Herniated disc pain?

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I was hit by a drunk driver a few weeks ago and sustained a neck injury. After an MRI, I was told I had a herniated C5 and C6 (the back of my neck, towards the base). The orthopedic doc I saw brushed me off and told me I should be fine because it wasn't a major herniation and I wasn't experiencing much pain.

The past few days (over three weeks following the accident), it's suddenly gotten worse and I'm scared it's going to be worse than I'd thought. This specialist, who is the only one covered by my insurance who specializes in necks, cannot see me until 10/17.

I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar position? I've seen conflicting advice on the Internet about the use of heat wraps to treat herniated disc pain ... anyone know anything about this? I have very little in the way of medical coverage and thanks to PA's screwed up laws, I cannot collect damages until if/when the at-fault driver is convicted of DUI, so I'm really trying to avoid another ER visit and racking up even more medical costs ...

Why would the orthopedic doctor brush off a herniated disk, especially one near the neck? There is so much that can happen with an injury like that. As for the question if I've been in a similar position, I've not been in a accident, so I can't say for the best treatment for it. I hope that you can recover quickly and safely.

Interesting post for sure. I'm actually scheduled for an MRI tomorrow for a compressed S1 nerve root that has basically caused my right foot to go numb. No pain, no problems with function ... I just can't feel a damn thing. Stepped on a mouse trap a week and a half ago and had no reaction.

So anyway, here's my deal. I ran into a tractor-trailer 9.5 years ago and cracked my L1 vertabrae. My back really hasn't been the same since. Lots of sciatic nerve issues but I just sucked it up until my right foot started going all tingley. So a couple of months ago I went to the Doc and he scheduled me for an EMG, which showed the S1 compression. I presume it's related to my accident but he's less convinced.

Anyway, I saw the Doc yesterday in advance of my MRI and he told me that he could pretty much take any healthy 25-year-old off the street and do an MRI which would show some signs of degenerative disc disease. More or less told me that I would have to live with the numb foot unless I wanted surgery which could actually wind up causing me MORE back pain. Gonna do the MRI anyway just in the interest in seeing how effed up things are back there, but likely it will lead nowhere but to document that my back sucks.

Good luck.

Thanks and good luck to you, too, with your MRI ,Catamount. I got in to see my orthopedic guy early yesterday and was prescribed 4-6 weeks of physical therapy at 2 sessions a week. It's like they think I'm made of money, lol.

So in addition to the S1 nerve root compression, my MRI showed an L5 disc protrusion and a touch of arthritis. Doc recommended pain management. So yay ... my lower back sucks. Actually, I'm kind of glad it all worked out the way it did since I was worried that I had something bigger going on nuerologically when my right foot started going tingley and numb. But I can deal with a little pain. Actually, I've been dealing with pain ever since my car wreck; now I just know the exact source of it.

im going to the doc Dec. 13th to get my back and hips checked. im almost completly num from the waste down so yes bad backs suck.

^^I'm really sorry to hear that. Hope you get some answers on the 13th and can get some treatment that will help.

yes, yes it will. I"m thinking keppra and valium would work well.