Spinal stenosis,

[dapperotp]

I was injured in 1990 while on active duty in the US Marine Corps. I had a tri-lateral fracture to C-5 on the right side across the pedical, foramen and lamina. I have bone spurs, stenosis, and osteophytes now from C-2 thru C-7. I have chronic pain and a measured 30% loss of strength on my left side, lower back discomfort and pain in the backs of both legs just in the hip and hamstring area. What could possibly be going wrong now?

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Buddy,
What your doctor is suggesting is the Nerve Conduction velocity study.I think, we will get all the answers after this report.
Also please tell me about your MRI findings.
Regards

[dapperotp]

I recently had a MRI, and they said it is inconclusive. They want to run a nerve test with some sort of shock stimuli and check for neurological firing down the arm. My doctor said that he is suspecting that the damage may be in the column and therefore irreversible and that they may not be able to go any further than that until it worsens.  I also sometimes have subtle fatigue, spider pulses and tingling in the arm only. My main concern is why is it happening on the left and not the right?

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Dappertp,
I would suggest you to urgently go for a MRI scan of the Neck region with the screening of the full spine.Since there is progressive loss of the left side strength, this denotes that something is pressing over the left side nerves which is causing the decrease of the power.MRI will pick out the minor changes so as to depict the reason of the same.
The treatment plan will depend on the diagnosis obtained through the MRI.SO please update us once you do the MRI.As far as i am observing, it might end up in a surgical option.
Please feel free to discuss more with us.
Regards.