LACat
11-29-2004, 04:27 PM
Hello All:
This is my first post. I am late 40's with a diagnosis of congenital cervical stenosis aggrevated by 4 cervical discs in various stages of degeneration (3 mild and one moderate). All of this confirmed by extensive MRI study. First symptoms might have been as much as six years ago masking as arthritis in hands, especially left.
In August I had intense pain and stiffness in my neck. In September, following heavy yard work I developed tingling in my fingers. Since then I have had significant weakness, numbness, intermittent tingling both arms. More recently numbness in feet and loss of coordination including several falls.
Throughout I have had considerable fatigue. I have also had cognitive issues that are impacting me professionally and personally. I have difficuly concentrating and my problem-solving skills are not up to their usual speed. Anyone out there with a similar underlying cervical condition have experience with the fatigue or cognitive issues?
LACat
This is my first post. I am late 40's with a diagnosis of congenital cervical stenosis aggrevated by 4 cervical discs in various stages of degeneration (3 mild and one moderate). All of this confirmed by extensive MRI study. First symptoms might have been as much as six years ago masking as arthritis in hands, especially left.
In August I had intense pain and stiffness in my neck. In September, following heavy yard work I developed tingling in my fingers. Since then I have had significant weakness, numbness, intermittent tingling both arms. More recently numbness in feet and loss of coordination including several falls.
Throughout I have had considerable fatigue. I have also had cognitive issues that are impacting me professionally and personally. I have difficuly concentrating and my problem-solving skills are not up to their usual speed. Anyone out there with a similar underlying cervical condition have experience with the fatigue or cognitive issues?
LACat
Sponsor
klasyjo
12-06-2004, 09:23 PM
Hello.
I face these issues everyday as I have spinal stenosis.
To help my leg I stretch the muscles (specifically piriformis muscle) that can be part of sciatica. I've also found that using heat and keeping muscles as relaxed as possible helps to some extent. As far as being tired and forgetful - I'm still working on that myself but use calendars and notes to help remember.
Best of luck and if you find anything else to help, please let me know.
I face these issues everyday as I have spinal stenosis.
To help my leg I stretch the muscles (specifically piriformis muscle) that can be part of sciatica. I've also found that using heat and keeping muscles as relaxed as possible helps to some extent. As far as being tired and forgetful - I'm still working on that myself but use calendars and notes to help remember.
Best of luck and if you find anything else to help, please let me know.
rob_zzz
12-07-2004, 01:16 AM
Hello All:
Throughout I have had considerable fatigue. I have also had cognitive issues that are impacting me professionally and personally. I have difficuly concentrating and my problem-solving skills are not up to their usual speed. Anyone out there with a similar underlying cervical condition have experience with the fatigue or cognitive issues?
LACat
LACat,
speaking from my own experience and the symptoms that I'm having from a herniated c5/c6 disc after trauma, it sounds like most of the symptoms you are having (weakness, numbness, tingling in both arms and legs) could definitely be a result of your neck problems. I've been having all of these - they go up and down on different days, but feel like they are slowly getting worse - if this is the case then the surgeon has said surgery to decompress my cord is likely (either ACDF or cervical disc replacement).
I haven't seen anything in my reading about fatigue or concentration problems as a result of neck problems, but these could be symptoms of stress. I've had some very high periods of stress in some work situations in the past and have been surprised how it can manifest itself physically - including fatigue, concentration problems, ulcers, chest pains and even skin rashes.
This neck injury has also generated a high amount of stress as well - worrying about the deteriorating symptoms and what to do about them and about whether surgery is the right option, which surgeon to see, what type of surgery to get etc.
Rob
Throughout I have had considerable fatigue. I have also had cognitive issues that are impacting me professionally and personally. I have difficuly concentrating and my problem-solving skills are not up to their usual speed. Anyone out there with a similar underlying cervical condition have experience with the fatigue or cognitive issues?
LACat
LACat,
speaking from my own experience and the symptoms that I'm having from a herniated c5/c6 disc after trauma, it sounds like most of the symptoms you are having (weakness, numbness, tingling in both arms and legs) could definitely be a result of your neck problems. I've been having all of these - they go up and down on different days, but feel like they are slowly getting worse - if this is the case then the surgeon has said surgery to decompress my cord is likely (either ACDF or cervical disc replacement).
I haven't seen anything in my reading about fatigue or concentration problems as a result of neck problems, but these could be symptoms of stress. I've had some very high periods of stress in some work situations in the past and have been surprised how it can manifest itself physically - including fatigue, concentration problems, ulcers, chest pains and even skin rashes.
This neck injury has also generated a high amount of stress as well - worrying about the deteriorating symptoms and what to do about them and about whether surgery is the right option, which surgeon to see, what type of surgery to get etc.
Rob
cherbnks
03-28-2005, 07:17 PM
Concerning your questions about cognitive impairment and fatigue, I would recommend you read the following website concerning the link between cervical stenosis and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue (both of which I have had for awhile.) http://www.nfra.net/Stenos2.htm
It all just starts to fit together; all the symptoms through the years that led one of my doctors to dub me his "mystery patient", meaning he could never come up with anything conclusive. In no particular order, I have had or have the following:
arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, as well as nerve related pain in hands ( & accompanying surgeries- bilateral carpal tunnel and ulner nerve releases), numbness, shocks, "buzzing", heaviness and weakness in legs, foot drop, unsteady gait, dizziness, headaches, hand tremors, yada yada. Not to mention the probing into whether or not I had MS, lyme disease or some of the other varied neurological diseases I was probed for. At its worse in my 40's (I'm 51 now) cognitive was definitely a component. Who can think when you are exhausted and in pain all the time! Curiouser and curiouser....
Cher
It all just starts to fit together; all the symptoms through the years that led one of my doctors to dub me his "mystery patient", meaning he could never come up with anything conclusive. In no particular order, I have had or have the following:
arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, as well as nerve related pain in hands ( & accompanying surgeries- bilateral carpal tunnel and ulner nerve releases), numbness, shocks, "buzzing", heaviness and weakness in legs, foot drop, unsteady gait, dizziness, headaches, hand tremors, yada yada. Not to mention the probing into whether or not I had MS, lyme disease or some of the other varied neurological diseases I was probed for. At its worse in my 40's (I'm 51 now) cognitive was definitely a component. Who can think when you are exhausted and in pain all the time! Curiouser and curiouser....
Cher
necknose
04-14-2005, 11:29 AM
The cevical stenosis fibro link is interesting but the nra link seems to be where it begins and ends. Nowhere else are these effects correlated. And the Heffez et al folks has "disappeared" on this issue.
Any other resources?
Any other resources?