Dr. Corenman:
I fell down stairs of a helicopter serving in the US Army at age 19 and sustained back problems since. Here I am, now almost 36 and I suffer from DDD, Osteoarthritis and multiple levels of protruding discs. I have had multiple ES Injections; Gone through my rounds of physical therapy and medications; I had a recent percutaneous laser disc decompression of the L5-S1, and now have Cervial spinal issues that became asymptomatic post Lumbar Puncture from and ESI (done by a resident under doctor observation).
My C3-C4 Disc has a focal central disc extrusion that is migrating to the C3 level. I have a Central, paracentral/(subarticular) right disc extrusion.
have protrusions at other levels that don’t appear quite as bad, but my symptoms are: Severe headache within the 1st hour of being upright, shoulder blade pain (always on right side, intermittent left); stiff neck on right; bicep/forearm (icy/burn) sensation; numbness on right pinky and ring finger; however, when I sleep, I have awaken to my thumb, 1st finger and middle finger being totally numb on both hands.
I have MRI results that I am in the process of compiling the photos along with the report on a Word Document. The pain is so severe, that I would rather spend my days lying down.
What can be done to fix this issue?