Hello doctor, I am suffering from severe pain in my cervicothoracic spine and upper right back and scapula and right shoulder and right arm accompanied by numbness in the right forearm since last 40 days. The pain is acute during bending, sitting and walking but I get some relief while lying down on bed on my back. I got my MRI done in which it has been revealed that there is a diffuse annular bulge with posterior right lateral disc extrusion at D1-D2 level which is causing severe compression over right lateral recess with entrapment of the exiting nerve root. I have tried McKenzie neck exercises but my right upper back and cervicothoracic pain has only increased. Please advise how can I get relief ftom acute pain. Please suggest me treatment to get relief from acute pain in cervicothoracic spine region, upper right side back, scapula area and right shoulder and arm. I tried McKenzie neck exercises but my pain has only increased.
Hello. I read your concern. I would like to know the exercises McKenzie correction you had done for reduction. You need a proper manual therapy assessment and mechanical restoration with mobilization. I would like to advise you to get your D1 properly mobilized with a physiotherapist. The mobilization of the facer joint will also help you a lot. In your case, McKenzie should work better as I do not know what have you done. And what kind of mechanical restoration was done and manipulation performed? Kindly give me details so that we can suggest your correction.  Manipulative correction of deranged spinal alignment will help you to recover faster. Keep icing your upper back and lower part of the neck. Avoid prolong bending forward movement. Try massaging over upper neck and scapula gently to reduce spasm. And thereby reducing the pain. Try lying down in that position that gives you maximum comfort. Kindly revert back so that I can help you to choose better techniques and speedy recovery. Postural. Rest ice mobilization of soft tissue and manipulative correction of deranged segments. Segmental stability exercises. Avoid provocative postures.