20 replies to this topic

[oldfarmer]

I am a T-5-6 complete for 13 years. Recently I have had severe pain issues above break line, back/arms. Pain controlled by tramadol med. but my fingers have become numb starting with small fingers on both hands and progressing to all fingers. I no longer have severe pain issues but wondering if anyone here has had the numbness problem. Thoughts: pinched nerve? neuropothay?

[Tetracyclone]

I vote for pinched nerve in the neck. Chiropractic would be my first choice for treatment.

[greybeard]

Tetracyclone, on 19 August 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

I vote for pinched nerve in the neck.

Doubtful - if both hands are affected. Agree with chiro, though.

[dom]

oldfarmer, on 19 August 2010 - 08:38 PM, said:

I am a T-5-6 complete for 13 years. Recently I have had severe pain issues above break line, back/arms. Pain controlled by tramadol med. but my fingers have become numb starting with small fingers on both hands and progressing to all fingers. I no longer have severe pain issues but wondering if anyone here has had the numbness problem. Thoughts: pinched nerve? neuropothay?

Hi when i fell i damaged my elbow and it caused compressed ulnar nerve which in turn made my small finger numb,they did an ecg test on it and advised surgery after 6 months if it did'nt return,it did'nt so i had the surgery to decompress it mainly because i play the piano and wanted feeling,my left arm is now considerably weaker than my right but weighing up the pros and cons i'm glad i had it done cos it restored the feeling,one other drawback was that they had to cut a part of the bone in my elbow and re route the nerve on the outside so if i happen to nudge the back of a chair for example the pain is agony [so i make sure i don't do that too often]

[4wheelz]

oldfarmer, on 19 August 2010 - 08:38 PM, said:

I am a T-5-6 complete for 13 years. Recently I have had severe pain issues above break line, back/arms. Pain controlled by tramadol med. but my fingers have become numb starting with small fingers on both hands and progressing to all fingers. I no longer have severe pain issues but wondering if anyone here has had the numbness problem. Thoughts: pinched nerve? neuropothay?

sounds like both are possibilities.. i have really back back pain around the transition zone as well as above it.. i've had this ever since my injury.. the doc is still trying to put her finger on it.. sometimes it's rather severe.. ugh

[DannyR]

Tetracyclone, on 19 August 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

I vote for pinched nerve in the neck. Chiropractic would be my first choice for treatment.

I agree it probably has something to do with the neck. I started with a stiff neck and then my fingers went numb and I pretty much lost the use of them. The surgeon told me that the fingers and hands were usually the first to go and rarely came back 100 percent. Don't fool around get it checked out things progrerssed quick with me. If you want to p.M. and let me know how you come out. Good luck.

[qbounce]

It can't be A pinched nerve when both hands are getting numb at the same time. Same thing goes with the nerve in your elbow. These conditions occur in one hand, but not both at once (as GB pointed out).. Then add in the pain in your back . . . go to a Neurologist and get an MRI.

Pain and numbness are serious issues that may progress to the point of losing muscle, so go to a neuro ASAP.

Edited by qbounce, 20 August 2010 - 06:13 AM.

[pinkcloud]

Hi oldfarmer

As much as I beleive in physio etc, I agree that it could be due to neck or elbow. Yes I get that too and also pains shooting down. My neck is ok so I will wait and see if it i bothers me to such an extent that I go near a hospital again (I am only 5 months post op and dont want to go near one at all yet )

Physios dont have x-ray eyes so Maybe get it checked by neurologists for nerve conduction studies or spinal/orthopaedic for MRI's. Even if you dont want anything done about it,at least you will know what it is and you can go along the physio route then

[Tetracyclone]

qbounce, on 20 August 2010 - 06:09 AM, said:

It can't be A pinched nerve when both hands are getting numb at the same time. Same thing goes with the nerve in your elbow. These conditions occur in one hand, but not both at once (as GB pointed out).. Then add in the pain in your back . . . go to a Neurologist and get an MRI.

Pain and numbness are serious issues that may progress to the point of losing muscle, so go to a neuro ASAP.

Good advice, QB

[oldfarmer]

qbounce, on 20 August 2010 - 06:09 AM, said:

It can't be A pinched nerve when both hands are getting numb at the same time. Same thing goes with the nerve in your elbow. These conditions occur in one hand, but not both at once (as GB pointed out).. Then add in the pain in your back . . . go to a Neurologist and get an MRI.

Pain and numbness are serious issues that may progress to the point of losing muscle, so go to a neuro ASAP.

Thank you (all) for your thoughts. I was told that I could not have an mri because of the metal rods and clamps in my back. I had a c-scan that did not show anything unusual. Will be seeing a Neurologist in a week. Thanks Again.

[greybeard]

oldfarmer, on 20 August 2010 - 03:16 PM, said:

Thank you (all) for your thoughts. I was told that I could not have an mri because of the metal rods and clamps in my back. I had a c-scan that did not show anything unusual. Will be seeing a Neurologist in a week. Thanks Again.

Dunno who told you that, but it sounds like BS. A metal knee and several metal coils in arteries didn't prevent me from having an MRI when I needed one.

[qbounce]

greybeard, on 20 August 2010 - 04:00 PM, said:

oldfarmer, on 20 August 2010 - 03:16 PM, said:

Thank you (all) for your thoughts. I was told that I could not have an mri because of the metal rods and clamps in my back. I had a c-scan that did not show anything unusual. Will be seeing a Neurologist in a week. Thanks Again.

Dunno who told you that, but it sounds like BS. A metal knee and several metal coils in arteries didn't prevent me from having an MRI when I needed one.

Right GB, most Orthopedic surgery metals are safe and cause no risk in getting an MRI. An x-ray will determine what types of metal you have and then you can safely set a course of action. I'm confident in adding though, that you should be okay.

[DannyR]

I have metal in my neck and have had an MRI.I agree with Q most surgical metals are safe.

[silone74]

Hi you need an MRI scan I had one not so long ago and this could be something like a syrinx that is causing the numbess in the fingers and if it is it needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later I have a smll syrinx under my t3 injury and went to se the neuro surgeon but he said it was not worth doing anything about but if it above the injury level it can make things alot worse making the neuro side of the injury become higher than before meaning if I am t3 the syrinx could cause me to have symtems of a higher injury as in loosing function above the t3 level and that is not good it needs checking out properly a neuro surgeon is the best person to advise and give a proper diagnosis this is where the MRI is needed asap and the metal work should cause no problems with the MRI at all.

Hope you get things sorted out asap


Si

[oldfarmer]

silone74, on 20 August 2010 - 08:44 PM, said:

Hi you need an MRI scan I had one not so long ago and this could be something like a syrinx that is causing the numbess in the fingers and if it is it needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later I have a smll syrinx under my t3 injury and went to se the neuro surgeon but he said it was not worth doing anything about but if it above the injury level it can make things alot worse making the neuro side of the injury become higher than before meaning if I am t3 the syrinx could cause me to have symtems of a higher injury as in loosing function above the t3 level and that is not good it needs checking out properly a neuro surgeon is the best person to advise and give a proper diagnosis this is where the MRI is needed asap and the metal work should cause no problems with the MRI at all.

Hope you get things sorted out asap


Si

Si, I think you nailed it. Googled it and it is scary. Hard to get things done quick here in the sticks. Thanks, Oldfarmer

[silone74]

Hi I hope things get done as quickly as you can, i am having some problems with a lower break that should have been fixed when i first had my accident but its too big of an op to do now and would cause more problems again, but i was told the syrinx is quit a common thing to happen with sci when there is a break to the bones and it presses on the spinal cord.


Si

[qbounce]

silone74, on 21 August 2010 - 02:50 PM, said:

Hi I hope things get done as quickly as you can, i am having some problems with a lower break that should have been fixed when i first had my accident but its too big of an op to do now and would cause more problems again, but i was told the syrinx is quit a common thing to happen with sci when there is a break to the bones and it presses on the spinal cord.


Si

It's actually the scar tissue that attaches itself to the outer wall (dura) of the spinal cord that causes "post-traumatic tethered cord". Then, the scarring may also form pockets within their web which may eventually form a syrinx (aka syringomyelia). Tethered cord and a syrinx both have the same symptoms, but the MRI will tell you more. TC is tricky however, because all mos doctors see is healed scar tissue if no syrinx is present. This diagnosis is then based on your symptoms more so than just an MRI.

Good luck with the Neuro.

[oldfarmer]

qbounce, on 21 August 2010 - 04:23 PM, said:

silone74, on 21 August 2010 - 02:50 PM, said:

Hi I hope things get done as quickly as you can, i am having some problems with a lower break that should have been fixed when i first had my accident but its too big of an op to do now and would cause more problems again, but i was told the syrinx is quit a common thing to happen with sci when there is a break to the bones and it presses on the spinal cord.


Si

It's actually the scar tissue that attaches itself to the outer wall (dura) of the spinal cord that causes "post-traumatic tethered cord". Then, the scarring may also form pockets within their web which may eventually form a syrinx (aka syringomyelia). Tethered cord and a syrinx both have the same symptoms, but the MRI will tell you more. TC is tricky however, because all mos doctors see is healed scar tissue if no syrinx is present. This diagnosis is then based on your symptoms more so than just an MRI.

Good luck with the Neuro.

You guys have been so helpfull. Now I have some info to pass on to the Neuro. Thanks everone. oldfarmer

[hoopie]

I also think you should go see a neuro. You are having problems on both sides. Who knows what it is, but it's bove the level of your injury, which is always concerning for possibility of syrinx or teth.

Let us know what happens.

Hoop

[oldfarmer]

hoopie, on 26 August 2010 - 12:47 AM, said:

I also think you should go see a neuro. You are having problems on both sides. Who knows what it is, but it's bove the level of your injury, which is always concerning for possibility of syrinx or teth.

Let us know what happens.

Hoop

The trip to the Neuro on Friday was somewhat disappointing. First, the doctor that was up on my problem, was ill and I had to see another. This doctor seemed convinced that my problem with numb fingers was due to carpel tunnel. They did their testing with electric shocks, needles, etc. The Dr. ordered an MIR on my cervical and I talked him into having one on my thoracic also. As it turned out, the MRI on the thoracic was distorted because of the rods in my back. They did not find anything abnormal in the cervical scan. I am not satisfied with their diagnoses. I will try to make another appt. with my original doctor.

[pinkcloud]

Thanks for up-dating up oldfarmer and good for you going back to your doctor :-)