Bosnt is correct, there was a thread about this a few months ago. In fact, I started it. Here is the link:
Anyone else have a hiernia in the upper spinal cord?
Anyone else have a hiernia in the upper spinal cord?
I have a hierniated disc between c5-c6. I had the pins and needles in my left arm along with serious pain!!! I was seriously thinking of pushing for surgery. But in the end, after trying different meds I got to one that helps. Now all I take is a muscle relaxer at bedtime and my pain is about 95% gone. Small pain returns when I do things that I should not like lift heavy objects and so forth. Along with the muscle relaxer I do traction twice a day for 15 minutes each time also. This has helped very much.
As to the surgery, as I mentioned I was pushing for it but, now that I feel much better and at least can live with what I have now, my plan is to wait a few more years. The thought of a doctor playing along with my spinal cord gives me the heebie jeebies. Also, medical and surgical advances are progresisng at a very fast rate therefore, it is my feeling that I wait a little bit more, better surgical research devlopment and techniques will be implemented - therefore reducing risk and improving odds that the surgey will be successful.
Iggy