Need advice, opinions or suggestions, pls! - Pain Management Message Board

painintheneck2 · 08-25-2003, 11:30 PM

Hello all.

I have a herniated right side bulging cervical disk at c5 and c6. An MRI diagnosed this about a year ago. I think that I have more damage somewhere, like the lumbar area, because of other symptoms.

Recently I saw my doctor about my right hand at thumb and first finger going numb and losing feeling.

We discoverd thru some pin ***** tests that other parts ofmy right arm have also lost feeling.

I've also been having probs with my right leg. Pain, weakness and just a heavy feeling. Like walking up a cople of stairs feels like a work out and it's difficult to just life my leg up to the next step.

Today at college, I was walking down the hall and my right leg just quit functioning. I stumbled for a few feet before I fell. It was realy weird. Lately I've noticed more leg problems. Walking seems strange. Like something is wrong but I can't put my finger on it. It feels like I should be using a cane, like my leg needs support or something.

Also, the other day, I noticed that the bottom of my right foot went completely numb and has stayed that way.

I'm going in to see my doc tomorrow. I think it stems from my c5 c6 disk herniation, like my hand. My doctor and I feel that the herniation has gotten progressively worse since my MRI.

has anyone else had this problem with their arm and leg? If so, what has been your outcome or treatment plan for this?

Thanks,
pitn

------------------

~head on collision in 1999 (car totaled)
~badly sprained ankle, bruised chest cavity, whiplash
~month later, recovered
~month and one week later, couldn't move neck LOTS of pain and crying. Tingling in right index and middle finger. Pain down right arm, pain always in neck and in upper back between shoulder blades (burning). Legs also hurt at times.
~went to various docs, prescribed muscle relax. and pain meds on and off whenever I got a "flare up".
~found my doc 2 years ago, prescribed lortab. insurance wouldn't cover preexistin cond till 6 months lapsed
~doc said "you are having muscle spasms and will prob be on pain killers the rest of your life"
~later, doc started to question my pain
~told him to schedule MRI
~MRI showed herniated disk, bulging on right side at C5 & C6
~kept me on pain meds and referred me to a wonderful chiro.
~now seeing chiro and taking pain meds
~next step is epidural shot if chiro doesn't work.
~UPDATE: Aug 2003: Saw Doc., discussed tolerence to Lortabs; Discussed long acting meds and complete loss of sensation in right thumb up to first finger; and pain worse, + wake up with right arm "dead" often!
~Set up appt with Neuro
~Prescribed MS Contin 30 mg 2x day plus Lortab 10 5 per day for BT.
~ 1 wk later: bumped up to 60mg MS Contin 2x day
~ So far MS Contin works excellent. Pain level 0 to 1 for 8-10 hours

SFangel · 08-26-2003, 11:55 PM

I also have bulging disks at about C4-C5-C6, pinched nerves, degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis, and so on...

If your doctor feels that your conditions have worsened, you might want to have another MRI scan of your cervical spine done. Your last one was a year ago, which is quite a long time. A new MRI scan would probably pick up the changes in your cervical spine.

I also have loss of feeling and numbness in my hands, wrists, lower arms, feet, ankles, and calves. I often have the feeling that ants are walking on these affected body parts. I often drop things and I often fall (my falls are not caused by my cervical spine problems). I have positive clonus test (I do not know what that is) and increased reflexes. I have severe chronic pain in the left knee/leg and in the cervical spine. Other problems with my left knee/leg are instability, giving out, falls, and so on...

You might want to consult a spine specialist. You can talk with your doctor about this.

I am not getting any treatment for this. Doctors feel my problems are "too mild" even though I have all these problems, some of which are serious.

HockeyCrystal · 08-27-2003, 04:10 AM

Hey sweetie!!!

I had the leg problem and still do sometimes when it just totally loses all feeling and function, and this happened to me going down stairs once... Thank god for railing!!! Anyways, apparently I have some nerves trapped by the closing off of my left sacroiliac joint I think from my transitional vertebrae.... Anyways, what you have sounds like some kind of nerve compression or "Pinched nerve", but I don't know. This is just what happened to me, and what I was diagnosed with after this problem... I was given some stretches, that helped bring the nerves back away from the joint to stop the compression as much... I still have it every so often, but not near as much.

Just a suggestion?

Crystal

HERMIT · 08-27-2003, 08:36 AM

HI I don't know if this will help, but I had major surgery to remove a tumor from my spinal cord from brainstem to C-7. My left leg is alway tingling and the foot always feels like it is in ice water--remember when your feet got cold when skating? Any damage to the cord or manipulation will for sure affect function. Another thing that happens when I lay down is my arms feel like they are in a different position from where they really are. It is really weird.
I doubt these feelings are much to worry over UNLESS they get worse. Losing all function must mean that the disc is contacting that particular nerve. I forget if you have had surgery or not but maybe if post surgical it will clear up over time.
Hope this helps.

VPG · 08-27-2003, 04:38 PM

painintheneck2,

Glad to hear you are going to the doctor. Write down what happen and really make him listen to you.

You may have some nerve pinched or something, I have fallen several times one time in 11/02 legs gave out and I went into a bay window dislocated my shoulder. Not fun.
I have been embarrased several times when I have fallen in public. My legs just give out without no warning, they just feel weird. Now they did decompressed my spinal cord when they were in my back the last surgery. After that I did get the feeling back in my left leg for awhile. Several weeks ago I overdid some PT , I fell backwards shortly after that and now both of my legs are like that just very strange feeling, numb, tingle, sharp pain, throbs at times. hurts all the way up my back . For me I know I have major nerve damage. And will have to go back to using my cane. I am waiting on WC to authorize possible column stimultor. To control some of it. My doctor says as for the rest I will have to live with it. To much damage when I was injured at work.

Talk to your doctor and do not give up. Best of Luck to you.

VPG

[This message has been edited by VPG (edited 08-27-2003).]