cervical mri, please review *pic*

[newbiepostmva]

Hi. I was in a pretty significant MVA end of 2012, and have neck, low back and shoulder pain with radiation in pretty much all extremeties. I have an image I'm attaching of my cervical MRI. Wondering if anyone could give me any input. I have non stop headaches, pain/tingling down my arms, a carpal tunnel like sensation and my hands keep falling asleep.

[jsewell]

Hi, I'm afraid i am no help in translating MRI's . mine just look like a big mess to me. I'm so sorry about your accident. The thing that really caught my eye was the keep falling asleep part, i am having that problem since my last surgery. I never thought it was connected to spine, but since mine has been operated on almost all levels, maybe it is.

What are the doctors saying to you? Do you have a neurosurgeon, or spine surgeon?
Sorry i am no help .
Judy

[newbiepostmva]

thanks.

i have not been to a neurosurgeon, just an ortho surgeon. i've been tossed around everywhere, i dont know who to see anymore.

[jsewell]

I would definitely go to a spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon, not just a general ortho. The specialties have specialized. I have a spine surgeon and just love him. Unfortunately we have gotten to know each other pretty well.
Judy

[jsewell]

I just reread your original post and realize you were talking about your hands falling asleep, not you falling asleep. I am such a dumb ass some times. I am having a problem where i fall asleep. I do often still wake up with one hand or another asleep.
Were you talking about while sleeping or just awake ? As you can see i have had significant surgery on all 3 levels with no motor vehicle accident. So i do have an understanding of the symptoms , or some of them anyway.
judy

[newbiepostmva]

Lol jsewell.

My hands r falling asleep just randomly, more when I lay down though.

My low back is way worse, but I didn't post that on here yet

[jsewell]

Yes my lower back is getting all the attention now. It has been operated on at least 3 times. I keep getting fractures in the vertebra. Stenosis and some bending in the wrong way. Every time my spine surgeon tries to get me more in the correct position, my body just does what it wants , even when it means to work a screw out. I have done that several times too. This last one must have had my sciatic nerve in a horrible position because i couldn't even walk one step . The pain was too bad so i was in a wheel chair for a little while. Then more surgery to free the sciatic nerve. Always something with me.
Let us know about your lumbar spine. Are your legs involved with that? I hope not for your sake. Any appointments comiing up. Look for a spine doc though. I go to a practice that has a doctor for every part in orthopedics. I have used many of them as well. I am lucky in that.
Judy

[newbiepostmva]

Judy, it sounds like you're dealing with so much, I'm sorry to hear that.

Yes my left leg is in a lot of pain, down to the toe. I had an injection last week, and it was worse after that. My MRI on my lumbar shows herniation at l4-5, spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis. There's also more findings. Again, never had pain unroll this jerk hit us. I can barely walk, can't sit for more than 5-10 minutes, its really affecting a lot. Phys therapy and injection failed so far.

I'm seeing my primary ms who is a D.O. and just saw a ortho surgeon who did the injection

[mmglobal]

Hi newbie... welcome! Sorry you find yourself researching spine.

You clearly have a frank herniation at at least one level with the fragment extruded downward. It's hard to draw conclusions from one slice in one axis.

It's still early if you had a november or december accident. Have you had a lumbar MRI? I had a seemingly mile rear-ender that made my lumbar much worse that cervical (presumably because lumbar was already well on it's way.)

What are your surgeons recommending? Hopefully you'll be able to avoid surgery, but if you do have to get surgery, there will be a variety of options depending on who you go to.

Good luck... please keep us posted.

Mark

[jsewell]

I actually saw what Mark is talking about, it is up at one of the higher levels. Did you also have a lumbar MRI? I'm really sorry you are in so much pain. I hate when you just can't get comfortable.
WHat is next for you. An apt with the surgeon? An apt with a neuro or spine surgeon?
Judy

[newbiepostmva]

yes iv'e had a lumbar MRI and CT. I have a herniation at L4-5. apparently spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis, the L4 slipped on top of L5. theres also some degenerative issues, narowwing of the canal, and a bunch of other things.


I had a lumbar injection last week, and actually feel worse, have had pain down my left leg to my big toe since the accident, can barely walk. I've seen my D.O. and an ortho surgeon...not sure what the next step is. I also tore my supraspinatus tendon in my shoulder.....hell of an accident, i'm so irritated, and in so much pain every day

[jsewell]

You were sure in a horrible accident. Have the ortho doctors discussed surgery or anything to fix you? Did you have just one injection? I am having lumbar injections on Wednesday . My surgeon uses general anesthesia as he doesn't want to cause pain. He does about 6 or 8 injections at one time. the last time they took away lots of my pain and i am hoping they will do the same on Wed. The cortisol in the shot helps me with strength , pain everywhere and my sleep so i don'[t sleep all day. I have a pituitary loss of function and adrenal insufficiency and it is now thought that i am low on steroids (cortisol) so i love getting any anesthesia as i need to get a stress dose of steroids which helps me for about a week. Sorry this is so long.
So through all this how is your mid back? It is the strongest part as the ribs are connected to the spine and it makes the whole area much less likely to have problems.
judy

[newbiepostmva]

Jsewell, no we haven't discussed surg options yet, but will at next appt since the lumbar inj didn't work, we will see.

Thx for the support . This sux, I've never had this kind of pain b4

[jsewell]

I agree, spine pain does suck. I had a hip replacement and the pain before the replacement. After the spine acted up, i told my hip surgeon that hip pain was nothing before and after.
I hope you get some relief soon. Are you on any pain meds?
Judy

[newbiepostmva]

I'm on tramadol at nite and something that starts with an I 2"day

[jsewell]

It doesn't sound like too much relief unless the day med is a great one .
judy