Upate #2

I went to a neurologist in Erie today who looked at my MRI results. He thinks that possibly the fracture is from something that happened awhile ago. He ordered a cat scan because it shows bone better than an MRI. He will look at it and probably have me get a flex X-ray also. That is where they have me put my neck in different positions and x-ray them. He also saw some bone spurs. He feels that most likely I can get better with physical therapy. He did say there were herniated discs. I really don't feel I know anything more now than when I went up there. We will see what happens after the cat scan.

Update

Saw my family doctor yesterday. She explained what was going on with my neck. Basically my neck is kind of a mess. In addition to the fracture, all the vertebra in my neck are hernieated.  This means that they are pushing down on each other and thats whats causing my pain. All the nerves come down the spinal column and out to the extremities. Right now I am on meds to get the pain and inflammation under control. I have an appt with Dr Macielak Sept 2nd. I also am getting an appt with Dr. Dalton to get his opinion.
   So far I'm being told they can treat this with medication. I may have to get injections at some point. Surgery is kind of a last resort if everything else fails.  

Now What!!

Well, about 6 weeks ago my son Dave and I went dirt bike riding for fathers day. I had an incident where I was rounding a corner and did'nt notice a low handing branch over thrall. I hit my head pretty hard and was thrown off the bike. ( I was wearing a helmet). I was worried about a concussion but didn't have any symptoms so I didn't get anything checked out. I did go to the chiropractor and get adjusted. All was fine unit last week. On Friday I was in the finals of the annual strength  contest at Bill Lawrences gym. It was a very strenous contest but I finished it with no problems. Didn't win but still felt good about my performance. I felt fine the rest of the week. Then Wednesday I helped my sister Suzy move some things because she sold her house and was under the gun to get her stuff out by Friday. Then on Thursday morning about 4 AM I woke up to severe chest pain and pain shooting down my left arm. Needless to say I woke my wife and rushed off to the emergency room. They ran all the cardiac tests and found nothing wrong with my heart (Thank God). I told them about my bike accident so they ordered neck x-rays which showed nothing.Then then ordered an MRI. It turns out I have a fracture in one of my neck vertebra. Probably the strength contest and the moving caused thing to flare up. They put me in the neck brace immediately and contacted a neurosurgeon. Dr Macielak looked at the MRI and decided the best treatment would be to manage the pain and inflammation with medication. The disks are bulging and pushing on my nerves causing the pain in my left arm. The meds should bring the swelling down and relieve the pain. I need to see Macilak in a couple of weeks and he will determine what more to to if anything at that time. I was told my neck is a mess and was lucky I wasn't paralyzed with all the activity I have done in the last couple of weeks. All I can do now is wait and see if the meds work and stay in this brace  so the fracture will heal correctly. Right now I still have quite a bit of pain in my left arm. Hopefully the drugs will take care of that.