[helpme123]

#6066

I was wondering if Muscle spasms can be detected on an x-ray or even a MRI ? And also was wondering can muscle spasms be permanent and cause extreme muscle tightness that it can press on the bone and cause bone pain? Thank you

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6070

Muscles that spasm are a functional aspect of lower back disorders and cannot be “seen” on an MRI or X-ray (unless there is an antalgic list which would be evident on standing X-rays). Muscle spasms are typically a result of back disorders and not a cause. Muscles spasms are a result of instability as a protective mechanism or nerve irritation that induces the spasm.

There are rare insertional tendonitis issues (like tennis elbow of the back) such as ischial tuberosity tendonitis but in the erector spinae group (back muscles), this is exceedingly rare.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[helpme123]

#6097

Thank you Dr Corneman, I appreciate your time and Knowledge. I also was wondering if you would know can having a syrinx as small as I do become symptommatic they go back to asymptommatic , As I am still I believe dealing with other issues and cause to be having symptoms of Muscle pain and bone pain , I feel as a result of that cause of these symptoms it could of also possibly caused that syrinx to become symptommatic as I am dealing with these symptoms that are steady 24-7 …

This is a list of symptoms that I am concerned about that has never left or calmed down since February of this year;

When I lift my hands above my head, the muscles on my shoulders and across all my upper mid back section is very tight and I have pain, it feels like muscle and bone pain, and when I do that I have a burning pain that feels like its coming from the muscles .

My neck feels like theres pressure like something is pushing my neck forward, and its very tight trying to turn it ‘

I also feel like the cervical verterbrae is feeling of being streched or pulled

I have a shooting pain constantly in my left arm where the intensity goes from intense to mild

The past few days I am having bursts of shooting pains across my shoulders and arms

My left leg muscles is extremly tight , its difficult crossing my left leg across my right leg

My legs especially my left leg is really heavy as well as my arms

I have been having that same burning sensation across my back , legs and arms

My face , the muscles on my face around my cheecks are really tight , when I cry I can not even say words cause its so extremly tight, especially my left cheek

It feels like all my muscles are so tight, my shoulders feel like someone is constanly pushing me downward when I turn my neck a certain way I get a burst of stinging

The scariest symptom I have is the hand pain, my hands dont feel texture any where on my body, my body feels like its covered in latex all over my body, my fingers are very painful, it feels like bone pain, and I have been having Bone pain coming from my back, shoulders etc as well, my hands ache, my wrist feels sore , and my left foot feels like bone pain on the bottom and side of my foot , I worry because I read somewhere abt the hands having symptoms from a syrinx.

Can you tell me if any of these symptoms are caused from a Syrinx ? I was wondering because coming off that medication and after I got in that hot tub back in December when I had my neck and back against the jets triggered alot of severe intense symptoms from Benzos withdrawl, , can a syrinx go into symptomatic and they calm down and go back to asymptomatic again I think that maybe thats what happened to me . I really need to know cause going through Benzo recovery you cant take any medications taht effect the Gaba receptors until they upregulate again as any medication can effect recovery. So as it is now I am not sure if I am already recovered from Benzos and I am having these symptoms from the syrinx , as I always before had symptoms come and go throughout my recovery , but the symptoms mentioned above has not left for a minute , the only one that have has been the burning it sibsides occasionally. But the muscle pain, bone pain , neck pain, arm pain, leg pain , and hand pain hasnt not sudsided at all. If its the syrinx causing this I need to try to take something for the pain , as I dont want to take any medications at all , but I am not sure what else to do or how to deal with this pain for the rest of my life. Thank you again

Sincerely
Laura

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6105

Normally, a small syrinx is an asymptomatic finding on an MRI unless it is associated with Arnold Chiari syndrome. Most radiologists know to look for that association. I am unaware of literature that notes a syrinx that switches between symptomatic and asymptomatic and would be hard pressed to imagine a situation causing that to occur.

You need a consultation with a good neurologist to help understand what is the origin of your symptoms. I can implicate many structures for the cause of your symptoms but with global symptoms. the neurologist is your first stop.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[helpme123]

#6113

Thank you again, I had seen a Neurosurgeon a few weeks ago, as yourself he is unaware of Benzodipine withdraw /recovery, buit felt that the symptoms I am having is unrelated to the Syrinx, I am trying to understand what a Central Canal is and how large a central canal is in comparrison to the spinal cord, I keep reviewing your videos over and over , I understand a central canal runs through the spinal cord , and the CSF is inside that canal , and passes thropugh the spinal cord, so is it correct to say that the syrinx is not on the spinal cord , but inside the canal and has a cyst inside the CSF ? I have 3 letters from Drs acknowledging Benzo W/D , but its unfortunate now it seems to complicate things for me to know if this syrinx is symptommatic, it has been asymptommatic for years and years , I speak to others that have a syrinx that tells me a syrinx can cause symptoms even though its not impinging on the Spinal Cord because its still sitting on the nerves it can still cause problems , I am not sure if that the case. I had many many tests done throughout this ordeal, I had test for all markers of Inflammation , I had a ANA test , Lyme test, CBC tests, Ultrasound, X-RAYS, MRI on my head , and spinal cord , CBC test , all camme back Normal well except the nild bulging disks, and Syrinx, I keep reviewing my MRI images and trying to see any other changes from the MRI I had done in 2005. I was wondering do you have an option of uploading a MRI images for reviewing on your website here? Even though the symptoms I am presently dealing with are alot in consitance with Benzo Recovery , but I still feel its still complicated that I have this syrinx, fear that my body has been under going such tramatic stress and chemical changes and severe pain , that it can cause the syrinx to become symptomatic , I am searching for answers desperatly. Thank you again. I am seeing another Neurologist next week , he was the same one that said it was also Benzo w/d I am dealing with , and also the same one that knew I had a syrinx back in 2005, and never even mentioned it to me back in 2005 , nor I a recent visit to him last September when he said it was benzo w/d. Thanks for listening. I Love watching your videas they are very knowledgable.

Sincerly
Laura

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6119

A syrinx is an expansion of the central canal within the spinal cord. This expansion disorts the nerve tracts that run next to the expanding fluid filled canal. The syrinx has to be large enough to distort the cord and most syringomyelias are not large enough to do that. In fact, most syringomyelias are found as an unexpected MRI finding that has nothing to do with the patient’s symptoms.

The symptoms that can occur with a syrinx typically are in a “cape-like” distribution. That is, the symptoms would be distributed in areas that a cape would touch the body- the back of the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and chest.

The symptoms would include muscle weakness, loss of pain and temperature sensation, stiffness and pain in the back, shoulders, arms and legs, bowel and bladder dysfunstion and possibly problems with balance while walking.

If your doctor has performed a complete physical examination and found no association between your symptoms and the syringomyelia, especially if the syrinx is small, do not focus on this as the cause of your symptoms.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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