So... I have been diagnosed with a severe bulging disc in my cervical spine. Surgery has been suggested. I am scheduled to meet with a surgeon next week sometime. However, I have been trying to research less invasive means of treatment, and have happened upon this decompression machine. Does anyone know anything about this type of treatment. I have looked it up in google, but have not yet found conclusive evidence of it's success rate. I'd love any info at all. Or anyone who has been treated for said diagnosis as well!

My bulging disc is in my C4/5 region. It is very significant... so much so that my holistic doctor feels it needs to be removed... and he is usually against surgery, or feels surgery is a last resort. Granted, that suggestion from him was taken. However, being a resourceful person that I am, I am looking into alternatives. I do have a really high tolerance for pain... and my doctor also said he was surprised that I am actually still functioning, as the disc appears to be pressing on several nerves and constricting blood flow. These features definitely have me concerned. Blood flow is what keeps everything working, and what keeps us alive. I need to find a way to "fix" this before my arm becomes necrotic from lack of blood flow, possibly requiring an amputation... won't everyone who has offered me all these other forms of treatment just cringe if I would have to resort to such a surgery given that the actual problem was not addressed?

I am also a person who believe in treating the problem/diagnosis/disability more so than just the symptoms. The prednisone is suppose to treat the inflammation and possibly the pain associated with the problem. The Vicodin is suppose to treat the pain associated with the problem. The Soma is suppose to treat the muscle tightness related to the actual injury. I don't want to be on all these meds... I want the actual problem solved. I will try anything to decrease my pain, or my "concept" of pain... however if the problem still exists, then there's never really any treatment other than that which can correct it.

I have now lived with this progressive pain/numbness/tingling/inability to grasp things/decreased fine motor coordination for two weeks (I know two weeks in not long, but it definitely has taken a toll on my ability to perform my job and care for myself and my family), with no relief... actually, it has gotten worse and worse, and soon, I will be bald (but only on my left side, as I only have full use of my left arm/hand) due to ripping out my hair because I can no longer cope! THAT, or perhaps killing myself because death with no pain is certainly better than this that I am going through. I can't sit/stand/lie down/move in any comfort. I have to take medicine to drug myself to sleep, because I can't sleep without it! And if I don't sleep, I am too tired to work, let alone care for my children. i don't want to live like this!

I appreciate everyone's concerns and your suggestions. I will look into everything, and get whatever I can afford to try. But, ultimately, in the end, the decision I make will be what will end the suffering before the suffering, in a round-about way, ends me!

That said... anyone have any suggestions---affordable suggestions I can try to fix this?

hmmmm maybe a chiropracter or osteopath

though sounds like you might be headed for a microdiscectomy (though as it's only been a couple of weeks, that might be a little while off yet)..... it's not the blood flow you need to worry about, the problem is the nerve damage (you know the pins and needles, numbness and lack of coordination) - the sooner something is done, the less likely it is to be a permanent thing.

The surgery isn't fun but worth it to avoid the permanent nerve damage problem. I had a microdiscectomy on my lower back three weeks ago (I had similar problems you do with your arm, but with my leg - not all fixed but slowly improving) ... I should be back at work in a couple of weeks...

it sounds scary (I know I was shitting myself before hand) .. in fact it is really fucking scary....but it's not the worst surgery in the world... it is usually a keyhole procedure using tiny equipment and what they do is remove the disc gunk that is sticking out and putting pressure on the nerve... you're in hospital for a couple of days and then need some help around the house for a couple of weeks (the sucky thing for me has been no driving for 4 weeks, but that all might be different for neck surgery).

Hope things get better for you soon

Hope you have had improvement.

eta.... omg I am responding to an old thread... I hope you have had everything fixed by now Zan