Question Title: Neurotic Anxiety /cervical problem?

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Obsessive

There is normal alignment at both the cervical and thoracic spines. Vertebral body heights
well preserved. Mild disk space narrowing and disk desiccation are seen
predominantly in the mid to lower cervcal spine. Marrow signal is normal and homogeneous
thoughout.

The spinal cord is of normal caliber and signal intensity throughout
its length. Craniocervical junction is unremarkable.

C2-3 and C3-4: No significant disk protrusions or extrusions, neural foraminal or central canal
compromise.

c4-5: Small central disk protrusion without significant neural foramina nor central canal compromise.

c5-6: Moderate sized right paracentral disk protrusion which causes mild
effacement of the ventral thecal sac and cord creating mild central stenosis and moderate
right neural foraminal narrowing.

c6-7: Large left lateral disk herniation extending into the left neural
foramen and causing severe neural foraminal narrowing. Mild right-sided uncovertebral
osteophytes are present creating mild right neural foraminal narrowing.
No significat central stenosis is seen.

c7-T1: No significant enural foraminal nor central canal comprosise.

IMPRESSION

Degenerative disease of the mid to lower cervical spine. This is
most severe at the c5-6 and c6-7 levels. At c5-6, there is a right
paracentral disk protrusion which causes moderate right neural foraminal narrowing
and mild central canal stenosis. At c6-7, there is a large left lateral disk herniation
which causes severe left neural foraminal narrowing.

Recently my son felt pressure on his left hand. I am wondering does this
crawling sensation of pressure is caused by cervical spine problem? Or
it is just psychosomatic symptom? For six years, we have been tossed between
mental and physical category. We need your advice how to approch this difficulty
illness.

IM

The spinal cord is of normal caliber and signal intensity throughout its length.

Dear Helen:

The left C6-7 disc can potentially cause left arm, shoulderblade, and forearm pain, hand numbness, and mild arm and forearm weakness. The cervical spine abnormalities, however, can not explain the numerous head symptoms that I recall your son suffers from. I continue to suspect that there is a significant psychogenic contribution to your son's symptoms.

I believe that chiropractic or similar manipulation of the cervical spine may not be the safest treatment of your son's problem. I would again advice you to encourage him to persevere with a psychiatrist, and also seek a neurological opinion from a competent clinical neurologist to determine the relevance of the cervical spine MRI abnormality.

Good luck!

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