Prognosis for Cervical Herniated Disc

[olivo]

Am 42yr old flight attendant. Recently diagnosed with right posteolateral C5-6 herniated nucleus pulposus with evidence of severe right foramina stenosis secondary to uncovertebral arthitis.Anterior spondylosis C5-6 C6-7. Bulging disc C6-7 and degenerative disc diseace C6-7.
I have better days than others. One day I have a mild pain others I can barely get off bed. I guess what bother me the most is this neck stiffness. Since I was diagnosed am scare of making any mayor movement with my neck and it feels more stiff.
Can I do any exercise? If I can which exercise will you suggest?
If my lumbar MRI's are ok why I have this major low back pain? Is it related to the neck?
Do you think my jobn will worsen my condition?
This is all new to me so please help me.
Thanks

[PaulMD]

Hi.

This low back pain can have several causes, and spine problems are not just the culprit.  Pain can come from strained muscles, mostly due to stress of work and posture.  This is the more likely explanation in the absence of definite spine injury, and it is also very hard to pin on the cervical spine problem.

There are specialists that can help you regarding the exercises, and I believe it is hard to prescribe an exercise program through this forum due to the fragility of the situation.  A professional physical therapist or a physiatrist (doctor specialized in rehabilitation) can prescribe and supervise controlled exercises that can ultimately benefit your stiff cervical spine.

For now, avoid as much stress as possible (though I know this may be difficult) and make sure you have adequate rest.

Regards and God bless.

[Carmel66]

Hi, I ended up having a lamenectomy of my cervical spine due to a car crash. First I must tell you I found in the moring to put a hand towel by your bed so when getting up from lying down putting it round your neck and pulling it from the two ends forward with one hand and using the other hand to leaver yourself of the bed to a sitting position really helps. How you get up in the morning sets you off for the rest of the day, so do take care. Lower back pain can be caused I found from not being able to move your spine correctly as it is a 'S' shape your using more pressure on your lower back. Physio will help you so ask your doctor or specialist to seek this out. Use your neck normaly and try hard not to tense your neck or shoulder muscles as it makes it worse. All I can advise is remember how you get out of bed as this puts added pressure on your spine.  If you do (remember if?) in the future have neck surgery, it was the best thing I had and now 100% better

[sherel]

Hi I had surgery on c56712 yrs ago with no relief. found extra magneseum to heop with neck and shoulder pain , it relaxes muscles. I also found some other great nutritional supplements,that i Am willing to share with you , contacting
me I suppose would be best ***@****

[sherel]

my surgery was c 5,6&7 removed fused and titanium wasnt good for me at all.
daveandsherry gmail

[Carmel66]

Everyone who did have neck surgery, I had a year to eventually start to see the benefits and I recomend you do what I did to overcome my neck injury. I did light weights for each different muscles in my upper body, yeah they ached but I persisted! Three months of doing this is slowly stopped hurting as my neck and upper body muscles helped to support my spine. I saw a programme on telly about it, so I thought if this man on there had broken his neck and back and were all built the same then so can I, as I am not as bad as him, so all I can say is so can you all. It does take an awful lot of work it's not easy but is worth it!