[Cjdegood]

#33245

Dr. Corenman
going to try and make this short and simple. Had my 360 lumbar fusion in June.. still healing as of today and in PT. Prior to surgery I started experiencing neck,shoulder and arm pain with tingling in my index and thumb. Follow up appt for my lumbar, they did an Xray of my neck.. stated they did not see any significant stenosis..so went on my way. Seems to be worsening..waking me from sleep..symptoms are awful aching my left arm, can only lift my arm level to my shoulder. I end up taking 800mg of ibuprofen. I am able to get relief from my neck pain by pushing my neck down from behind. (hand behind head and force down) That gives me the most relief all the way down. No significant stenosis was seen on Xray. I dont know if i should be concerned or not. Maybe another xray when i go back on the 30th? What are the chances this could be spine related? my lower back is finally feeling better, but now my shoulder, arm and neck are excrutiating.
Thank you

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#33246

X-rays of the neck check stability and alignment but are much less helpful for ruling out foraminal stenosis which is what you seem to have. Your relief “I am able to get relief from my neck pain by pushing my neck down from behind. (hand behind head and force down)”, is exactly what a patient with foraminal stenosis will do to gain relief. You need an MRI of the neck and a thorough neurological examination of yuur upper extremities to determine what is causing your symptoms.

See: https://neckandback.com/conditions/radiculopathy-pinched-nerve-in-neck/

Dr. Corenman

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