[luciar]

#32113

I am a 36 year old woman. About five weeks ago I started experiencing weakness in my hands, specially my left, it progressed to the point that I have trouble holding the utensils while eating, or typing in the computer, it has also started affecting my legs, specially my left leg. I went to my primary doctor and after an initial assessment he noted a significant difference between both sides, with extreme weakness in my left side and hypersensitivity, ordered a cervical MRI and referred me to neurology. I am waiting on the neurology consult but I have received the results of the MRI, and it reads:

At C2-C3, there is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, or neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C3-C4, there is a minimal disc bulge which closely abuts the ventral cord with minimal flattening. There is no significant neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C4-C5, there is a mild disc bulge causing mild spinal canal stenosis and mild indentation of the ventral cord. There is no cord signal abnormality. There is no significant neural foraminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C5-C6, there is a mild central disc bulge causing partial effacement of the ventral thecal sac, and mild flattening of the ventral cord. There is no significant neural foraminal stenosis bilaterally. There is minimal spinal canal stenosis.

IMPRESSION:
Reversal the cervical lordosis. At C3-C4, minimal disc bulge which closely abuts the ventral cord with minimal flattening. At C4-C5, moderate spinal canal stenosis with mild indentation of the ventral cord. At C5-C6, minimal spinal canal stenosis with mild flattening of the ventral cord.

What should I expect? What is going on? Is something that could be solved with physical therapy or surgery might be needed?

Thanks for the help,

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#32114

Was there no reading of C6-7 and C7-T1 levels?

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.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#32115

Also, what were the results of the physical examination? Did you have weakness, atrophy, dermatomal changes, long tract signs (hyperreflexia, Hoffman’s, clonus, inverted radial reflex) and l’hermittes sign?

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.

[luciar]

#32116

In the physical examination, my physician mentioned weakness, atrophy in the left side and hypersensitivity.

This is the MRI report:

At C2-C3, there is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, or neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C3-C4, there is a minimal disc bulge which closely abuts the ventral cord with minimal flattening. There is no significant neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C4-C5, there is a mild disc bulge causing mild spinal canal stenosis and mild indentation of the ventral cord. There is no cord signal abnormality. There is no significant neural foraminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C5-C6, there is a mild central disc bulge causing partial effacement of the ventral thecal sac, and mild flattening of the ventral cord. There is no significant neural foraminal stenosis bilaterally. There is minimal spinal canal stenosis.

At C6-C7, there is no significant spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

At C7-T1, there is no significant disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, or neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

IMPRESSION:
Reversal the cervical lordosis. At C3-C4, minimal disc bulge which closely abuts the ventral cord with minimal flattening. At C4-C5, moderate spinal canal stenosis with mild indentation of the ventral cord. At C5-C6, minimal spinal canal stenosis with mild flattening of the ventral cord.

No significant neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally.

Thanks,

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#32199

You have no definitive compression of your left sided nerve roots or significant central stenosis so atrophy and weakness of left arm muscles should not be generated from the neck. Maybe the next step should be a neurological consultation and an EMG/NCV to look for causes of the weakness and atrophy.

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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