Question
Hello Dr and thank you very much for taking the time to help me out.  I am a 36 year old male very fit and active.  I have been running, cycling and lifting weights since my teens.
On 11 Jan 07 while doing heavy dumbell shoulder presses (ie 80 lbs) I felt pain in my upper back and neck region and stopped the session.  I actually had done this type of strain/injury a couple of times in the last 3 to 4 years so i did not think it was that serious.  Within 10 days the pain/discomfort had completely gone and within 2 weeks I had returned to the gym.  Unfortunately I again injured the same area on 4 Feb 2007.  It felt worse than the earlier one.  I went to my dr the next day and had an MRI as well which showed mild central canal stenosis at C5/6 level, mild to moderate left C5/6 foraminal stenosis, no abnormal cervical cord signal to suggest underlying cervical myelopathy and no further significant findings.

I have had physio treatment twice a week, mainly traction and some massaging of the neck and muscles.  I have been told that basically rest is the best treatment and that the injury should heal in a few months.

I justwanted to ask what the prospects are for eventually returning to the gym and doing the weights I normally do eg.  220 - 270 lbs bench press, 130 lbs barbell curl etc etc.  In your experience do patients with this type of injury make a full and complete recovery?  Of course I understand that it may take many months to get there however being normally an extremely active person and now having gone to no physical exercising whatsoever I am finding difficult to cope and would love to have something to look forward to even if it is as I say many months away.

Thanks very much,


Paul

Answer
You have every chance in the world to recover completely, but why do you need to move that kind of weight around.  I was a competitive strongman for 4-5 years and then I became a doctor and realized that the weight is not important, it is the form.  I'm sure you think you are using "proper form", but I guarantee you the is some flaw in your technique.  I also suggest getting some treatments from a good chiropractor.  With your exercise habits, you are going to need some continuous care, for joint health, muscle health and bony alignment.  I am a member of a group that do some amazing things naturally.  If you are interested, go to www.sorsi.com to locate a doctor near you.  I am in St. Paul, Minnesota and would be more than happy to treat you.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please email me.