syrnix c7-t-10/arm/shoulder/neck/back pain

Question

Hello. Around 6 months ago I began experiencing migrating burning, aching, and shooting down the arm and shoulder pain and now I can't lift my arm above my head or put behind back. Also experience neck pain [which I had been rid of for many years] and under the arm pain. I've experienced chronic upper back pain for 12 years I had an emg which turned out normal. My background- I had a cervical fusion 11 yrs ago. In 2000 I had a shunt at t3-4 for syrnix and another syrnix t8-t-10 which wasn't shunted and spinal cord atrophy at that level. I had another MRI 2 weeks ago to check the neck and thoracic and they found syrnix from c7-t10 which was there on the last scan I had in Oct of last year 2009 but they missed it so I don't know how long its been there that they haven't noted it in the report. I know it wasn't there 10 years ago when they shunted t3-4 because I went to an expert and I had numerous tests and I'm sure they wouldn't of missed that. Until now they have only noted the one cavity at t8-t10 because the shunt supposedly collapsed it. My questions are could my arm and shoulder pain be related to the syrnix and how can the syrnix go from c7-t10 if I have a shunt at t3-t4 does that mean its not working anymore. Thanks for any information you might have.

ssimp12626 · Answer

thanks for the response.  i will try to get a f/u with my n/s and discuss with him. He's suppossed to place a pain pump in surgicaaly since they couldn't do it up via the low back since they ran into problems. I wonder how come in subsequent scans no other radiologist have mentioned the kink or they missed it like the syrnix from c7-t10 which was there in octobers scan but wasn't mentioned until my scan a couple of weeks ago.  

How do they remove a cyst?  I thought they could only shunt them which allowed them to drain.  Thanks again for the information.  When I looked up kink a while back the only thing I found dealt with Chairi as well but the expert that did my surgey told that ran all the test told me I didn't have it.  Go figure,  Take care and good luck on your cyst removal.

SS

rod44 · Answer

I have not had a shunt. I hope to have another Cyst that is located on the front of my spinal cord removed and this should give more room for CSF flow.

OK I googled " kink of the cervical medullary junction" and the results all indicate it is a Chiari thing. I suggest you find a NS who deals with CM, even if Chiari is not a problem for you a doctor who deals with CM will most likely be experienced in Syringomyelia. Dealing with CM should resolve the Syrinx.

Ray

ssimp12626 · Answer

Hi.  Thanks for your response.  Did you have your syrnix shunted?  I can't believe they missed my syrnix in the neck.  I wonder how long they have over looked it.  The neurosurgeon I saw in December said the atrophy was from the syrnix.  Also 8 years ago I had a scan of my neck and they used some strange terminolgy and I tried to get answers from my doctors but I never got any where.  Have you or anybody on this board heard of this "slight kink noted at c1 & c2 area anteriorlyat the base of the skull causing slight compression of the subarachnoid space.    Slight hypertrophy of the ligaments are noted c1 & c2 causing a slight kink of the cervical medullary junction.   Correllate findings clinically."  I wonder if that could have anything to do with my daily headaches and double vision.   I never got an answer and my doctor left he was puzzled with their terminology but he we was in the process of moving.  Thanks for any information you have.  SS

ssimp12626 · Answer

Hi.  Thanks for your response.  I accepted your invitation.  SS

selmaS · Answer

HI and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Since Ray has a syrinx he is better able to share his experience and info on this issue.To date I do not have one, but I did want to welcome u to the forum.

We r happy to have u join our little family here, but sorry for the reasons u had to seek us out.

"selma"

rod44 · Answer

Hi and welcome, Yes I do believe that the Syrinx could be the cause of your shoulder problems but if it is not then they need to find out why and mot just dismiss it.I have a Syrinx at C7>T2 and I think this is what is causing my shoulder & neck problems very similar to the symptoms you describe. 

Do you know if the spinal cord atrophy is due to damage from the Syrinx or if it is the cause of the Syrinx formation, a Syrinx can be congenital but for the most part are as a result of some CSF obstruction (as in Chiari). Treating the cause if possible is the best option, a shunt can fail and thus involve more surgery. 

Ray