Problems in the spine...nerves are causing pins/needles...burning.
Posted , 4 users are following.
I recently had an MRI on the lumber/cervical/brain. There are things going on with discs & neural openings. C4-C5 there is moderate spinal canal stenosis, but with SEVERE right, & mild left neural foramen stenosis. I've been experiencing sore neck muscles, shoulder muscles, & over the past few days, pins/needles in my right hand. There are other things going on re discs, etc...but this is the worst one.
I also have had burning on the bottoms of my feet which also turn deep red...stinging in my legs.
The original MRI done Oct/2015 said that at L5-S1 I have grade 2 spondylosisthis with moderate to sever narrowing of bilateral neural foramine. This latest MRI says that at L5-S1 there is Grade 2 spondylolisthis, with mild spinal canal stenosis, causing moderate left and mild right neural foramen stenosis. This drives me crazy because neural openings don't open on their own. One report says moderate to severe, the latest report says moderate. I now wonder which is which?????
Also, there at L3-L4 moderate biateral facet hypertrophy, worse on the right..mild spinal canal stenosis..no significant neural foramen stenosis. L4-L5 Mild to moderate facet hypertrophy. No significant spinal canal stenosis for neural foramen stenosis...and finally...the L5-S1 which I mentioned in a previous paragraph.
I wonder if all of this is causing the pins/needles in my body, along with the burning in the feet.
Although there is SEVERE narrowing at C4-C5 things ARE starting to bother my right hand & arm. I fail to understand why doctors wait 'til a nerve is actually impinged before they intervene.
I realise we are not doctors here in the forum, but I would certainly appreciate any input you might offer. The burning in my feet...pins/needles that seem to be progressing are of great concern to me.
0 likes, 7 replies
Combo mike92384
Posted
I had a frontal incision and fusion at C3/4/5 in 2015. My symptoms with my right arm were the same as yours, which became progressively worse prior to surgery. Following surgery the syptoms completely went. I also have a lot of the same diagnosed syptoms you have described. When i lay down my toes go numb on my right foot. I know one of the discs in the L region is pressing on the nerves, so I would guess you have a similar prognosis.
I would push your GP for an appointment with a consultant, who can arrange CT scans and take it from their. The waiting lists can be lengthy in most areas, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better. Good luck.
mike92384 Combo
Posted
Combo...thanks for your comments. Was your nerve actually compressed at C4-C5 or just that the foraminal opening was severely narrowed. Mine severely narrowed on the right side, but I personally think the severe narrowing could certainly irritate the nerves & therefore I have the symptoms I've described.
Why I lay down, I don't get numbness in my feet, but at times, I do get the burning sensations. There is no swelling..just the burning.
As I mentioned to the other Mike 09523, I wish I could attach copies of the original MRI dated Oct./2015 & the latest MRI dated Aug. 13/2017., then you could see the results for yourself, & perhaps get a better understanding of what Im dealing with.
Doctors tell us that when something isn't right in the body, the body can respond with elevated blood pressure. I believe this is the case with me.
I see the Neuro again Oct. 5 & intend on telling him that I don't want my symptoms masked with medications...I need to have something done. The whole situation is playing mind games with me, & I'm worrying when I don't think I should have to.
I also have sore shoulder muscles, & the muscles that go up the back of the neck into the skull become spasmed at times, the sensation being like a tightening sensation. I get headaches too...right at the back of my head., & sometimes the ache will go up to the top of my head, or the sides.
I believe I have the right to feel as well as anyone else. One thing I will not tolerate is to hear.."well you know, as we get older". That's B.S. in it's purest form!!
Thanks again for your comments. If you would like to add anything further, it would be most welcome.!!!
Combo mike92384
Posted
Hi mike
I had a frontal incision and fusion at C3/4/5 in 2015. My symptoms with my right arm were the same as yours, which became progressively worse prior to surgery. Following surgery the symptoms completely went. I also have a lot of the same diagnosed symptoms you have described. When I lay down my toes go numb on my right foot rather pins & needles. I do know one of the discs in the L region is pressing on the nerves, so I would guess you have a similar prognosis.
I would push your GP for an appointment with a consultant, who can arrange CT scans and take it from their. The waiting lists can be lengthy in most areas, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better. Good luck.
mike09523 mike92384
Posted
Doctors, specialists and surgeons all belong to the elitist club. Number 1 rule- we are never wrong.
It always makes my blood boil when you tell them something is wrong with your body, but they know best. My own c/s problems are at c4 c5 c6 and c7. Now 6 years in since a falling accident started the process off. Immediately after I got up off the ground I knew it was serious, I had lost all my strength in my left arm and shoulder. When I told my gp they said it was my body protecting itself, a sort of subconscious act by my brain to prevent further damage. Eventually I went on the Internet and put in my various symptoms and came up with cervical stenosis with spondylosis and myolepathy at C4, 5,6,7. Diagnosed about a year later after various mris xrays and ct scans with a nerve conductivity test.
The tingling and pins and needles may get worse, or stabilise. Mine eventually felt as though someone had poured a bottle of soda water inside my arms.
Best wishes,
Mike.
mike92384 mike09523
Posted
mike09523..Thanks for your input, Buddy. Oh yes, specialists & surgeons would never admit to being wrong.
As you might recall, I had an MRI done in Oct./2015..the Neurologist at the time blamed everything on the L5-S1..likely because she didn't KNOW or didn't want to know what was going on.
Things weren't getting any better, so I asked my GP for another referral..which I got. I saw the guy in June/2017..he did EMG, & a thorough physical neurological exam. The EMG was normal..& I most certainly passed the physical neurological. EMG's are all well & good but they do NOT test for small fibre neuropathy. I have never had a skin biopsy, nor was a doppler done.
The latest MRI done August 13/2017 describe what I wrote in my earlier message. I'm certainly not a technician, nor am I a doctor, but just comparing the two reports certainly tells me things in my spine are deterioriating, especially now that I've got SEVERE narrowing at C4-C5 on the right side. I see the Neuro again Oct. 5/2017, & it's my intention to discuss options with him. I do not want medication..but want the problem very much relieved, or RESOLVED. Also as I previously mentioned, the L5-S1 was moderate-severe narrowing of the bilateral neural forama., where as it states MODERATE in the Aug. 13 report. So which is it..moderate or severe? I wish I could attach both copies of the MRI's for you to see so you could express an opinion, but I don't think this is possible here.
If it weren't for my best buddy...I think I'd be going crazy with not understanding what's going on in my body.
jessica_78456 mike92384
Posted
I hear u . I've recently had spinal surgery on my lower bCk, spinal fusion to open the gaps to stop the nerves pinging.
My neck also needs doing , but I am putting off fir now as been through enough. Not nice to live with
mike92384 jessica_78456
Posted
Hello jessica78456....I'm not looking for surgery., but I certainly do want answers. This whole mess first stated in late Jan./2014. It felt as though a thread were being dragged across the top of my ankles (annoying tickle), then one evening I felt my feet & legs burning. Much to my surprise, when I went over to the light, I could see they were pink. This lasted a few min., then went away. In a very short period of time, it was happening very frequently. At one point the Nurse Practitioner wanted me to wear compression socks..up to my knees, which I did. I was on a bus tour with my musical group, & when the evening came 'round, my feet & legs were so badly swollen, it was ridiculous. My buddy pointed & said to me.."get those f**king things off..NOW". I've never worn them since, & will NOT entertain the idea of ever wearing them again. Time goes by..I was begging the NP for help..even the Dr. blamed things on medication. I came off that medication..but things didn't change. This is when I said "I WANT to see a Neurologist'. You know the rest of the story. Never once, did my Dr. (at the time) order an MRI or do any testing on the spine.I have since left that Dr's practise, & returned to my former Dr. who I was with for 30 years. I moved from the city & at the time it didn't seem practical to travel, but now I don't mind the travel because I know for sure I'll get excellent medical attention, & guidance.
I'm hoping this newer Neuro doesn't put me through all sorts of hoops. SEVERE narrowing doesn't learn to close on it's own..it just worsens. It does go through my mind that does a patient have actually have the nerve pinched for them to do something. If the neural opening is severely narrowed it make sense the nerve would be irritated, thereby causing pain, or unnatural sensations.
Oct. 5 is just over two weeks away, but it's been a long wait. I last saw the Neuro June 2...then had the MRI he ordered on Aug. 13. I have both sets of MRI reports (Oct/2015 & Aug./2017). Mere comparison shows deterioration since 2015. I won't accept medication either...that just masks the problem.
It boggles my mind that doctors can treat symptoms, but for about 98% of human ailments, there is no cure. Look it up!!! Strange...they know how to treat the symptoms but they can't make the problem go away.
Think about it. lol
Have a nice day!!!