? about numbness & loss of temp. sensation along w/bulging & narrowing discs - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

stitcher8 · 03-29-2009, 01:19 AM

I have bulging and narrowing at c5/6 and bulging at c6/7. Tonight when my husband was putting lotion on my back and shoulders, I noticed that it was cold on the left side. But when he put it on the right side, I didn't even feel it. I also noticed that I didn't feel cold in my right hand yesterday. But I didn't think anything of it.

Does anyone know if this might be associated with the disc problems? I have an appt. with a neurosurgeon on April 10th. But I'm wondering if I need to try to get in earlier.

krazy2day · 03-29-2009, 02:11 AM

I'd wager it has everything to do with your disc issues. I doubt you'd have to speed up your appt though.

want a good out · 03-29-2009, 05:53 AM

You could call them and let them decide, but I doubt they will think it is an emergency. I found myself feeling more and more of my defict in the few weeks prior to surgery almost like my body was warning me not to chicken out.
I think it is related. You may have some other issues related to the not so good discs. If you lose control of your bladder or bowels than it becomes an emergency.

stitcher8 · 03-29-2009, 09:18 AM

Thanks girls. I'm just really worried because when I had my GP put in the referral for the MRI, he didn't do one for the Neurosurgeon at the same time. When I asked him about it, he said he wanted to wait for the report to come back to see if the radiologist suggested seeing neuro. He said that if they didn't, that he could send me to a pain management. But my issue at that point wasn't even with the pain. The pain was being controlled with a TENS unit. My issue was the increasing numbness especially on my right (dominant) side. So I had the MRI on a Thursday. They said they should have the report the next day. No call. So Monday I called them. They waited till they were walking out the door to call me. I accidently sent them a busy signal (cell phone) and when I tried to call them right back they were gone. So I called on Tuesday and they finally got back to me sometime Tuesday afternoon. But through it all, they only ever mention the pain. That didn't really start being an issue until a few days ago.

Anyway, then it took the referral nurse a couple more days to get the referral done. But I don't know if it has been related to the neurosurgeon that I have increasing numbness. My thumb has been going numb for over a month now. And from things I've read on the internet, if you are having numbness and tingling it is important to get it dealt with as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. Since everything is happening in my dominant side, it is going to be a real issue if permanent damage is done.

So am I just freaking out for no reason? Or am I right to be concerned that the neurosurgeon is not being told about the numbness?

jennybyc · 03-29-2009, 10:03 AM

Loss of sensation is a problem but loss of function is more of a problem. Can you still use your thumb? Your fingers, your arm? Numb is a sign of a nerve that is more than just hurt, it is injured to the point of interrupting chemical signals. Loss of function means a bunch of nerves are now involved so keep an eye on whether you can use the affected areas. Even then, it can take quite a while to kill the nerve cells. I was a klutz, dropping things and having trouble typing and writing for a full 2 years before I found out I had a spine problem. I never had any pain. Mine was all cord compression and so I was slowly becoming paralyzed and never knew it. And I got it all back after surgery!

Hang in there...............Jenny