[rminhl]

#28448

tingling and neck/shoulder pain. tingling arms and hands, no strength at all, i need to raise my left hand up in the air and open the shoulder blade in order to calm the tingling. Right should/arm/hand starting to give me same symptoms.

Below is 2nd MRI, first one was done in 4/2017

C2-3: No significant disc bulge is appreciated. No significant central canal or
neural foraminal stenosis is visualized.
C3-4: There is a minimal posterior and left paracentral disc bulge and slight
endplate spurring, similar to 4/2/17. Minor bilateral facet joint and
uncovertebral hypertrophy is noted. These changes result in mild narrowing of
the right neural foramen. No significant central canal or left neural foraminal
narrowing is appreciated.
C4-5: There is a mild diffuse disc bulge and associated endplate spurring, which
slightly indents the anterior thecal sac, similar to 4/2/17. Mild to moderate
bilateral facet joint hypertrophy and mild bilateral uncovertebral hypertrophy
are noted. These changes result in mild central canal stenosis, similar to
4/2/17, but no significant neural foraminal narrowing is appreciated.
C5-6: There is a mild circumferential disc bulge and superimposed left
paracentral disc bulge, with associated endplate spurring indenting the left
anterior aspect of the central canal spinal cord at this level. Mild bilateral
facet joint hypertrophy and mild right and moderate left uncovertebral
hypertrophy are noted. These changes result in mild to moderate narrowing of the
left side of the central canal at this level, as well as moderate to severe
bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, overall grossly similar to 4/2/17.
C6-7: There is a mild diffuse disc bulge and mild superimposed left paracentral
protrusion, with associated mild endplate spurring, overall similar to 4/2/17.
Minor bilateral facet joint hypertrophy and mild left greater than right
uncovertebral hypertrophy are noted. These changes result in mild narrowing of
the left neural foramen, similar to 4/2/17, but no significant central canal or
right neural foraminal narrowing is appreciated.

Thanks,

Minh

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#28450

C5-6: “moderate to severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing”, this looks to be your biggest problem.You comment “I need to raise my left hand up in the air and open the shoulder blade in order to calm the tingling” sounds to be a Bakody’s maneuver which relieves compression on cervical nerves (see https://neckandback.com/conditions/radiculopathy-pinched-nerve-in-neck/).

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.

[rminhl]

#28452

Thanks Dr. Corenman for a quick reply.

I’d like to add that i have been taking medications for pain and the tingling, and have been doing physical therapies and exercises at home for almost 4 months now but it is not improving, it is getting worse because like i said i am starting to feel the same symptoms on my right neck/should/arm/hand.

Is there anything else i can try before considering surgery?

Again, thanks for your time.

Minh

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#28458

A diagnostic and therapeutic injection that gives you diagnostic relief might give you longer term relief and a positive diagnosis. See https://neckandback.com/treatments/epidural-injections-and-selective-nerve-root-blocks-diagnostic-and-therapeutic-neck/ and https://neckandback.com/treatments/pain-diary-instructions-for-spinal-injections-neck/.

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.

[Mtrentham]

#28478

I have recently had an MRI In February 2018 for neck pain, shoulder, and arm pain. My arm pain has gotten much worse over the months. I cannot lift it straight over head or put it behind my back. I also have moments through the day when I can be doing any kind of normal movements and my triceps muscles will feel like it catches creates intense pain. Sleeping is very difficult from all sides and even on my back. I also cramp and ache all day long in my left arm, but don’t much tingling. I have taken muscle relaxes, gabapentin, toroidal, tramadol, and PT and am getting ready for my 3 month follow up with my neurosurgeon. Here are my MRI results. Can you tell me what you think?
C3/4 mild broad/based posterior disc ostoephyte complex. AP diameter of the subtle canal measures 10mm. There is mild facet and uncovertebral hypertrophy with mild neuroforaminal narrowing
C4/5 moderate active left-sided facet athropathy. There is mild uncovetebral hypertrophy. There is mild to moderate left with minimal right neuroforaminal narrowing with potential contact of the exiting left sided nerve
C5/6 mild right sided facet arthropathy with mild right sided neuroforaminal narrowing

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#28481

Just to clarify to the forum, this is a different individual who added to this separate thread.

Your symptoms of “also cramp and ache all day long in my left arm, but don’t much tingling” along with “I cannot lift it straight over head or put it behind my back” indicates that this might not be your nerve compression in your neck.

I am suspicious of injury to your rotator cuff of your left shoulder. Typically, cervical nerve compression causes paresthesias (pins and needles) down your arm. Your inability to lift your shoulder could be from deltoid weakness but that would require a C5 nerve compression (at the C4-5 level). Your radiology report notes at C4-5: “There is mild to moderate left with minimal right neuroforaminal narrowing”.

Typically “mild to moderate” is not specifically a significant compression of this root to cause the severe pain and weakness you describe. Also, the C5 nerve does not radiate pain below the elbow.

While it is possible that this could be a nerve compression syndrome, I would have a shoulder expert chime in on your findings and possibly you might need an MRI of the shoulder.

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.

[Author]

Posts