Hand weakness

[Efraim]

9 weeks ago I began to have pain in my right shoulder blade with radiation down to right hand.  The pain in the shoulder blade and arm was excruciating when I sat and very strong when I walked.  I could lie down on my back with no problem.  The pain is  gone but I remain with weakness in my right thumb, index finger and pinky.   I can barely lift them. I did an EMG, which revealed chronic reinervation changes in all tested muscles, more severe in the right arm. Prior to the attack on the right side,  I had also experienced occasional mild numbness from my face to my left hand and mild weakness in my left forearm.  This has not returned since the attack on my right side.  
During the 3 weeks I was in bed from the shoulder and arm pain I also started to get some pins and needles between my big and second toes on my right foot.  9 years ago I herniated a disk in my lower back and assumed that this was related.   Based on xrays (today I did a cervical CT) I was told that I had pinched nerve in the C6 area either from the disk or more likely from contraction of the right pectoralis minor or scalene muscles.  Should I expect the strength in my fingers to return?   What can I told to speed up the process?

[Shazia Alam, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to obtain a history from your relative and examine your relative, I can not comment on a formal diagnosis or treatment plan for his/her symptoms. However, I will try to provide you with some information regarding this matter.

It sounds like you have a disc herniation. The vertebrae (bones of the spine) have material between them to cushion and allow for mobility. This material may be squished out. This is called a herniated disc. It can be squished out centrally or laterally. In most people the pain associated with a herniated disc may resolve within 4-6 weeks. A minority of patients do not respond to medical/conservative management and require surgery.  Symptoms suggesting the need for urgent surgery include muscle weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, loss of sensation, and progressive pain.

Given that you have reinnervation, as long as the impingment is taken care of, then you should regain function within 15 months (takes that long for the nerve to grow back).  

[Efraim]

Thanks for responding.  The results of my Cervical CT revealed 2 bulging disks and two partially herniated ones.   I want to believe this is the source of the problem but I remain frightened that something more serious is happening.

I suggest you try stretching exercises for your pectoralis minor muscles.  They helped relieve almost all of my pain.

[taylapj]

excellent question,  too suffer from this, it's been nearly 2 years now since i was first diagnosed and literally my left arm has burning sensation and im waking up so stiff, ive had physio all ready.

But i also have impingement of the exciting nerve root and it comes into contact with the spinal cord so i am interested what the doc replies.

[Efraim]

Thank you very much for the quick reply.  I just wanted to clarify what you mean by as long as the impingement is taken care of?