[pjacobs10]

#31532

Hi-
I am 41 years old, have SLE and for the last several months have been experiencing severe neck pain resulting in numbness in my left arm and loss of sensation and sharp pain down my arm. I also have experienced swelling around my neck. I have a history of 2 mild strokes (from SLE) and migraines. I have visited my neurologist who was also worried there was something in the neck we needed to explore. Finally, my GP send me for a MRI. I just recently had an MRI with results saying I should see a neck surgeon but I am trying to understand the finding in the report and see if a neck surgeon really is the next step. Any guidance you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

FINDINGS: There is straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. Vertebral
body and disc space heights are within normal limits. The cervical spinal
cord signal appears normal.

C2-C3: No significant disc bulge/herniation or stenosis.

C3-C4: Minimal left neural foraminal stenosis due to uncovertebral
hypertrophy and facet arthrosis.

C4-C5: No significant disc bulge/herniation or stenosis.

C5-C6: Mild-moderate posterior left central and proximal left neural
foraminal disc/osteophyte complex resulting in moderate effacement of the
left ventral thecal sac and minimal proximal left neural foraminal
stenosis. Minimal right uncovertebral hypertrophy. No significant right
neural foraminal stenosis.

C6-C7: Minimal diffuse disc bulge/osteophyte complex and superimposed small
posterior right central disc herniation with mild right uncovertebral
hypertrophy resulting in no more than minimal right neural foraminal
stenosis.

C7-T1: No significant disc bulge/herniation or stenosis.

IMPRESSION: Spinal alignment and multilevel spondylosis as above.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#31556

You note “severe neck pain resulting in numbness in my left arm and loss of sensation and sharp pain down my arm”. Where is the loss of sensation in the arm and what fingers does the pain radiate to? What is the differentiation between neck and shoulder/arm pain? That is, 60% neck/40% shoulder arm, 90% neck/10% shoulder arm, or 20% neck/80% shoulder arm?

According to the radiologist, you don’t have significant nerve compression (“no more than minimal right neural foraminal stenosis”) but degenerative disc disease can cause significant neck pain on occasion. I don’t think you have to run yet to a surgeon but could use a good course of physical therapy.

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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