To relieve Pain..

[Tedi2]

I have a constant pain in the upper right of my back which is causing pins & needles in my right arm. The pain is bad & cannot sleep most  nights  The tingling usually starts around the elbow very pronounced and feels like it circulates throughout my entire arm right down to my fingers.Not the usual pins & neddles.. I have been operated on my cervical in 2005 for decompressive surgery at Lahey Clinic in Burlington with Dr. Costgove who was chief of  the neurological department. Six months later was also operated on lower lumbar for spinal stenosis, again with Dr. Cosgrove.. Work related injury... I really can not think  of anything causing my  present condition except that I took a long trip in the back seat of my car while visiting Nova Scotia for a funeral. My son obviously drove the car.. The symptoms came on after the trip and has not gone away. It also feels like a pulled muscle in the back area. What confuses me is what is causing the pins & needles to get allot more intense then before. I had the symptoms before the surgery and continued to have them after the surgery. Numbness & tingling in both hands & in both legs from the knees down. But these pins & needles are allot more obviously related to the numbness coupled with the back pain?  What procedure would identify the condition? MRI, C-Scan? Etc..Can anyone help me?

[Tedi2]

I will take your advice. Thank you very much to take the time to answer me.. Sincerely, Ted

[karryon55]

Hi there & welcome to the forum.

Testing for MS is quite extensive & can involve some or all of the following:- MRI of Brain, C spine & T spine, Evoked Potentials, Blood Work, Spinal Tap (LP), EMG, Nerve conduction studies & most importantly a neurological examination.

There is not one single test to dx MS so it can be a lengthy process. I would have not of thought of MS with what you have written above but I am not a doctor either. I would have thought that it could be something you are already dealing with in your spine.

If you are still having problems then I would definitely talk to a Neurologist about your concerns. They can get a lot of answers from doing a Neuro exam on you & if needed can send you off for a MRI to start with.

Good luck & I hope this helps.

Karry.