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  • anelsen15
    Member
    Post count: 12

    After an injury two years ago where both my arms went numb for s short time I have had increasing symptoms of weakness and pain. My legs and arms dont test to weak ,but now to me a coke seems so heavy and my legs weigh a ton. I have shakyness in both and buzzing in legs like a cell phone going off. Ive also developed incontinence and ED. Doctors have ran all sorts of tests to rule out neurological and I am hearing maybe fibromyalgia. Its really confusing and embarrasing, but I still just cant ignore that all this came after injury to neck and low back. But its all just 2-3 mm bulges in lumbar and 2-3 mm protrusions in cervical ( did not have prior to this injury looking at old scans) but doctors say only touching thecal sac should not cause pain. Pain is nothing new to me as i have had a T6-7 herniation impinging on spinal cord, but was able to rehab that over time. I went back to school to get engineering degree after herniated thoracic disc and right before graduated had this injury above. Its really affecting quality of life . And this bug crawling feeling in back of neck is driving me crazy. Thank you so much for this site and feedback,

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Neck pain can occur from disc tears and herniations. However, arm numbness and weakness without any cord or nerve root impingement is generally not going to be related to compression in the cervical spine. Disc “bulges” touching the thecal sac will not cause cord dysfunction (but can cause pain in the spine at the area of the bulge).

    A prior T6-7 herniation can cause leg symptoms but not arm symptoms. There may be some truth to the irritable nervous system diagnosis (fibromyalgia) if you have no compression of the cervical nerves and cord but have significant arm symptoms.

    Just make sure you do not have peripheral neuropathy (see website), thoracic outlet syndrome (see website), a metabolic neuropathy (electrolyte imbalance that causes nerve dysfunction) or a central brain disorder that can cause arm symptoms.

    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.
    anelsen15
    Member
    Post count: 12

    Thank you for your reply. I just recently had blood work and I am below the normal range for thiamine ( B1) which could have some neuro symptoms, waiting to talk to doctor about. I also do not have thyroid and the blood work showed i am hyperthyroid, i have swapped between hyper and hypo for last couple of years. It feels whole body involved , but my highest levels of pain are in spine. Its the weakness / fatigue almost instantly in all muscles when I use them that is scary. I am being tested for muscle disorder. The doctor detected periphrial neuropothy in feet with sound bar testing but the nerve conduction seemed to be ok.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You have some work ahead of you. There might be a metabolic problem present. Make sure you have a good neurologist or endocrinologist to look at all symptoms and tests to make a good 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.
    anelsen15
    Member
    Post count: 12

    Haha, yea thats been an understatement lately. Seem to live at doctors offices and no one agrees on diagnosis. Its tough just depending on doctors as no exercises I am doing do anything to lessen pain, very frustrating to feel as if you have no control. But Im gonna press on and hopefully something will click. I feel my neuro and endo are pretty good, but been two years with no diagnosis, if you know of any great ones I am willing to travel lol. My endo #1 concern is keeping thyroid medicine levels so as to prevent cells from regenerating trying to produce thyroid, but I told her I just feel like crap.
    Thanks

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Cannot help with any referrals for those specialities. You might ask your specialists about membrane stabilizers (Lyrica, Neurontin) to see if these medications could 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.
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