Neck Pain: Cervical
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Tue, 04/21/2009 - 05:48
Can my c5-c6 and c6-c7 be causing all this leg weakness?
Hello All,
I hope you are all coping reasonably well, I know how much hard work it is for all of us to struggle through each day.
Question please, from your own experiences.
This lower leg pain, and leg weakness is getting much worse. Legs feel like they are so heavy all the time, and just plain hurt! If I go up the stairs, by the time I get to the top, they feel like I've walked 100 miles.
Can the discs/bone spurs at C5 thru C7 actually affect your legs ?
Pain Clinis ordered PT but I have to wait for another 10 weeks to get PT for my neck. But that's it.
Seriously considering going back to my Primary Care Doctor, and asking for a second opinion? I'm 6 months in now and everything seems to be getting worse not better, and I'm not happy just to have drugs fired at me all the time.
Neuro wasn't that interested, and I wonder if an Ortho may be better.
I would like to hear of any of your experiences with leg weakness and pain associated with C5-C7 disc.bone spur damage ?
Understand it's only opinions I am after.
Thanks all, and may your God be with you
Scully
_____________
The Relief is out there somewhere !
Finally after mcuh wrangling got a very short MRi report
Abridge version reads : There is narrowing of C5/6 and C6/7 disc spaces with posterior osteodiscal bars whcih indent the theca anteriorly, but do not compress the cord...No root lesion is seen.
Still have neck, shoulder, arm, and blinding headaches if I sit here for longer than about 30 minutes. My job requires me to sit for 8 hours a day peering at a PC screen
- nerve inpingment, left side, neck shoulder, head and arm (especially forearm). Numbness in fingers. Straight spine, with little natural curve I'm told.
EMG tests done, not heard of results
DEXA scan next week for Osteoporosis, as I recently broke my wrist
Pain Clinic first appointment in 2 weeks time
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Hi Scully, I can only speak for myself but I have issues with my legs associated with my cervical issues. I have had a lot of OA for many years. I am 51 and in 07 I had an MRI of mycervical spine
The MRI of my cervical spine showed bune spurs, osteophites, and a great deal of stenosis. It also showed a section of cord with myelopathy. Myelopathy is cord damage. Essentially the stenosis pushed against my spinal cord and damaged it. At this point I started to get all kinds of other symptoms. I started to trip and fall down, the pain was also in my lower back and shoulders, I had clonus and hyperrelexia. I started to drop things. Mt arms started to become paralyzed.
I contacted a NS who did more MRI's and confirmed the myelopathy. He performed a 3 level cervical laminectomy on 12/20/07 to stop the progression of symptoms. It was not to fix the damage already done. that appears to be permanant. Ther surgery fixed a couple of the issues but I still have most.
Cervical stenosis and myelopathy (most symptoms permanant), DDD, OA, 16 surgeries to date (including 3 level cervical laminectomy, bilateral knee replacements, A-C joint resections in both shoulders), 19 MRI's, and many many many cortisone shots and ESI's
The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
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Scully,
I can only speak of my case, but yes problems at c5-c, c6-7 did cause my balance problems. They also found many more problems, most of them it seems were being caused by stenosis at other levels, hence my third surgery to decompress my spinal cord at c3 and c4. My, myelopathy problems are at c5-6, c6-7 during my inital injury, that was only part of the problem, the last surgery has lessoned some of my balance issue, most of that was due to feeling weakness in my legs and left arm/hand. I also am dealing with some left arm/hand numbness, that numbness has changed sine surgery 3 also. My spinal cord has been total decompressed from c3 to c7, it is too soon to say if things are healed as far as they can be. In my experiance my OS found the problems thatcaused my third surgery, my NS did the surgery. So perhaps another set of eyes may be of help. I hope that you get the answers you need.
Mark
November 2007; 2 level ACDF c5-c6, c6-c7
March 2008; 2 level ACDF c3-c4, c4-c5, removal of hardware at first fusion site, 3 level Laminectomy at c5,c6,c7
January 2009; OS says 100 per cent fused
March 2009; WC battle is over, judge sided in my favor
March 30, 2009; 2 level laminectomy at c3 and c4, plus scar tissue clean up
May 2009; ALJ hearing for ssd, judge orders ssd to begin
Is it a TRAIN or just a light at the end of the tunnel?
It turns out it is the LIGHT since the TRAIN has been derailed....
How bad are the bulges?
I have mild to moderate stuff going on with those disc (Read what's wrong below). For me it first started out at weird pressure headaches, then I got neck pain from laying down...Then when I started to lay on my right side, the left side of my neck felt like it was being bent in half, when it wasn't. Oh but the first symptom actually was hand and feet tingling and easily falling asleep.
Make a long story short it has been a little over a year and a couple months ago I developed some lower back pain , along with hip, knee, ankle, buttock, foot pain on my left leg only. The same pain but less that I have been feeling on the left side of my neck and my shoulder and just below my shoulders on my back.
The neurologist said that the leg stuff is apart of the neck stuff, that it is all related. I do have some osteophytes on L3, but nothing imo that would do the left leg pain. So for now I'll just go with the whole it is all connected blah blah and see what happens. I mean I can see how it could reach my leg, and it make sense given it is the same side that is affected in my neck, but well I'm not a doctor. I just know when something isn't right.
Why , you might be lucky. For about three to four months the neurologist said it was just depression and anxiety, until I got my x ray , and mri then he was surprised to see anything show up since I was only just 26 at the time. And I did have depression etc, but I knew that, that just couldn't be the only thing... So sometimes you have to keep at it, if you know in your gut that something isn't right and keeping going to a doc till they figure it out.
I would seek whomever has helped you the most so far. From what I've read here most people see neuro-surgeons or orthos.
Findings:
There are no gross abnormalities at the upper three cervical interspaces or the cervical-thorasic junction. Disc desiccation without disc protrusion is noted at T1-2. The second and third thoracic interspaces are normal.
At C5-6, there is mild to moderate disc desiccation with a 2mm central disc protrusion with slight central stenosis.
At C6-7, there is more moderate disc desiccation with a 3mm central disc protrusion with mild central stenosis but no direct spinal cord compression.
There is no evidence of nerve root canal stenosis or nerve root impingement at any cervical level. All of the facet joints are normal. The cervical cord is normal. There is no fracture or dislocation. There are no intradural or paraspinous masses.
My Cervical X-ray said:
Findings
AP, both obliques, open mouth, and lateral views of the cervical spine revealed very minimal hypertrophic uncovertebral joints at C5-6. On oblique view there is a suggestion of minimal osteophyte formation and foraminal impingement at C5-C6, especially on the left side. No fracture is seen.
Lumbar Xray - L3 Mild Osteophyte formation, indicates : Lumbar disc disease.
Medications: Atenolol 25 mg, Soma 350mg, Lexapro 10mg, Klonopin .25 (when needed), Cymbalta 30mg, neurontin 300mg 1x a day, either tyl 3 or reg vicodin for pain.
Neck Pain on left side, on the back of neck, in between shoulder blade on spine, headaches, left arm and leg pain, sometimes numbness or burning, muscle spasms. Depression and Anxiety.
Hello Guys,
Thank you.
OK, the bone spurs, apparently push into the 'theca' but do not compress the cord. MRI done in January. We don't get as detailed a report in the Uk as you guys seem to get in the US.
I really don't think the new symptoms I have are from anxiety or depression. What I do know is that 6 months in, my symptoms are getting worse, and, instead of zooming around, driving, working, shopping, running a home etc. And sailing an 11 metre yacht !
I now, cannot drive, cannot work, and seem to now only stagger round the house like an 80 year old ! I'm 50.
I am going to seek a second opinion, I've read that sometimes, the progression can be rapid. I do know that I'm not unable to take my daily walk at a good pace, in fact I can't even walk as far as I could a month ago, let alone at a good pace.
I must have a second opinion. I refuse to give in to whatever is going on and I want fixing!..............so that's what I'm going to tell the primary care doctor next week.
My thoughts are with you all, as always,
Scully
The Relief is out there somewhere !
Finally after mcuh wrangling got a very short MRi report
Abridge version reads : There is narrowing of C5/6 and C6/7 disc spaces with posterior osteodiscal bars whcih indent the theca anteriorly, but do not compress the cord...No root lesion is seen.
Still have neck, shoulder, arm, and blinding headaches if I sit here for longer than about 30 minutes. My job requires me to sit for 8 hours a day peering at a PC screen
- nerve inpingment, left side, neck shoulder, head and arm (especially forearm). Numbness in fingers. Straight spine, with little natural curve I'm told.
EMG tests done, not heard of results
DEXA scan next week for Osteoporosis, as I recently broke my wrist
Pain Clinic first appointment in 2 weeks time
Definitely yes! I had cord compression at C4-5 which caused numbness in my legs. My symptoms progressed rapidly. Labor day I had electric shocks in my arms and by the 1st week of November my legs (knee down) were going numb at night. I soon found that I could only sleep on my side. If I slept on my back, then the next day my left leg would be difficult to lift when walking. It would last a day and a half before getting some relief. I finally had surgery in April (7 months after the electric shock feelings) and I still have leg pain when I lay down (2 years post-op). The pain is minor and tolerable, but we figure it is the result of permanent nerve damage. Don't delay...get another MRI done and if you need to, get a 2nd opinion!
~~~ ACDF C4-5 April 2007 ~~~
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motiviation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
Scully:
Sorry to hear of your worsening condition. I have herniations of the same vertebrae that you have your bone spurs(c5/6/7) and also have nerve root impingement and spinal cord compression. My pain and weakness is all in the neck, shoulder, and arm. From what I've been told, and through some of the medical research I've done, there isn't any mention of cervical problems causing a problem in the legs. Do you know if any of your thoracic and lumbar vertebrae have been viewed by an mri? I ask this because some of the lower thoracic vertebrae, and definitelt the lumbar will often cause leg problems. In any case, good luck, and God bless.
WT45
i had cord compression in my cervical spine at three levels and had constant nerve pain all over my body and weakness in almost every muscle. After my surgery ,the day of when i came too i no longer had pain in my hips and legs,the relief was incredible.I had two different doctors tell me that all of my symptoms were coming from my neck and it was confirmed after my surgery.If it wasn't coming from my neck then there wouldn't have been such a dramatic change.
c4,5 c5,6 and c6,7 ACDF with titanium implants spinal stenosis and bone spurs april 16/08.herniations at T7,8 and T11,12 also L4,5and S1.car accident october 28th/08 whiplash.rearended hit and run. mri 2009 L2-3 posterior bulge,L3-4moderate posterior bulge,lateralizing to the right.Right lateral recess has moderate stenosis and left lateral recess has mild stenosis.L4-5has moderate posterior disc bulge.Moderate left,and right stenosis.Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.L5-S1 disc bulge touching right S1 descending nerve root in right lateral recess.No significant foraminal or spinal stenosis.
MRI shows the above mentioned. One surgeon says I need the surgery as soon as it can be scheduled (july 15). I got a 2nd opinion from another NS. He said he could fix it (like the 1st one said), but he told me that it would not cause me to be paralyzed. The first NS said if not operated on cord could be perm. damaged and/or paralysis. So difficult to make a decision with 2 different opinions about what to do. I know I will have to have surgery. It would be helpful with my job to have it during the Holidays in NOV/DEC instead of July 15th, however I don't want to mess around and wait too late.
Any suggestions/help/opinions?
klw
I have a c-5/6 spinal cord impingement with bone spurs. One NS said I needed surgery very soon due to the severity of the compression and to prevent permanent damage and/or paralysis. I got another NS opinion. He,also said, he could fix it like the first NS. I asked him about it causing me to become paralyzed if I didn't, he said "No." So, I'm very confused. Could anyone offer me some insight please? I do have some numbness in my left arm and fingers with some tingling in my left calf and foot. I'd like to know whether the surgery could wait until Thanksgiving instead of right now, so I can have more time to recuperate from surgery at the holidays. The first surgeon will work me in on July 15th, however I'll miss being able to go to to work in August at the elementary school if I have it then. Any help/thought/insights would be greatly appreciated. thank you, klw
I don't know about your second opinion,why he would tell you that there isn't a chance of paralyzis from cord compression.My cord was compressed as well at three levels,i fell many times and i few times i had trouble moving my legs afterwards,i thank god that i am not paralyzed now. You definitely can be.There was a gentleman on here a long time ago who had cord compression decided to put off having surgery as long as he could,one day he went to his backyard to do something ,tripped over a rock and fell he ended up in a wheel chair.If you fall or have a car accident anything that will move that disc more towards your spinal cord your at risk for paralyzis. NOT trying to scare you just trying to let you know that it is definitely a possibility and you should listen to the surgeon who told you that.
c4,5 c5,6 and c6,7 ACDF with titanium implants spinal stenosis and bone spurs april 16/08.herniations at T7,8 and T11,12 also L4,5and S1.car accident october 28th/08 whiplash.rearended hit and run. mri 2009 L2-3 posterior bulge,L3-4moderate posterior bulge,lateralizing to the right.Right lateral recess has moderate stenosis and left lateral recess has mild stenosis.L4-5has moderate posterior disc bulge.Moderate left,and right stenosis.Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.L5-S1 disc bulge touching right S1 descending nerve root in right lateral recess.No significant foraminal or spinal stenosis.
Hiya
Hope your getting sorted - things are quite different in the UK but after four surgeries and different opinions I am convinced that second opinions are important if you are not sure about the first one and I have pain in my leg which is definitly coming from my neck. !!! You take care and good luck.
Docs could not tell my if it was from my c4,c5,c6,c7???? I just had dual acdf on 6/30 so time will tell if it is causing the limp I have. I also have lower back issues but I don't know if it's related. Good Luck!
Cin
Waiting at a light one night and a drunk driver slammed into the back of my car. She has changed my life. I'm left with two herninated disks at C4 and C5 and limp from the accident. My daughter fractured her arm. I was trying to finish my masters and I feel like she took my life from me. Docs say from this I have arthritis and DDD. It's not getting better and seems to be worse as time does by.
I have a mod herniation at c56 and lots of arthritis and bone spurs. My knees will go numb @ 50% of the time when i do my daily lay on the heating pad routine. Also, my right big toe goes numb quite often.
I wondered the same as you scully - is this all from the neck?
pfm
"Just when I got use to yesterday, along came today"
YaYa Sisters
I have issues or had at 5-6 and 6-7,, and yes, they can affect legs.
acdf C5-6 & C6-7 with all the fix'ins
Myelopathy
Tarlov Cynst S2
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Interesting question and something I've wondered myself. I was experiencing occasional numbness of both right arm and leg when I would lie flat on the floor prior to my foraminotomy (which was on the left side). Didn't make sense to me but the surgeon's assistant told me that problems in the neck can cause problems in the lower body too. I think he used the term "extension". After my surgery those symptoms went away. I've noticed they are coming back again only in both legs this time and it is numbness that feels like it is under the surface of the skin and takes half an hour or so to go away after getting up. But I have lumbar problems which are flared up right now so have been attributing the symptoms to that. Trouble walking after sitting for more than 10 minutes in a car, etc. If symptoms get any worse I'll be getting that checked out.
I have weak reflexes on my left side, both arm and leg. My doctor did say it was due to my cervical spine issues. So cervical spine can affect legs. I've been lucky that I have no pain, numbness, or weakness in my legs as of yet, that's all in my neck, upper back, and arms so far.