Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Neck and arm pain

I have had pain in my neck right shoulder and arm with weakness and numbness and tingling in my hand. Ive had an MRI and these are the findings. From C4 down to C7 multi-level degenerative disc disease is present with multi-level posterior disc protusions with accompanying osteophyte formation which results in bilateral foraminal narrowing and indentation of the thecal sac at the disc levels from C4 down to C7. The foraminal narrowing is most severe on the left at C5 C6 and most severe on the right at C5 C6 and C6 C7 although moderate to severe foraminal stenosis is also present bilaterally at C4 C5 and on the left at C6 C7. These changes could result in multi-level radiculopathy involving C5, C6 and C7 nerve roots. Indentation of the thecal sac is minimal at C4 C5 but moderate to severe at C5 C6 with narrowing of the Ap mid sagittal diameter of the spinal canal to approx. 7mm with flatenning of the spinal cord compatible with spinal stenosis without myelomalacia. Not sure what this means exactly, should i see a specialist or avoid certain activities?
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Oh yes, I have heard about the wait time in Canada.  

You don't want to put this off any longer.  

To reiterate:  Try that med and see if it helps.

Be careful with you neck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks again! I probably just would of put up with it without your advice. I am from Windsor, Ontario Canada, the wait time to see a neurosurgeon could be months or even longer. So I'm glad I did it now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok, that' great.  Well....try the medication and see if it helps.  

Thank goodness you got the referral to the NS.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry, I stand corrected the Doctor is a neurosurgeon not a neurologist.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I finally went to the Doctors yesterday he prescribed diclofenac 50mg to take for a few days to get the inflammation down. Don't like to take pain meds unless I really can't stand the pain. He referred me to a neurologist and nerve conduction studies. Thanks for your advice
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't view this as complaining if you request to see a specialist nor should anyone else and you should say something because this is affecting your quality of life.  

Keep us posted.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your help, like I said I don't want to complain I try not to think about it and carry on with life. On the other hand I don't want to end up not being able to enjoy my life. Thanks again!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, tingling in your feet CAN be related to problems with your Cervical spine.  Some patients don't understand that there can be a correlation between issues with your C-spine and pain and/or paresthesia (numbness and tingling) in your feet.  This is VERY possible.  

Request a referral and get this sorted ASAP.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply, my doctor has not referred me to a specialist. I'm not much of a complainer and don't like to take medication. I'm finding my symptoms are getting worse and the weakness in my hand is really bothersome. Would tingling in my feet be related to my neck? I read Workers compensation files for a living and I'm on the computer preparing for hearings. I just came back to work and find that my symptoms are returning. I did have some relief with therapy, but now I'm starting to feel the pain again with my return to work.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your C-spine is a mess and YES you should see a specialist, i.e. a Neurosurgeon or an Ortho Specialist whose deals mainly with spine issues.

Do not do:  any heavy lifting
                  any exercise that's jarring to the spine
                  sitting for long periods of time, i.e. at a computer

You can always ask the specialist more in detail what you should and should not do.  
                  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease