Question RE: stretching neck

[Lulu]

I really appreciate all the wonderful advice in this forum! I searched through some of the threads regarding my question and I didn't find the specific info I need. Please forgive me if I am asking something that has been covered.
I am seeing a friend/client for the first time today. He is experiencing numbness in the lateral digits of his right hand. Chiro. hasn't helped and traction has reduced the numbness to just his thumb. So, I am thinking he probably has a bulging disc in his lower cervicals. Anyway, my question is, in addition to some assessment and deep work on the various muscles involved, can I do some stretching without compromising the already compromised disc? Passive stretching or facilitated? He is a very stocky fellow with a shortened neck, if that helps at all.
Thank you for your help!

 

[Yellowcake .]

Why do you think he has a bulging disc? Did he have an xray that confirms this diagnosis?

Hypertonic muscles in the pecs, anterior and lateral neck can all produce the symptoms you mention, be unrelieved by chiropractic adjustment, but partially relieved by traction.

How is his posture? Does he have a forward head posture? Are his shoulders rounded? Does the numbness in his fingers change depending on arm or shoulder position? neck position?

Facilitated, passive and active stretching could all be helpful, but if you really think he has a bulging cervical disc, you need to refer him to an ortho for some xrays and eval. Otherwise, just start gentle treatment, like you would with any other neck pain patient, focusing on increasing ROM of the neck and shoulder girdle, releasing tight, facilitated muscles, and toning the inhibited ones.

 

[hnmmnhm?]

He had some xrays with his chiro and there was narrowing between the lower cervicals. He does carry his head forward and has rounded shoulders. He was a roofer for decades and now he does a job on an assembly line where he has to look down all the time. He had never had a massage before. He didnt report any change in the numbness of his fingers, Except for the slight improvement due to the traction. After I had posted the above, it occurred to me that if traction was working then it would be okey to do some stretching. He had a really hard time relaxing, so I started out real slow and easy and eventually he started to relax so I could really get into his neck. I did some movement assessment before he got on the table and it appeared he was having problems with his right levator, he reported his chiro told him it was the trap. As I was working at the superior angle of the scapula he felt the referral into his tingling fingers. So I did some basic trigger point and held the spot until he reported a lessening of the symptoms. I'd be interested in seeing how he is feeling today.

 

[Candace]

One more thing....

In answer to BreatheBodywork, I would think if he had a bulging disc his chiro would have said something. He saw him seven times. This is the reason massage therapists dont try to diagnose.