burning pain in back-mri results

[chiari_shaina]

I recently have been having pins & needles/burning pain inbetween my shoulder blades. Sometimes it get so unbearable i cannot sleep, function, etc. There is really no muscle aching only the burning pain. I am currently on lyrica, zoloft and xanax. Also my Primary doctor recently perscribed ultram(tremadol) to try and help the pain. It has not worked yet, but still trying it to see. Previously I have tried vicodin, oxycotin, percocet, and butal. My primary doctor has also said it may possibly be the start of fibermyalgia. I had a MRI done May of 2010 which identified a tethered spinal cord, annular disc tear & tiny midline disc protrusions at the levels of c5-c6 and c6-c7 interspaces. I had a MRI done last week to check on the progression and the results were as follows:
At c5-c6, disc bulging is evident without definite evidence of neural impingement.
At c6-c7, central disc protrusion is identified. No definite neural impingement is seen
Impression: central disc protrusion at c6-c7 and disc bulging at c5-c6

I am a 28yr old healthy female. In may of 2010 I had successful chiari decompression surgery. So far the doctors do not think my recent symptoms are related to my surgery or the chiari at all. I am curious if anyone else has had the same problems and what treatment and/or surgery route you took. There have been talks about trying epideral spinal injections possibly. I am waiting now to get an appointment with a neurosurgeon for a second opinion. Any information you all may have I would greatly appreciate!! Thanks!!

[*Stormy*]

When you say between your shoulder blades... are you talking about the area sort of where your bra strap would sit? I have had really bad issue with burning, sparking pain there too before and after surgery. Sometimes it also triggers thing from the front and cause a bad pain in my breastbone and it hurts to breathe. What I learned from the neuro-rehab is that area of the thoracic spine commonly sees distress and damage, it is a common point for injury. In my case, I have weakened muscles and ligaments around most of my joints causing things to easily move out of place. This causes all the most vulnerable places to start causing pain and inflammation. The best thing to do is to try and strengthen the area without hurting it...which is really hard to do. I don't have much in the way of advice on how to stop it but two points of prevention: avoid twisting your body around and avoid stretching that part of you back (thought it is tempting). Both things I have found flare up the issues.

Stormy

[castleton]

I have that pressure feeling in my back, too.  I kept saying it feels like someone put a potato in there. I keep looking in the mirror to try to see the lump.. lol ....  When I lie down on my back I feel this big lump and I cant get comfortable.  I can only sleep on one side.  
I'm Princess in the Pea, I guess!

[xmelax35]

Hello! I am with Selma on this one, because I asked a question in neurology and she was very helpful with it.  I too have that pins/needles in my back (spine).  I just started getting it recently.  I have had burning before too but I don't have it now, just the numbness and tingling.  I have to say I think she is right about it..bulging discs and probably my tethered cord (I was told I have a form of it).  Hopefully you will find out what it is.  If you have an MRI or CT of your spine...please get copies of your test results from where you have the test done. Some doctors will say you have a "normal" test result when in fact you have that stuff on it. Also with tethered cord I have been told that it is not always seen on MRI's or CT's by radiologists..only a trained professional who knows Tethered Cord (a specialist) will be able to tell if you have it or not.  That is just my opinion and that of doctors/and other people I have talked to. :) Good luck, I know how you are feeling.  

Oh and do you have any pressure in your back? I have pressure in my lower spine and it feels like someone's fist is in there.

[castleton]

My pain is exactly like that.  It becomes unbearable if I do any motion with impact or vibration such as running, jumping, sitting on a motorboat going through waves.

I have a large syrinx C7-T3.  You can see my MRI on my profile page.

I do not have chiari.  My syrinx is idiopathic-no known cause has been found,  

[selmaS]

  Hi...I think  quite a few of us get this burning pain...some feel it is a possible syrinx as Pam noted...and others feel it could be the chiari.

I too have had the surgery and depending on what I do, I still can get teh burning, tingling and numbness,.

I also am DX'd with tethered cord...no surgery yet...so, that is yet another possibility.

  And last, I do have a few bulging disks that r causing issue....I try to avoid the "triggers" and avoid taking too many strong meds....I feel the strong meds do not allow me to feel what changes might be going on and lead to an injury I might have prevented....JMHO.

"selma"

[ajunebug]

I just wanted to say that my pain is a burning pain too, and it's also between my shoulders, and where my neck and shoulders meet, as well as all up the back of my neck. It's horrible. I can't even lie down without serious pain! Opiates do work well for me, but I have to take them in combination with ibuprofen.

I'm headed for a full MRI and cine MRI this week. I've only had a cervical and skull MRI previously and it did not show any syrinx or disc issues.

[pamk5]

When is the last time they did a MRI of your entire spine... sounds like the pain may be thoracic?  Between your shoulder blades sounds lower than Cspine. Of course your body can refer pain.  Have you had a MRI to see if you still have normal flow at the site of the Chiari?  I would have them check these to make sure you dont have a syrinx. I have heard some describe it as burning pain.  Worth a shot to have this checked out.  

Just my thoughts.  I hope it helps.  Did a specialist do your surgery?  Some NS that arent specialists only believe a syrinx can develop in Cspine but it can also happen in Thoracic or Lumbar as well.  Congrats on a successful decompression!  I will be going in for mine next week.  

Pam

I hope you feel better.