Neck pain

[debbie]

I have neck pain and stiffness.  My hands go to sleep at night, most nights, depending on what I have done during the day.  I sometimes have tingling in my finger and burning in my right tumb.  I also have shoulder pain and pain between my shoulder blades.  My MRI showed degenerative disk disease at C5-C6.  Broad-based central mixed spondylotic and soft disk protrusion abutting the ventral cord without significant compression.  I have been told I probably have fibromyalgia. Could the disk disease cause my problems?

[sarah]

Hi Debbie:
I came to this site to find out why I had what I feel is a very strange symptom: burning right thumb.  It was actually red and hot.  The temperature between both thumbs was completely different.  I have been under observation for thoracic outlet syndrom or carpel tunnel syndrome, but I have constant pain in the joints in my neck, pain between the shoulder blades and pain in my left shoulder, ache and stinging, and both hands go numb, more at night but also in the day.  

I have had two car accidents, but I also work at a keyboard all day.  I can understand the numbness and tingling, but I don't understand why I would have a red hot thumb which lasted about ten to fifteen minutes.  It has not happened since.  Just before I had the red hot thumb, I had numbness in that thumb and the first three fingers for about one hour.  I wish someone would help me understand this.  

One other strange symptom I had was my middle finger and pinky finger on the same hand went numb, which is not a normal pattern of nerve compression.  The middle and pinky were also white when I pressed them, whereas the other fingers were their normal pink color.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Debbie:

Sorry that your having problems with your neck and hands.  It is difficult to tell you what might be occurring.  The symptoms you describe sound like they are median nerve symptoms, i.e. carpel tunnel.  This might be due to the neck but likely not.  Usually this is from repetitive hand movement in a person with small wrists.  A small disc herniation without cord compromise is usually not the cause of pain/numbness.  However, it can occur.  I would get checked out with a neurologist.  Get a good neurological exam and some lab work.  

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD