[dfairchild]

#7903

I have had moderate to severe neck pain for 3-4 years. Everytime I do any high impact activities such as running and bike riding my left arm/shoulder burns and then goes numb. My right ends up hurting with some shooting pain but never went numb.
I have had an MRI done in the last 4 months. They noticed multiple bulging disks, multiple bone spurs and of course Degenerative disk disease. they also said something about “uncovertrbral spurring c5-c6 with moderate to severe foraminal stenosis. I also have some spurring on c4-c5. They said I had narrowing of the canal at c3-c4 with a mesurment of 9.3. along with multiple bulges. None herniated that they noted. I really dont know what the narrowing means.
I have undergone PT with no releif. It actually made it worse. I also have recently reciever trigger point injections and epidural injections. the trigger point injections didnt work at all, the epidural gave me intence pain the day after and then everything would go back to normal. I may have gotten 60% better for a day or two.
I am in so much pain and I am sick of being on pain management. (this is my second bout of pain management) Is surgery something I should push for?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7905

Neck pain in the center of the neck is normally caused by degenerative disc disease with degenerative facet disease a second cause. Shoulder pain is typically caused by nerve compression but referral from degenerative disc or facet disease is a close second.

When pain radiates into the arm, this is typically generated from nerve compression although shoulder disorders can mimic that pain also.

“Uncovertebral spurring c5-c6 with moderate to severe foraminal stenosis. I also have some spurring on c4-c5” could be the cause of the shoulder and arm pain along with the neck pain. The uncovertebral joint is the joint in the neck right at the exit of the nerve root and commonly becomes degenerative. When this joint develops bone spur formation, this spur compresses the nerve root and causes pain (see website).

The best technique for determining the cause of your pain is the SNRB (selective nerve root block-see website). Trigger point injections will not diagnose the disorder. The epidural injection should not cause intense pain but it is technique dependent.

You need to see an experienced and well-skilled spine surgeon for a consult.

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.

[dfairchild]

#7906

Thanks for the reply doc. I see a surgeon here soon. I am hoping for a quick resolution. My job requires me to be fit and with me not able to do these activities makes it hard.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7907

You should do well.

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.

[dfairchild]

#7923

DR. Corenman,

I saw a surgeon today and he confirmed all of the bone spurs and the degenerative disk disease. What was weird was he said he was unsure why two of my vertebrae…I wanna say c5-c6, were smaller than they should be. I have never had any trauma that was significant enough to remember. So, I guess I am a little confused.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7926

“Smaller vertebra” could be from a congenital origin. The possible other cause is injury to the larger vertebra when you were young. The growth plates of these vertebra are open for some time and if the vertebra are injured (football, wrestling, etc.) when these growth plates are still active, this injury will increase the blood flow to these growth rings and enlarge the size of the vertebra.

It would be unusual to have C5 and C6 vertebral bodies smaller under this circumstance as these are the most commonly injured vertebra and therefore typically become the largest.

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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