Return of Strength and Sensation after C6~C7 Impingement

Hi.  It started as a stabbing pain beneath my shoulder blade, then radiated down my left arm.  Also tingling in fingers, numbness in fingertips and eventual loss of strength in triceps.  Neurosurgeon took loss of strength very seriously and had me in for C6~C7 ACDF with instrumentation 15 days following the first appearance the symptoms.  While the arm and shoulder pain have resolved, the triceps weakness and numbness remain, surgery-day + 28.  I had been very physically active, boot camp classes, running, biking etc.  Used to be able to do push ups non-stop, but now struggle to get 5.  Anyone out there have a similar experience, and an estimate as to how long the numbness and weakness will last?  Any thoughtful replies are greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  Brian

[JTReed96]

Brian,
I had exactly the same symptoms.  I woke up in the middle of the night DEC 29th of 08 with major pain in the shoulder blade region had a huge swelling like a big knot.  If i raised my arm above my head the pain lessened.  I went to the ER the next morning and got some muscle relaxers but the strength immediately went out of my left side.  I couldent do pushups or presses.  I am a competitive weightlifter so this was very discouraging.  The pain started radiating down my forearm.  I had a MRI and found a c6-c7 herniation.  I would up having surgery in Mid April 09.  Pain is gone.  No more tingling and numbness in the fingers.  Strength is coming back but left arm is still probably 30 percent weaker than the right side.  It makes pullups and pressing very difficult.  My left arm tricep and bicep had atrophy but the arm is filling back in but still not the same size as the right arm.  I was trying to research how long to you get full strength back.  I am actively training it but it is slow going.  Is this Normal?  How is it going with you?  I hope i didnt wait to long to have surgery.  3.5 months.  Hope it is reverseable.
Justin

[Tumbleweed63]

Justin,

I'm going into 8 weeks.  I'm still only about 40% on strength with no improvement in the numbness.  I'm actively training too, but just can't seem to get a clear signal pushed down the cable.  I had a followup with my NS after my first post, and he said his son had the same thing too.  His triceps strength started to spontaneously return around the 7...8 month mark.  I've heard six months to a year -- all the way up to 18 months.  I read that nerves repair/regenerate outward from the point of damage at a rate of around .04" per day.  If you measure and do the math, that puts it at around 10 months, in theory.  How long did it take the numbness in your fingers to go away?  Keep me posted on your progress and good luck.

Brian

[JTReed96]

Brian,

I would say my numbess seemed to go away fairly immediately.  I remember coming out of anesthesia and feeling tingling sensations where there was numbness.  I still actually get tingling feelings from time to time which I assume is good as it is a sign of neuro activity.  I have also heard it takes a year or longer to get strenghth back.  The rate you mentioned above is interesting.   I would say I have am at 60-70 percent now in comparision to my right arm.  I feel waiting 3.5 months before surgery caused a little more atrophy and degeneration which will take a little longter to rehab.  It is just SLOW going thats for sure but I feel that the 6 month mark I started seeing some strength gains and my arm started filling back in.  My lat muscle under my left armpit also really degenerated.  This makes sense because the Radial nerve seems to run through that region into the chest and down the arm.  Keep me posted on your numbness situation.  
Justin

[Melissa60]

Justin,
What did they do in your surgery?

Melissa