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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Could a 'pinched nerve' cause such symptoms
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Could a 'pinched nerve' cause such symptoms
by Becky, Sep 02, 2000 12:00AM
I have recently had an MRI on my head that came back normal,which is great but what now? I am 30 yrs old and have always been pretty healthy except I have been diagnosed with PCS although my hormone levels have always been good. I have had headaches pretty regularly for about 2 years now. Recently (about 4 wks.ago) I got a headache that has persisted constant now. I also have shortness of breath at times, whish are usually accompanied by a feeling of heavy heart beating. My doctor listened to my heart and said it sounded fine, normal beating. I have also has some pain on the left side of my neck, under the left arm and into the the top of my left chest. I sometimes have the feeling of being diconnected. About 10 yrs. ago i started noticed a "numb" spot about half way down my back to the left of my spine. It never caused much pain so I never thought much of it. Although every once in the while I would have pain up into the left side of my neck and shoulder which would usually go away in a couple of days. Now I wonder if it could all be connected.Could it be a pinched nerve causing not only the headache but also the heavy heartbeat and disconnected feeling? My doctor has orderd a chest X ray but I dont see the reason in that. The shortness of breath only comes with the heavy heartbeat feeling.These symptoms have been constant for a month now so I am sure they are all connected. Any help or oppinion in this matter would be very much appriciated.. Thank You,Becky
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Sep 02, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Becky,
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Radiating pain is usually a sign of nerve problems. A normal MRI of the brain is good, but your problems sound like they are cervical spine related (by symptom location). I might suggest a MRI of the cervical spine. If your short of breath with feelings of heart beat changes then you might need a holter monitor of your heart to make sure that you do not have a rhythm disturbance. One symptoms I do not understand is the pain that moves upward into the shoulder. Neuropathic pain or nerve root pain travels down the nerve into the extremity not upward. So, I cannot explain why this is happening to you. Headaches can be from a variety of sources such as migraine, cluster, tension, menses-related, cervical cord related, etc. Usually these are easily diagnosed so I am not sure what to make out of them. They could be anything from a transformed migraine to just daily headache from tension.
I am sorry that I could not be more specific. I do not know your history in more detail nor was an exam performed. Sorry, I wish I could have helped more.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Radiating pain is usually a sign of nerve problems. A normal MRI of the brain is good, but your problems sound like they are cervical spine related (by symptom location). I might suggest a MRI of the cervical spine. If your short of breath with feelings of heart beat changes then you might need a holter monitor of your heart to make sure that you do not have a rhythm disturbance. One symptoms I do not understand is the pain that moves upward into the shoulder. Neuropathic pain or nerve root pain travels down the nerve into the extremity not upward. So, I cannot explain why this is happening to you. Headaches can be from a variety of sources such as migraine, cluster, tension, menses-related, cervical cord related, etc. Usually these are easily diagnosed so I am not sure what to make out of them. They could be anything from a transformed migraine to just daily headache from tension.
I am sorry that I could not be more specific. I do not know your history in more detail nor was an exam performed. Sorry, I wish I could have helped more.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I took a quick look, but couldn't spot it. I believe it was in the last 30 days.