Neck and Lower Back Pain

[mozartlives]

I was in a roll-over accident about 15 years ago in which I received whip lash and had a shot to relieve my constant headache. My neck has given me trouble since the accident and symptoms would flare up in the form of a very stiff neck. At times my neck was so sore and stiff that I could not lift my head off of my pillow.  The stiffness would last a few days and everything would fine again… for a while. Six months ago I had a severe flare up and my index finger and thumb on my left hand went completely numb. I also had an aching pain that radiated from my shoulder down my arm and a constant headache at the back of my head. I had physiotherapy for six weeks and the symptoms, for the most part, went away.  Now I have new symptoms that started last week which may or may not be related. My upper shoulders and neck are in spasms but now my back is  stiff and I have sciatic type pain in my left leg, cramps in my thigh and aching hips. Do you think these new symptoms are related? I suppose it may be time to see a Doc.  Thank you for your time.

[roper03]

I was in a car wreck it caused whiplash and a head contusion in 2008 and I just had surgery for Herniated Disc I had pain and numbness in my right hand and fingers, in my arm numbness in my elbow pain in between my shoulder blades and across my shoulder, neck stiffness pain in my neck loss of motion in neck and major and many headaches I also had dizzy spells and major sinus problems form it.  I tried PT and chiropractors they were a temporary fix and that was it. I  had a C4- C5 fusion and I also have a bulging disc still in my neck that. I also have 2 herniated disc L4-L5 in my lower back that cause back pain and pain in my hip my back L4-L5 are not from the car wreck but C4-C5 are from the whiplash in the car wreck. I would suggest you go to a neurologist and have it checked out ASAP.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi! What you have is probably Scalene Myofascial Pain Syndrome. When scalene muscle is the cause of pain, the pain is referred to chest, inner lining of scapula (shoulder bone), shoulder, posterior and lateral sides of the arm right up to the thumb and index finger. When this muscle shortens, this can press on brachial plexus (bundle of nerves and blood vessels in the armpit) and the subclavian artery and can compress or irritate these structures and cause symptoms such as abnormal sensation, cold extremity, claudication, and lymphedema (swelling of lymph channels) in the involved extremity.
It can also be pinched cervical spinal nerve. Hence MRI of the neck should be done. It can also be median nerve compression at the wrist or carpal tunnel syndrome. Nerve conduction studies will be required. The best thing would be to consult a general practitioner or PCP and try and assess what is the cause of your problem. Then proper referral for concerned specialist can take things further and get you proper treatment. Take care!