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Does Persistent Headache Indicate Spinal Cord Contusions

Posted on Mon, 9 Nov 2015

Question: Just curious the nature of spinal cord contusions. I was told based on an MRI I had a year ago that I suffered one (C 2/3), but it was on the milder end of the spectrum. Nonetheless, its been a year from the auto accident in which I was hit by a dump truck and I still am having nerve pain and headaches. Just yesterday my neurologist injected my shoulder and lavader to control some of the muscle spasms that had developed. How often are these type of injuries permanent?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can cause degenerative changes in spine.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Mild spinal cord contusions rarely cause any permanent pain or impairment.
There can be associated muscle spasms due to mild nerve root irritations. Bad posture can add to the pain. Such injuries can cause degenerative changes in the spine in the long term thus causing a recurrent pain.
It is best to get a repeat MRI scan done to find out the extent of healing and any other deformity.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (14 minutes later)

So basically, it can in a sense cause permanent impairment based on degenerative changes that occur with a contusion on a spinal cord? After all this time, I just still get the shooting nerve pain down my back and up my neck and arms. Sometimes it even hits my inner thigh. The pains can get to a 8 on a 1-10 scale....Especially when I lift and do work. Literally, like any time I do something active (like taking groceries in from my car, or vacuuming my apartment) the pains literally start hitting me. I am currently on workplace restrictions at my job, so I am not allowed to lift heavy objects or work longer than 4 hours. I've been back to work for 2 months now. The only thing that has helped the pain is the lyrica. I never and I mean never have had any type of injury to my neck or back ever since I have been alive.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Spinal contusions heal with no long term side effects.,

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The injury can cause degenerative changes in the vertebrae and the discs in the long term. The contusion itself heals without any long term complications.
The shooting pains that you are having may not be related to the spinal cord contusion. The muscle spasms can cause pain due to degenerative changes in the spine after an injury. Regular hot compress and physiotherapy can help in stopping the further deterioration. You can take oral muscle relaxants and medicines like pregabalin or gabapentin for relief. Taking methylcobalamin supplements will also help.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (3 minutes later)

What is the standard time frame for full heal on contusions?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
5-6 months.

Detailed Answer:
Contusions usually heal in 5-6 months.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (41 hours later)

Another question on that. I have never had shoulder problems before. Ever since the accident my shoulder just feels really stiff some days, and then others I get bad stabbing pains on top of the shoulder. Also, the shoulder and tricep twitch really bad on occasion. I have video of this that I have shown my neurologist, because it locks up too. What could be the cause of this. Neurologist said the twitches are the spinal cord healing, and that the injury often affects body parts around the spinal cord like refered pain or something.

What are your thoughts.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to spinal cord healing.

Detailed Answer:
The twitching is due to irregular nerve excitation causing irregular muscle contractions. This can happen during spinal cord healing or mild nerve root compression due to spondylottic changes in the spine.
This can be detected only after an MRI scan. Taking oral muscle relaxants will help in reducing the spasms and twitches.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (15 hours later)

What would surmise is the cause of my constant headaches I also experience..... Background, I was diagnosed with a concussion immediately after the accident and I have also had a clean MRI of my brain. I have been through neuropsychological testing and I have deficits in processing speed, short term memory, attention. They believe I have a TBI for someone that has a MBA this is abnormal. The headaches have intensified as of late. It honestly feels like sometimes they originate from the neck and travel up to the left and right side of my head. My neurologist has administered a nerve block to the back of my head, which helped immediately. Now my main type of headache feels like intense pressure on either side of my temples, followed by stabbing pains on the left side. My neurologist has upped my medication LYRICa, which has helped tremendously. That drug is amazing. Has helped with anxiety, headaches, nerve pain, and made me feel better, but I still have headaches.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to spondylottic changes in cervical spine.

Detailed Answer:
The constant headaches can be related to spondylottic changes in the cervical spine. Such neuropathic pains ad headaches are well treated with Lyrica. You also need to do certain cervical isometric exercises under the guidance of a proficient physiotherapist to maintain the flexibility of the spine. The headaches are less likely to be related to TBI.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (36 hours later)

Is there any way that some testicular pain I have been experiencing in the past couple days could be related to injury. I examined for masses, and could not find any, but I've had some sharp stabbing pains in my testicles the last couple days. The pains come and go. Lyrica does not seem to help.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not related to the injury.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
The pain in testicles is not related to injury or the neural pain. Lyrica will not help it. You need to get it examined for any infection or lymph node swelling in the area. Hydrocele also needs to be ruled out. Do consult a urologist for this.
Regards.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar