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Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > I Have a Neck Injury
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Q: I Have a Neck Injury
asked by: Redneck on June 13th, 2006
New User
Hi all,

i am new here but I guess this is the best place to put this. I will give a little info on how I got my neck injury first.


I am a truck driver, I work for a company that hauls new truck's to dealership's. We haul them as they are stacked on top of one another piggy backed.

When we reach our destination we undeck these trucks one at a time (set them down on the ground using a chain hoist or wrecker)

november-2005 I was in nc (i live in ohio btw) undecking a set of trucks, it was a very nasty day, with wind and rain storms. I had my last truck on the ground, and I raised the hood actually it tilts forward and was leaned over the front tire/wheel and was unhooking my lifting strap. (this is easier to do from the top than down on the ground).


When all of the sudden the wind picks the hood up and slams it down onto my neck and back of my head.

I lifted it off me with the help of my trainer, and fell backwards into the chain hoist and just set down there for a few minutes. I never blacked out or anything just alot of pian in my head and neck, and felt a little dizzy.


I then had set there for about 10 minutes and decided to move to the back of the truck to uncage the brakes, I had to bend over to do this......And I just about fainted so I stood back up and it went away, I tried again and just about fainted and the pain in my neck came back so I decided to quit, and I told my trainer and he told me they(2 trainees and the trainer) would finish it up.


When they had all finished they returned to where I was. I was sitting in the office out of the weather still feeling light headed and dizzy and a bad headache and neck pain.

I told my trainer I was gonna call into the safety department and report the incident, he said go ahead.

I did and they told me to call the bwc so I did and got the ball started so to speak.

When my trainer cleared our loads out with central support he told them that one of his trainees got injured and he wanted to know what to do with him.

They asked what happened he explained to them what my symptoms were and how it happened. They ask him if I wwas going to be able to fly home. (btw this is how we travel from place to place is by flying). I answered well I guess so, but I am no Dr. They reccomended me flying home and seeing my own Dr.


I flew home the wife picked me up, and we headed straight for the er. They did a catscan and x-ray's but said they did not see anything, and I was to follow up with a dr if not better by 2 days later.


I went 2 days later and started seeing a worker's comp dr for the injury, I have been seeing this dr ever since now.


We requested a mri in january and I finaly got it may 8th 2006. It shows 3 bulged disk on the left side of c-4 and c-5 and c-5 and c-6 and c-6 and c-7 area. With the potential of a pinched nerve as well in the area.


My w/c dr immediantly told me that for my age it was normal too see at least 2 bulged disk.


I recently allowed my chiropractor to view my mri cd, and she said 2 of the disk were not so bad, but that 1 was pretty sever. As it looked liked it was torn from the center out and was pressing on my spinal cord.


Now ever since this has happened I have had some leg swelling but when I would go to bed it would go away.

Here in the past couple of weeks the swelling in my legs is constant, and laying down is all that will relieve it. I was put on a water pill it did nothing to lesson the swelling, just made me go to the bathroom all the time.


My father-in-law has the same injury as mine only he was struck by a 2x4 piece of lumber in the back of the neck. His legs swell constantly also and go down after sleep.


My dr says this has nothing to do with the injury I have. I say it does as this has only ever occured after I got hurt.


What are your suggestion's?


Thanks in advance
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Redneck
replied on June 14th, 2006
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Bump
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sandyallen
replied on June 14th, 2006
Extremely eHealthy
I am not a dr but I have had a lot of trouble with my neck, I would suggest getting somemore opinions until you are satisfied with the ones that you get including a neuro surgeon, do you have numbness or tingling in your legs or any weakness and if you are experiencing any pain still I would go see a pain specialist and possibly like a .U.C.L.A or some type of medical university where you can go from one type of dr to the other.
Good luck and keep us posted!
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IMShirl
replied on June 14th, 2006
Experienced User
Hi Redneck
Hi redneck ~

I see you really are looking for some help here. I hate to say not many visit this board. Please check out spine and beyond I am sure you will get some replies there. If you want just copy and paste your post here over there. If you don't and would like other links to support boards please let me know and I will get some others to you.


If you would rather stay here let me know and I will repy here to your post.



Imshirl :d
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IMShirl
replied on June 14th, 2006
Experienced User
Hi Again I Just Had to Repy......
Hi redneck ~

first off remember a worker's comp doctor is not working for you! They work for your employer. I am not sure cervical disc bulges are normal at any age? I know lumbar disc bulges are. I know there is a lot of movement with the cervical spine which could cause many problems with the cervical spine but since you were injured I wouldn't mess around or hold what the w/c doctor is saying at this point. How old are you by the way? I hope you are not allowing your chiro to work on you right now? I wouldn't at the very least until you see a specialist like a neurosurgeon. I personally would never let a chiro touch my neck!

With this comment of the doctor you are seeing: "my dr says this has nothing to do with the injury I have." you need to run fast away from this doctor and find another doctor (neurosurgeon). Please stick to this comment you made!!!! i say it does as this has only ever occured after I got hurt.

I am 42 y/o and have had 3 cervical fusions at this point, 2 anterior and 1 posterior and I am fused from c3-7. I am sorry to say I have problems still with c1-3 and c7-t1. I do have to say I am doing very well from the surgery's I have had and the remaining levels that are bad in the cervical spine are not bad enough to do more at this time. I have also had 4 lumbar surgery's. Btw, I was never in a mva or had any injury that I am aware of.

I just had to reply to your post.

Imshirl :d
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Redneck
replied on June 14th, 2006
New User
Re: Hi Again I Just Had to Repy......
imshirl wrote:
hi redneck ~

first off remember a worker's comp doctor is not working for you! They work for your employer. I am not sure cervical disc bulges are normal at any age? I know lumbar disc bulges are. I know there is a lot of movement with the cervical spine which could cause many problems with the cervical spine but since you were injured I wouldn't mess around or hold what the w/c doctor is saying at this point. How old are you by the way? I hope you are not allowing your chiro to work on you right now? I wouldn't at the very least until you see a specialist like a neurosurgeon. I personally would never let a chiro touch my neck!

With this comment of the doctor you are seeing: "my dr says this has nothing to do with the injury I have." you need to run fast away from this doctor and find another doctor (neurosurgeon). Please stick to this comment you made!!!! i say it does as this has only ever occured after I got hurt.
btw, I was never in a mva or had any injury that I am aware of.


I just had to reply to your post.

Imshirl :d


i reposted this on the other site as well......Thank you for the reply's.

I am 35 y/o and yes I was involved in a rearend collision 2 years ago, but went to the dr and had x-ray's and I checked out ok.

No I am not allowing my chiro to do anything other than to use ultrasound therapy on me right now......She is the one that will not do anymore than that.
I have been thinking of switching dr's but I also understand where she is coming from as well.
The employer has never accepted my mri result's as a "new" condition yet.
They have however excepted my first claim- "cervical sprain, and head contusion"
the mri we requested was denied from january-3 to may-8th of this year then they granted it finaly.
My lawyer say's it will be a fight now, as I am scheduled to see another ime dr the 20th of this month. The ime appointment is at my employer's request.
My w/c comp dr is my dr not from my employer so I tend to go with what she say's. I understand she can be held liable for saying "yea this is all contributed from your injury" without my company recognizing the "new claim".
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