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07/02/2013
Dear Doctor Corenman,
I would be grateful for your evaluation of my neck. c5/c6 fused in 1993 age 28. C3/C4 problematic with a closing of the spinal canal, but not fused.
Age 14, my head and neck were stamped on, since then further trauma. Occasionally, when standing, after sitting, I feel weak and begin to collapse, I hold a table 2-3,seconds until the blackout passes, the message from brain to legs, seem blocked. It seems more often and more intense of late, I quickly sit to avoid collapse, probably more after exercise when the neck joint becomes hyper mobile.
My doctor tested for hyper tension, my blood pressure was alike, sitting or standing. I suspect correlation with the standing motion, further narrowing the spinal canal.
In 1993 the surgeon suggested, come back if i couldn’t cope. I managed until now thinking neuro surgery may have advanced. Quality of life is pain medicated and sometimes fragile, age 48. I struggle to function some days, via C3/C4 nerve pain, movement of my neck can make me unwell.
Another surgeon stated that I had left it too long. I battle to work, it is difficult to sit for any time, type and talk as required and i can feel unwell driving on bumpy roads.
Gym work, arm use, affects my neck. I stopped swimming, 2005 as rotating to breathe, caused neck pain. 2010 stopped running, bad headaches (vertebrae banging together), now cycling, peddle motion and vibration, the more I do the worse the pain.
. I walk 3-5 miles, sometimes slow – nerve compression; however this provides a more comfortable neck position. Some mornings, I have clumsy hands, dull pain near the deltoid and I occasionally trip, misjudging the floor, my arms feel weak, but I am physically strong. My head can feel too heavy for my neck to support and takes hours, to adjust too.
In desperation, I hang by my neck, to pull the bone off the nerve. I also pull my chin inward, to stretch the vertebrae. The joint crunches and is hyper mobile, more so after cycling or exercise, due to movement, it breaks free from its arthritic position, sometimes I feel slightly dizzy and unbalanced and sitting leaning sideways, makes me unwell.
This occurred 2010, settled, but now returned. Last time the circumflex nerve jumped, I had numbness in two small fingers on both hands pending the side I slept, but less at present. Joint instability in sleep causes pain waking me. I turn over until the same occurs.
Last time, 17 hours daily in bed, caused a massive p/ emb going through the heart and wedging in my lung. I fully recovered, adage of being fit the doctor stated.
Ossification – My neck has self-fused with osteo-phytes at all levels, my bones apparently look aged, the last MRI shows a black or white spot on the cord at C3/C4. I now have a new Mri scan awaiting evaluation of which i can send to you.
I can brace the vertebrae, stopping motion, C3 seems close to the nerve. I feel that if c3 was raised slightly and stabilized, the disc may be left and the nerves survive compression. Would the bones just crumble? Could the vertebrae autofuse in time? I sometimes feel wiped out, fragile with pain and uncertainty of what I can do. Sport and activity was my life, now inconsistent. Making plans is difficult as I may be unwell, and managing to do very little is frustrating.
I see on the internet, successful operations with osteo-phytes Please explain what the risks are and what success rate you would expect of any procedure bearing in mind, I am fit and have never smoked.
I read a post on your site, about injections to purposely damage tissue to tighten ligaments. Do all vertebrae have ligaments and would this be an option.
Yours
Karen wagner.I am unclear as to the cause of the “blackout” symptoms. The description “blackout’ to me connotes a syncope or loss of consciousness which does not relate to the neck in origin. If this is however an “attack” when you do not lose consciousness but feel like your limbs “give way”, this could be myelopathy in which the origin is commonly in the neck.
The symptoms “I have clumsy hands, dull pain near the deltoid and I occasionally trip, misjudging the floor, my arms feel weak, but I am physically strong. My head can feel too heavy for my neck to support and takes hours, to adjust too” all could be myelopathy based. See the section on this website under myelopathy.
Having a white spot on the cord also leads to a diagnosis of cord compression and myelopathy.
Typically, disc spaces become degenerative but do not fuse. It sounds like you need surgical attention to your neck. I would be happy to look at your films. Please call the 888 number for further details.
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.Thankyou doctor Corenman for your swift reply, of which I read with great interest. The effort you have put in to create this site is absolutely superb. I will provide a more rounded response over the weekend. In breif I think for me to regain quality or life, be able to work without a collar, and maybe enjoy exercise, sport, once more, I require surgical intervention.
karen wagnerFurther to my previous communication, and after reading up on myelopathy and reporting blood pressure today(135/95)lying or standing, no significant difference. I feel early signs of myelopathy seem to be what is taking place.
I have been waiting to have another syncope or attack to carefully evaluate. I have never actually lost consiousness and collapsed although my brain feels light headed at the time.
The nurse will provide detail to my doctor who, I will see next week. From that outcome I see the surgeon early March therefore will come back to you, thank you doctor CorenmanMyelopathy is generally not related to blood pressure changes with standing vs. lying down. Feeling “light-headed” is not related to myelopathy.
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.Hi Dr Corenman, I appologise if I dont understand, I will try to be exact, realising importantance of evaluation, myleopathy or not.
Syncope or attack, never lost conciousness in 35 years, lets say iregular symptoms but weekly now. I didnt having them prior, the head stamping therefore must be reactive to the damage caused, and teacher telling me to dive into shallow pool hitting my chin on the bottom, age 14.
Lying on the floor to study caused bad neck ache. Life was headfirst, (HISTORY) age 4, put in a bunkbed, didnt realise, and fell onto my head, unable to move for while, then crawled. age 5, fell off bike landing on head damaging teeth. age 8 ran into a glass door banging head, bounced off, age 14 you know, age 19, hit parked car on pedal bike, no helmet, head first, through the back window, hitting back of the front seat, which hit the dash and sprung me back out the same hole. Age 24 car crash, held the steering wheel tight to miss the windscreen. My shoulder blades bashed my thoracic spine out of line, my neck crunched never recovered. Age 24 played rugby, my head was pushed back, it gave way, the back of my head hit top of thoracic spine.When syncope or attack takes place, my brain tells me in a split second,I prepare. As I rise, I know I am not going to sustain the stand. It is as if my brain has not the energy or capability to fulfill the stand. I definatley feel slight impairment in my brain or head. My lungs are fit so cant be them.
@@( when c5/c6 was fused, the surgeon told me after opp that my subclavicle vein was crushed) I dont know what this would mean, whether he uncrushed it etc, never said). However, I do know that after that operation, my hands stopped swelling up with blood when I exercised. Prior my fingers would swell up, if I clasped my fingers interlocking them, It was hard to pull them apart. very hot water stoped them stinging, they would go purple. The heat dispersed the blood. Another symptom from the head stamping.
Within 3 or 4 seconds the feeling passes over. It is as if I had a terporary loss of power. It occured today, hard to analyse. I quickly adopt a bent over position, holding the chair below, my neck lordosis would be slighty chin in i think. No longer heavily curved like would occur for a moment naturaly, from a sit to a stand position.
Other than hypo tension, are there any other medical reasons of which could cause this, so I can investigate.
I know I am lucky to be alive, however I appreciate your valuable time.
karen. -
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