Cervical ER visit

[mmglobal]

After 8 years as a died-in-the-wool spiney, I had my first spiney ER visit today. I still don't understand what is happening, but at least the ER visit ruled out the scary stuff.

Since my return from Germany less than 1 week ago, my c-spine has been more problematic than normal. This consists of symptoms that are at annoying levels, progressing through the day, then getting more than annoying at night. Pins an needles in my arm. Ache in left interscapular area, radiating up into my neck and shoulder, plus muscle cramps and spasms in upper back. Left foot ache, pins and needles, and numbness also seem to be elevated when my c-spine symptoms flare up. I've always assumed that they are lumbar related, but have often wondered if they could be connected to my c-spine issues. In the late afternoon and evening, it's the ache in my left upper back/shoulder/neck that keeps me from being able to function well.

Last night, I got tingling up through my neck, back of head and ear (all left sided). When going to sleep, I was getting pins and needles and tingling... mostly in the normally effected areas that I have mentioned, but all over my body. This was not painful.. just annoying. The pins and needles feel like an acupuncture needle being inserted... a pinch, but not real pain. The scary part was that at one point, it was all left-sided as if there was a line down the middle of my body and everything occurred on the left side. After that experience, I did start to have some pins on the right side. At times, they were behind my right eye.. then left too.

This morning, when the symptoms were still there, plus some nausea, clamminess and general malaise; it was clear that this needed to be checked out. Hoag Hospital in Newport beach rocks. No wait... good doctor visit... ordered brain and c-spine MRI. Brain is normal. C-spine is not any more abnormal than my last one about 8 months ago. Blood work looks good. So the ER visit ruled out the big scary potential issues... stroke being the the one I feared with that all left side pain. It did not explain what is happening.

I'm still getting tingling and such in places that I've never experienced it before... still mostly left sided.... face, head, and mostly the normal spots... left foot, left arm, left shoulder.

In April I was worked up by Dr. Bertagnoli. My films look much worse than my symptoms. I've been in a holding pattern for a couple of years. Osteophytes at C5-6-7 are so large that they are marginal for ADR. However, my symptoms don't justify the surgery. I've scrubbed in on surgeries for patients who have much less pathology, but much more symptoms. I don't know where this is headed, but I've had my heart worked up twice and now a brain MRI to rule out other causes of my symptoms. It seems that things are getting worse, but I'm still not ready to consider muli-level cervical ADR. We'll see what the next few weeks bring. Perhaps a cervical discogram. If I was 100% certain that my symptoms were coming from the levels that would get ADR, I think I'd do the surgery. However, I've been around spine surgery too long to undergo such a major surgery while I'm still functioning so well and in the absence of the indicators that make surgery sooner, rather than later, important. What's a mother to do?

Mark

[Harrison]

Sorry Mark. I can relate to your story (our chats from way back). Just curious, how are your neck muscles (SCM, scalenes)? Are they tight -- or do you have any trigger points there, as far as you can tell? Is muscular impingement a possibility?

Hang tough buddie. If you would, answer my last few emails too, thanks.

Mark,

I'm so sorry to hear of this!!! I've had some of those symptoms, and "prefer" the less ambiguous ones.

I'm also a big fan of trigger point therapy (and achiness in the upper back, shoulder & neck are signs for myself that I need to take inventory). With diligence and patience (or diligent patience, in my case), working on the tp's reduces my nerve root symptoms remarkably, and my need for narcotics (nsaids are here to stay <sigh&gt. Additionally, there comes a yoga-like awareness after a short time that is invaluable if muscle tension aggravates your nerve root symptoms. It only addresses symptoms, of course, but gives you more comfort while you research and address your underlying issues.

Someone wise recently told me not to discount cervie symptoms just because the discomfort is bearable ... because cervical issues can change rapidly. I think you^H^H^H *he* was right!

Take care of yourself,
-j


p.s. Do you have a chiropractor's "nerve chart" or an acpuncture/pressure meridian chart? I'll be glad to send you mine ... I think my problem's pretty well defined by now and they should have a home where someone(s) could use them.

[djscal]

Mark,

Sorry to hear this. I hope the symptoms improve and you can buy yourself more time. Wishing you the best bud.

Dan

[sahuaro]

Mark:
I am so sorry that you are having these very frightening symptoms but it must be a relief that other possibilities have been ruled out. I ditto Jenni's comment re not discounting cervie symptoms inclduing the source of this advice--is this denial (which I know well!) and/or knowing too much?? What did Dr. Bertagnoli recommend?
Please take care of yourself.

[florihupf]

Hey Mark,

all the best. Some of the arm / shoulder symptoms I have too to some degree and the Dr. says, it's mild scoliosis.

But pins behind the eye, well, that's something that would scare me too!

Good luck!

[jf110]

Mark,
I am experiencing the same exact symtoms that you are. My MRI reports showed bone spurs at C5-6
and at C6-7. I have pain in the center of my neck
and it also radiates down my left shoulder,arm,elbow,wrist and tingling,numbness in my last two fingers. Any kind of grabbing movements with my left arm just sends a lot of pain up my arm into my shoulder and neck.I am considering cervical adr. My ADR surgery i had at L-5,S-1 with Dr. Blumenthal at the Texas Back Institute is doing fine. I just wish FDA approval for cervical ADR was already in place here in the states. Thats probably two or three years out still!. Sure would like to know what you decide to do if you contemplate surgery. I know Dr. Bertognoli does the cervical adr sugery
in Germany. A very good friend of mine had her adr done at Dr. Bertognoli's clinic in Bogan. Her results were fantastic. Sincerely, JF110

[letteski]

Mark,

I�m so sorry to hear that your neck is causing you so much pain. I have a couple of ideas for you. For someone that lives behind a computer for much of the days make sure everything is ergonomically set up. Screen at eye level wrist rest etc. This has helped me with my neck issues as well as the Thera-Cane, (do a search you can get them cheaper) I think you tried this when you visited me in Santa Monica. It helps with those trigger points that others have mentioned.

As important as hamstring stretches are for are lumbar are neck stretches too. Putting your ear towards your shoulder with the opposite hand under your bottom and to add to it grab your head with the other hand this will increase the stretch. Do it gently at first.

These may all be things you already know but if I can help you in anyway it could only be a small pay back for what you have done for me.

[Poncho]

Mark,

The first thing I was thinking of was CVA vs MI vs C-spine. I am glad that the scary stuff is ruled out - thats for sure!!!

So, what is the course of treatment for now? Steroid bomb of some sort??? - Just guessing here....

On a side note, my brother has c-spine issues and has gone through chrio with it. Practically disabled before and now doing quite well... Something nonsurgical to consider atleast.

[Alastair]

Hi Mark,
amazingly interesting what you post here about your symptoms which I can correlate with something else of very little seriousness.

I just wonder what you've been eating? Have you been eating a lot of cheese or chocolate or drinking a lot of red wine? What you describe especially with the partitioning between the left and right hand side of your body is a classic "Migraine Cluster" symptom. I used to have these when I was younger and had to adjust my diet.

It could be worth thinking back to what you've been eating, we all get sensitive to different foods and different things as we get older sometimes. I hope this resolves itself quickly
best wishes,
Alastair