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in reply to: c5-6 disc herniation #4481
Some of your assumptions are correct and some need correction. The diaphram is supplied by the Phrenic nerve which itself originates from C 3-5. The lowest nerve origin of C5 corresponds to the C4-5 foramen level- so a C5-6 level problem will not cause any problem to the Phrenic nerve.
Anxiety will cause all sorts of problems. This includes muscle spasm and magnification of pain. Anxiety by itself will not cause numbness. Bilateral symmetric ascending numbness normally is not from a compressed nerve or nerves in the neck. Trigger points in the shoulder and neck region are typically caused by neck problems and not the reverse but treating them with chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and injection can help to mange and eliminate them.
A compressed C7 nerve root normally will cause “numbness” in the hand and not in the triceps area but rarely, I have seen that complaint. However, if you have bilateral numbness and only a unilateral compressed nerve, it is highly unlikely that the bilateral numbness is generated from a one sided compression.
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.in reply to: Scolosis Surgery #4479Your daughter being 13 years of age with a 50 degree curve most likely will need to be fixed. I assume this is a scoliosis and not a hyperkyphosis (a curve from the side view).
The reason scoliosis needs to be surgically fixed in a young girl is that the curve will most likely advance. Over the years with a significant spinal deformity- real problems will occur that you don’t want your daughter to face. Yes- scoliosis surgery replaces a curved but supple spine with a straight (or straighter) but stiff spine at the levels fixed.
I never think a second opinion is a bad idea and there are many places in Texas that do a good job with scoliosis surgery. Good luck.
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.in reply to: chronic hand numbness and tingling #4478The scoliosis most likely doesn’t have much to do with your hand numbness. The previous history of “shoulder separation” also rarely causes nerve problems like you describe. Hand numbness without neck pain or no pain/numbness that radiates from the shoulder rarely is caused by the neck.
Most likely, you have an entrapment neuropathy. That means that the nerve or nerves are getting trapped in a “tunnel” in your shoulder, elbow or wrist. The most common ones are thoracic outlet syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpel tunnel syndrome and tunnel of Guyon syndrome.
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.in reply to: extra foraminal stenosis #4475The term “Extraforaminal stenosis” does not allow me to understand your diagnosis. Stenosis can be lateral recess stenosis, foraminal stenosis or central stenosis. If you have a disc herniation or even a large bone spur lateral to the foramen, that would be called a far lateral herniation or spur and I assume that is what you mean. If this is what the diagnosis is, then your symptoms may make sense. Sitting stretches the nerve over the herniation or spur and would cause onset of symptoms. Symptoms would also be aggravated by bending over to tie your shoe or pick something up off the ground.
You state steroids did not help. Were these in the form of an injection or pill? A diagnostic injection most likely would lead to the correct diagnosis. See the section on an SNRB (selective nerve root block) and keeping a pain diary on the web site.
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.in reply to: more PT, chiropractic, or what? #4473Having severe pain 4 days from a flu shot may or may not be interrelated. There is a syndrome called Parsonage Turner Syndrome that is associated with weakness and rarely pain. Feel free to look it up but I am not clear if you had that. Your differential also includes shoulder pathology (like rotator cuff tear) and entrapment neuropathy. I think another set of eyes on you might be helpful and possibly an EMG/NCV test. This all might be from the neck but your MRI report does not fit. Occasionally, radiologists under read films and there might be more on your films then you are aware.
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.in reply to: more PT, chiropractic, or what? #4471You mention that your symptoms are arm related and do not mention neck pain. This is very good because degenerative disc disease causes both neck pain and arm symptoms. The fact you have no neck pain means this degenerative disc disease should give you no neck trouble other than some stiffness.
In regards to your arm symptoms, it would be unusual to have weakness associated with mild foraminal stenosis. Arm paresthesias (pins and needles) and “numbness” can occur but if foraminal stenosis is present, the symptoms should become more intense with bending the head backwards or to the side of the symptoms. If that is not the case, then have your physician look for something called “thoracic outlet syndrome” or a peripheral nerve entrapment.
Chiropractic for degenerative disc disease works well in general. For nerve irritability, it can work well as long as the nerve is not aggravated. Acupuncture can be effective for temporary relief but generally doesn’t yield long term relief of symptoms. Traction can be effective for significant nerve compression but for your neck will probably not be as effective. The eye twitching most likely was not directly related to the traction. If the numbness in your arm is related to compression of the nerve root or even irritability, an epidural can be effective also.
Without any cord compression, your leg symptoms are not related to your 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. -
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