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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Pain in left neck/back/arm
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Pain in left neck/back/arm
by Saly__0__0, Feb 10, 1999 12:00AM
: I have a long term history of migraines that always originate on the left side of my head. They begin behind the eye and continue down the back of my head and the left side of my neck; I can feel pain in and around the area of my teeth on the left side, especially the upper jaw. I've had some problems with muscle spasms on my left side also, which have intensified greatly in the past six months. The pain is nearly constant and wakes me up at night, although I do have some good days. It originates in the same area of my teeth, travels down the left side of my neck, intensifies where the neck joins the shoulder and in the upper center of the left back (where it is a "sharp" pain), then extends from there to become an aching pain in the elbow and wrist and a tingly feeling in the palm and fingertips. Sitting still for long periods of time makes it worse. I get the pain in the back/arm without getting migraines, and I sometimes get migraines without getting the pain in the back/arm. However, the migraines usually make the pain in the back/arm worse. Amerge helps the migraines but not the rest of it. I've had an MRI of my head with contrast (normal) and of my cervical spine without contrast (slight protrusion in one of the discs but my neurologist doesn't think this is responsible for the pain.) My questions are: Do you have any idea what the problem could be, and do you think the migraines and back pain are related? (I get migraines once a week or so, and back etc pain almost all the time.) Do you think physical therapy would help? Are further tests like EMGs indicated (my neurologist wants me to take one but I am leary of the idea.)
: Thanks so much,
: Sally
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neurology MD:NT, Feb 10, 1999 12:00AM
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Dear Sally:
Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck) would be a very appropriate consideration in you case. The negative MRI scan of the neck makes this a somewhat less likely possibility. There are some other common causes of arm pain, including carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and musculo-skeletal pain.
I do not think the arm pain and migraine are related. Some individuals, however, are more prone to get unexplained pain at multiple sites all over the body.
Physical therapy is, in general, helpful in situations like yours.
From what I know, EMG is clearly indicated in you case.
