Pain on left side, worsening

[mdwillms]

In Aug 05 I went to the Dr for pain on the right side of my neck and the back of my shoulder, in addition I had pain and aching in my bicep, forearm and tingling and numbness in my hand. They ordered an MRI and an EMG. It was identified that I had carpal tunnel and c3-4/c4-5 broad based bulging. I had an MRI in Jun 03 that showed bulging at the same disc along with osteophyte formations predominately on the left side, the MRI in Aug 05 made no mention of the osteophytes. In Nov 05 I had CTR on the right wrist and started feeling much better. In Mar 06 I woke one day with what seemed to be stiffness on the left side of my neck, almost immediately the stiffness turned to pain and is in my neck, deltoid area, and bicep/tricep This pain has become just about unbearable. It is almost constant and gets much worse when I lift my head or lower my chin. I take 1500 mg of gabapentin and 2 celobrex daily and nothing works. I had a steroid injection done on May 23 and since then I am experiencing more pain and have a lot of tingling in my left hand to a point my index fingertip has gone just about numb. Just in the last few days I have starting feeling tingling in my forearm. Without seeing the MRI or my records, what could be going on? Rather than bulging am I now herniated? I am scheduled to see a neurosurgeon on 21 Aug but feel that that is too far away. I can’t sleep at night, to drive I am miserable and my day-to-day activities are very limited.I still have some pain and aching in the right side but nothing compared to the left. Again, in your opinion, what is going on?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

Please keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you since I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes only. The symptoms you describe suggests a chronic cervical stenosis (narrowing due to the disc bulging) and then it sounds as if you had an acute event in March 2006 that resulted in pressure on the nerves exiting the spinal cord (radiculopathy) and possibly put pressure on the spinal cord itself (myelopathy).  I agree that based on what you described a surgical consultation is needed.  However, not every case is appropriate for surgery and can often be helped with physical therapy and muscle relaxors.  From the symptoms you described, surgery it a real possibility, but requires a discussion of the risks and benefits with the surgeons(who will be able to see your films, unlike me). A consult a month away is unfortunate due to the degree it is affecting your life, but is unlikely to affect the outcome unless you are having progressive symptoms, such as developing weakness, or symptoms that spread to the other arm, or involve the legs.  If at any time you lose control of your bowel or bladder, or if you become paralysed on one side or the other it would suggest spinal cord compression and you should seek emergency medical attention. You may place a call to your neurosurgeon and relate the impact that this has had on your daily life and ask for any earlier consultation.  I hope this has been helpful.

[mike1105]

could be disc related, but remember that many MRI findings related to disc herniations/osteophytes etc do not translate into symptoms.  ie just because you have herniatins does not mean they are causing your problems. for this reason, many surgeries are done unnecessarily. the musculature of the neck is complex and easily thrown off balance--- check your posture- buy a book on posture and do posture exercises for a month or so and see how you feel. try to walk upright ALL the time (go to a website by Dr. Jolie Bookspan) i had similar symptoms to yours-- for a while i could not turn my head and had constant neck.upper back pain. foraminotomy surgey did nothing. sufferred for 2 1/2 years. had both shoulders scoped and even pec. minor releases. it was not until i began correcting my posture and building up core/extension muscles that i began to feel better. check out
upper crossed syndrome" and read about a guy named Vladimir Janda on the internet. see if this fits you. good luck.