Back Pain Forum - I Have a Neck Injury

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