cervical spine question

[Bobbi D]

For several years now I have had intermittent periods of tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. When that numbness started to spread this year to my left leg and left arm, sometimes with total numbness I was referred to a neurologist. I should also mention that during this time I was told I have Reynauds and Sjogrens (at first thought to be secondary to lupus but ANA never elevated) so there is also some autoimmune problem which causes dizziness, extreme fatigue, stiffness, achiness, etc. intermittently which has never been given a formal name.  The neuro sent me for an MRI of my cervical spine which showed disc space narrowing at the C4-5 level...."at this level there is a mild, broad bony bridge and a small central protrusion resulting in moderate flattening of the cord. At C3-4 there is a nominal bony ridge which effaces the ventral subarachnoid space, without cord compression".  It also states that there is "an enlarged, empty cella which contains what appears to be cerebrospinal fluid".  The neurologist was not concerned at all about the "empty cella" and has referred me to a neurosurgeon for the cord compression. My question is, do these MRI findings sound like they would cause the tingling, numbness and could the overwhelming fatigue (and also confusion and forgetfullness very recently) and dizziness be caused by this also?  Sometimes I feel like my head is too heavy for my neck to hold up, and I get tingling in my head - and I wonder if maybe this compression could be causing less blood to flow to my brain if that is possible?  The strange thing is, sometimes all of the symptoms disappear for months at a time.

[jmuritu]

A related discussion, hypertrophic spurring was started.

[Alberto Caban]

whats hypertrophic spurring? Central protrusion? Disruption of posterior annular fibers

[Alberto Caban]

whats hypertrophic spurring? Central protrusion? Disruption of posterior annular fibers

[Margie to DJParent]

I have deginerative disk disease and an MRI showed that
I have 3 buldging disks.  I reccomend that if you are
having tingling, numbness, or shooting pain, request
an MRI.  DDD means that your disks are slowly deginerating,
and you need to be careful when lifting and do strenghtening
exercises.  Your docotor should give you an MRI and
physical therapy.

Good luck.  I am undergoing a series of 3 epidural steriod
injects for my neck C5, 6, and 7.  I've lived with this
pain and diagnoisis for over 4 years, although physical
therapy helped, I could only go so far.

[DJParent]

yes can you tell me what its degenatingdisk, L-45 L-5-S, is it serious

[DJParent]

yes can you tell me what its degenatingdisk, L-45 L-5-S, is it serious

[DJParent]

yes can you tell me what its degenatingdisk, L-45 L-5-S, is it serious

[Bobbi D]

Actually you've been a big help - thank you very much.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Robin:

Sorry about your problems.  Without seeing the MRI it is difficult for me to comment on.  The lesion, sounds minor-although-present and should have no effect on blood flow to the head, dizziness, or fatigue issues. If there was profound vertebral degeneration, then there might be a reason for dizziness as there might be vertebral-basilar dysfunction.  But you do not mention this in your MRI report, so I don't believe that it exists.  It is difficult to say about the hand and feet tingling and numbness.  Yes, it might be partly responsible, but it might not be involved.  I would place more importance on the autoimmune disorder.  If the numbness and tingling do not fit a dermatome, then I would first look for peripheral problems, such as the autoimmune problem.  Alot will depend on the neurological exam and the distribution of the numbness and tingling.  A few more lab tests might help matters, especially if the sedimentation rate is elevated or if amyloid is found.

Sorry, I can't be of more help.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD