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Back & Neck Pain (Expert Forum)
dural irritation etiology
Questions in the Back & Neck Pain forum are answered by Dr. Kwan Yin Chong and Dr. Prem Pillay. Topics covered include herniated disc, pinched nerves, sciatica, degenerative spine disease, spinal stenosis, spine trauma and fractures, and pine tumors.
dural irritation etiology
by sk8flo, May 02, 2008 06:10PM
Six months after my second ACDF I began having right upper arm nerve pain. ACDF #1 was for herniated disc and large osteophyte at C5-6. Fours years later, ACDF C3-4 + 4-5 was done (April 2006) for significant cervical instability on flexion/extension x-rays (lax ligaments as cause as I was told) and bulging discs - only symptom was a line of nerve pain right upper arm. Arm pain resolved post-op.
Recent EMG stated C7 nerve root irritation and a known C6-7 disc bulge remains the same over the past 6 years. MRI is also supposedly clear of bone spurs or foramen stenosis. I've now been told this new onset of pain is due to 'dural irritation' and not a pinched nerve. I've been started on Lyrica and PT to loosen up the upper thoracic spine, mobilize the shoulder girdle etc.
I don't understand anything about dural irritation and how this can be the cause of a very specific line of upper arm pain, no neck or shoulder pain.
I do know when the C6-7 bulge happens as I do get, in addition to the almost constant right upper arm pain, lateral forearm and 4-5 finger pain for a few mintues but it goes away.
Can you explain what dural irritation is? Has scar tissue developed? Could there be a neuroma on the nerve? Is this a rare developement after mutilevel ACDF?
Thank you for shedding any light on this new diagnosis!
Recent EMG stated C7 nerve root irritation and a known C6-7 disc bulge remains the same over the past 6 years. MRI is also supposedly clear of bone spurs or foramen stenosis. I've now been told this new onset of pain is due to 'dural irritation' and not a pinched nerve. I've been started on Lyrica and PT to loosen up the upper thoracic spine, mobilize the shoulder girdle etc.
I don't understand anything about dural irritation and how this can be the cause of a very specific line of upper arm pain, no neck or shoulder pain.
I do know when the C6-7 bulge happens as I do get, in addition to the almost constant right upper arm pain, lateral forearm and 4-5 finger pain for a few mintues but it goes away.
Can you explain what dural irritation is? Has scar tissue developed? Could there be a neuroma on the nerve? Is this a rare developement after mutilevel ACDF?
Thank you for shedding any light on this new diagnosis!
