Syrinx ?

[allycat]

6 years ago I broke L1.2 years ago I was found to have a small syrinx at T8. I had been having symptoms of tingling and heaviness in right leg,muscle twitching and prickling in left side of face and tongue. A neurologist thought that the syrinx was an incidental finding but a neurosurgeon wants to do a cine phase mri and a myelogram. I am on a years waiting list.I then had a right frozen shoulder and this past year have felt increasingly unwell with fatigue, gastric problems,dryness in mouth which seems to be my tongue and what one doctor said was oral thrush. Another doctor disagreed with this. I have intermittent swelling of my salivary glands and have been diagnosed with polymorphic light eruption after developing a photosensitive rash.I have a polypoid thickening on right maxillary antrum and cold sores in my nose. My neurological symptoms seem to come in episodes along with joint pain.I was recently diagnosed with hital hernia and gastritis although I am not over weight.I recently saw notes from the neurologist which said that I had myopathic changes in the right deltoid and triceps.I am now having tests for connective tissue disease but blood tests are normal except for esr of 30.
1 Could all these symptoms be related to a syrinx.
2 Is it wise to have a myelogram. I have heard of people having problems after these.
3 Can a lesion at T8 cause gastric problems.
Thank you so much for your help.

[jkidd74]

A related discussion, mimickery trickery was started.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

The syrinx at T8 would not explain all of your symptoms, and should not cause stomach symptoms. A myelogram is a safe procedure. The major side effects are a possible reaction to the dye, and a spinal fluid leak. In the past a different contrast agent was used which caused more severe reactions. I would agree with the neurologist and investigate a more systemic cause such as connective tissue disease, arteritis, sarcoid, and infectious diseases (such as lyme).  Good luck.

[hopeinmind]

I was also diagnosed to have a syrinx in my thoracic cord. Five months ago, because I had a right butt and lower back pain, MRIs were ordered. A long but small syrinx cavity was found in my thoracic cord. It extends approximately from T5-6 to T10. No history of trauma. No evidence if Chiari malformation. No evidence of pathologic enhancement to suggest the presence of tumor associated with syrinx.  Brain and lumbar MRIs were normal.

The symptoms I have now include: butt and lower back pain, shoulder blade area pain, arm and hand pain, hand finger stiff and swelling sometimes. All the symptoms are worse on right side. Recently, I feel weakness in my right arm and leg and a little muscle wasting in my right upper arm and shoulder. In addition, I have a feeling of "insect crawling" on my back, arms and hands sometimes , as well as twitching, tingling in the hands, arms, back and legs when I am at rest.


The neurologist I saw here gave me a complete neurological and some other examinations, as well as lab tests, including CBC, CMP, ESR, CPK, aldolase. Thank God, they were all normal, except that ANA was 1:40-80. EMG, nerve conduction and evoked potential were normal.  The doctor said this tiny syrinx is of no clinical significance.  

If this is true, I have a few questions here: what is the possible reason that causes all of my symptoms? (Especcially considering that the syrinx is located at T5,6-T10, this is not supposed to affect my arms and hands or the legs). I am so worried about the weakness and the muscle wasting, and the ANA. Is lupus a possible reason?(I had an appointment with a rheumatologist last week, the doctor said I don't have it). Since MR scans were done at least four months ago, is it possible that the syrinx cavity gets enlarged quickly?  Does anybody have an idea on my case?  I am so scared and so focused on any symptoms that happened on my body that I  can hardly lead a normal life.  Any information and suggestion would be appreciated from the bottom of my heart.      

[mara2139]

hi, well i also have syrinx of the cervical spinal cord at the c level and extending into the thoracic spinal cord and is a nightmere this past three years i started with a severe pain in my shoulder, once in a while now is all the time and my left side of my face , neck and arm are numb and my arm is also very weak, thats all my symptoms.

i have an appoiment this month to see what the suregeon said,i wonder if i can go back to work with this problem?