u/Hyperninja76

Hi I’m new to this community, my names Josh and I am 24 about to be 25. When I was 23 years old I experienced a herniated disc in between c2 and c3, it took me forever to get a diagnosis which I’m sure many of you have experienced. I finally got an MRI and it showed the herniation and a bone spur on c3. This has been such a battle and struggle that I never thought I’d have to deal with. So many questions unanswered and so much reluctancy for seeing doctors cause it’s such a hassle and it’s hard to find the “one”.

I did however find a surgeon who highly suggested disc replacement surgery and bone spur shaving as opposed to a fuse and removal of the disc. I was in so much pain I felt that I needed it. Once I got it I did feel different, better but I got worse in some ways. My neck pain seemed to lesson as well as my arm nerve pain, but then I seemed to develop a seriously bad neuropathy in my face. Specifically in the cheeks and jaw get aggravated very easily and it can become extremely painful to the point where I need to sit down somewhere by myself and relax and breathe. I haven’t gone to a doctor since my surgery or I suppose since my post surgery doctor check up which was almost two years ago.

It’s just very frustrating because my current symptoms seem to very and I never really notice things getting better however I have days where it’s a lot less severe but that might happen once or twice a month. I want to be hopeful but as time goes on it just feels endless. Another issue that’s not as bad but occurs is random shocks of nerve pain like electricity in specific parts of my body, left side of my chest close to my clavicle and in the balls of my feet, also in my neck occasionally.

The most difficult part of this is that when I facial pain gets intense especially around people, I have a difficult time just functioning; speaking, thinking critically, answering questions.

So I have finally come to ask people on the internet because I have no idea what to do and I really would love some advice. Is it possible my nerves are just healing? Wouldn’t 2 years of recovery from the surgery show significant signs of improvement? Am I permanently stuck this way. Do nerves reprogram actually or will they just stay stuck? My c3 and disc were poking my spinal cord for roughly a little more than a year. So maybe there is permanent damage?

Hi I’m new to this community, my names Josh and I am 24 about to be 25. When I was 23 years old I experienced a herniated disc in between c2 and c3, it took me forever to get a diagnosis which I’m sure many of you have experienced. I finally got an MRI and it showed the herniation and a bone spur on c3. This has been such a battle and struggle that I never thought I’d have to deal with. So many questions unanswered and so much reluctancy for seeing doctors cause it’s such a hassle and it’s hard to find the “one”.

I did however find a surgeon who highly suggested disc replacement surgery and bone spur shaving as opposed to a fuse and removal of the disc. I was in so much pain I felt that I needed it. Once I got it I did feel different, better but I got worse in some ways. My neck pain seemed to lesson as well as my arm nerve pain, but then I seemed to develop a seriously bad neuropathy in my face. Specifically in the cheeks and jaw get aggravated very easily and it can become extremely painful to the point where I need to sit down somewhere by myself and relax and breathe. I haven’t gone to a doctor since my surgery or I suppose since my post surgery doctor check up which was almost two years ago.

It’s just very frustrating because my current symptoms seem to very and I never really notice things getting better however I have days where it’s a lot less severe but that might happen once or twice a month. I want to be hopeful but as time goes on it just feels endless. Another issue that’s not as bad but occurs is random shocks of nerve pain like electricity in specific parts of my body, left side of my chest close to my clavicle and in the balls of my feet, also in my neck occasionally.

The most difficult part of this is that when I facial pain gets intense especially around people, I have a difficult time just functioning; speaking, thinking critically, answering questions.

So I have finally come to ask people on the internet because I have no idea what to do and I really would love some advice. Is it possible my nerves are just healing? Wouldn’t 2 years of recovery from the surgery show significant signs of improvement? Am I permanently stuck this way. Do nerves reprogram actually or will they just stay stuck? My c3 and disc were poking my spinal cord for roughly a little more than a year. So maybe there is permanent damage?