[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#35902

I agree with your neurosurgeon generally that it would be quite unusual that you would have 2 compressive issues at once in one nerve root/nerve. If you have significant compression in your neck (the C5 or 6 root) and your shoulder MRI does not note a compressive cyst in your suprascapular notch, have the neck surgery first and determine the outcome before addressing the suprascapular nerve.

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.

[srk860]

#35903

I will/am. The x-factor is I managed to get a shoulder MRI scheduled just a few days before the neck surgery just to make certain. I’ll let you know how the surgery goes.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#35904

That will be helpful.

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.

[srk860]

#35913

MRI update

Impression:

1. Mild fatty muscle atrophy of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus and
teres minor, with low-grade muscle edema which is likely neurogenic
edema given the history. No advanced muscle atrophy noted in the
infraspinatus however, in comparison to the other rotator cuff
muscles.

2. No mass, cyst or other space-occupying lesion within the
suprascapular notch or spinoglenoid notch. No evidence of
suprascapular nerve entrapment or extrinsic compression.

3. Mild to moderate tendinosis of the supraspinatus and
infraspinatus. No full-thickness rotator cuff tear. No labral or
biceps

Narrative
[HST]: SHOULDER PAIN, LABRAL TEAR SUSPECTED, XRAY DONE
LEFT SUPRASCAPULAR NEUROPATHY ON EMG WITH MARKED ATROPHY OF THE INFRASPINATUS MUSCLE
left suprascapular neuropathy on EMG with marked atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle

Exam: Left Shoulder MRI

History: SHOULDER PAIN, LABRAL TEAR SUSPECTED, XRAY DONE:: LEFT
SUPRASCAPULAR NEUROPATHY ON EMG WITH MARKED ATROPHY OF THE
INFRASPINATUS MUSCLE:: left suprascapular neuropathy on EMG with
marked atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle

Technique:
Coronal-oblique: T2 fat sat, T1
Sagittal-oblique: T2 fat sat, T1
Axial: PD fat sat, T1

Findings:

There is mild fatty muscle atrophy in the supraspinatus,
infraspinatus and teres minor, for example on series 8 image 19.
There does not appear to be advanced fatty atrophy of the
infraspinatus however. On T2-weighted imaging, there is mild
intramuscular edema present which may be related to neurogenic edema
given the history. This is seen for example on series 6 image 20,
with slightly greater signal in the muscle compared to the
subscapularis muscle. No underlying muscle or tendon tear is seen,
although there is moderate supraspinatus tendinosis present. No
high-grade or full-thickness tear is identified. There is mild
tendinopathy of the infraspinatus and subscapularis.

There is no mass, cyst or other space-occupying lesion within the
suprascapular notch or spinoglenoid notch to suggest mass effect on
the suprascapular nerve or nerve entrapment. No focal soft tissue
abnormality is seen around the left shoulder or scapula.

No acute osseous abnormality. There is mild glenohumeral and
acromioclavicular DJD. There is mild labral degeneration and
chondromalacia. No labral tear or paralabral cyst. Biceps tendon is
normal in appearance.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#35916

This sounds like a shoulder with a neurological deficit which could fit your neck “pinched nerves”. Possible that you have https://neckandback.com/conditions/parsonage-turner-syndrome-neck/ as a diagnosis.

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.

[srk860]

#35919

It feels that way. I am scheduled for neck surgery Jan 4, would you still follow through with that if you were me?

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