Herniated disk, go conservitave or aggressive?

Herniated disk, go conservitave or aggressive?

Q:

Age: 31 Sex: M Concern: 1 Cervical herniated disk with 3 others mildly buldging

My c6-7 disk is herniated with pressure on my c-7 nerve, I also have mildly bulging disks between c5-6, c4-5, and c2-3. Origionally my condition was severe and I could not get off of the sofa for 4 days. I had severe arm, shoulder, tricep, and mid upper back pain on my left side, and all of these muscles were constantly spasaming almost constantly for two days of the four. I had two fingers (pointer and thumb) which were numb and still pretty much are slightly numb with pins and needles. After 3 weeks of diagnosis and pain killers the pain in my back shoulder and arm has reduced significantly. I have had 2 neurosurgeons opinions and 1 wants to go consertive and try steroid injections and the other doctor wants to do a fusion now. I have done a lot of research and found that fusions put more pressure and work load on the disk above and below the fusion. Being that the disk above my herniated disk is already mildly bulging is this a good idea? I do not want to risk any more para! lisys in my left arm so I don't want to be too consertive, I am scheduled to take the steroid injection monday so if I don't hear from you I will go through with it. What are my other options for the herniation besides fusion? And should I look for a doctor that is willing to try something other than a fusion? EX. Formanotomy, Laminectomy...

-- Jeff

A:

Unless you have severe, intractable pain, or impending irreversible spinal cord compression syndrome (cauda equina syndrome), go with the conservative route. What is there to gain with fusion?

-- Sherman Nam Tran, M. D.

to ask Dr. Tran.