Dr. Nene Devavrat Harihar

Neurology

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