Upper Back Pain, Thoracic
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March 17, 2010 - 7:35pm
severe burning upper middle back with pain
hello, i was recently in a rear end collision 6 weeks ago, i have been experiencing severe burning like a cattle brander is being held to my spine in my upper middle back between shoulders. i am seeing a dr and just had MRI, the result was a spurring of vertebrae at C3/C4, when i had dr appt he did not even bring this up at all just stated he was looking specifically for herniation, i checked the form he used to write up mri and it showed mri for cervical only, my concern is i have showed him multiple times where the burning and pain was, do i have the right to request a mri for correct area? also what is spurring of vertebrae? i am the type of person who when i am at dr's i am quiet and dont really ask questions i rely on dr which from now on i will speak up, any advice??? also what could be the severe burning and pain also 2 of my toes are numb as well, also pain that radiates into my shoulder down my arm to tip of middle finger, i really need some advise, thanks 
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also mri report says "loss of cervical lordosis" i am a 29 year old female
Welcome to Spine-Health.
The pain that radiates into your shoulder and down your arm is from a nerve in the cervical part of your spine. Depending on how far down your pain is between your shoulders, that could also be from your cervical spine. What I'm saying is that the MRI of your cervical spine was warranted but maybe your entire spine should have been checked. The numbness in your toes would seem to be from your lumbar spine but if you have something pressing on your spinal cord in your neck, there could be any variety of symptoms show up. As for the spurring of the vertebrae, that sounds like bone spurs. Loss of lordosis means instead of having the normal curve in your neck, your neck has straightened out (I have this also). I believe that can be caused by muscle spasms, among other things, but someone else can probably give you a better explanation.
It sounds like your doctor is looking for the cause of your symptoms but isn't maybe the best at explaining to you what he's thinking. I hope you can get some answers and a solution to the pain you are experiencing.
Linda
4/2009 Cervical posterior foraminotomy for herniation C6/7
4/2010 Total knee replacement
9/29/10 PLIF with laminectomies L4-S1 to correct lumbar curve and L5 nerve root impingement.
First off what did the doctor recommend based on your test results?
The arm problems could be from the c-spine or the top of the t-spine. I had very similar symptoms and the problem was at t1/t2. Luckily the radiologist saw it right on the edge of a c-spine MRI. It just took 6 months to convince the doctors to look there.
You leg symptoms would be from the lumbar spine but could be incidentally related to problems higher up. Often when one thing is out of whack it throws off the rest of your body. Correct the one problem and the rest goes away.
My most important advice is to write down your questions and keep a pain log. Then take someone with you to the doctor and ask questions. If you aren't comfortable with the doc then find another one. Think of it this way - if you don't like the way your hairdresser does your hair do you keep quiet and keep going back or do you speak up and find another salon?
Good Luck and let us know how you are doing.