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Suggest Remedy For Cramps And Arms Pain
Question: I had a posterior wiring and fusion of c5 - c7 in 1985. I have always had left arm pain due to the radiculathopy. Close to two years ago, I began to have pain in the left leg as well and I have noticed I am losing muscle mass in my left arm. My left arm is considerably weaker than my right. I have always been 'sloth' footed but my left foot has started to move more outwards and I am wearing out the outside of my left shoe at two times the rate of my right shoe. Around the three months ago I began to have cramping in the left hand at the thumb base and I also have cramps in the calves of both legs (just started in the last month). The cramps in the legs are activated by my movement and if I can stop what I am doing in time, I can prevent the cramps. The cramps are activated by me turning over in bed at night. I have mild cramps in my left foot. The cramps are mild they are not the gut wrenching turn your muscles into a softball size cramp. I am aware of balance issues but am not falling. My left leg feels considerably weaker and tired than the right. I manage my pain with a Tylenol and aspirin cocktail. Anywhere from two each to eight each a day depending on pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen do not help. I am 48. 5' 11' and weigh 230. I have a big frame. Blood work is always normal.
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms suggest serious spinal cord issues.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have carefully studied your description and I can understand the difficulties you are facing.
Your symptoms are quite alarming and need an urgent review by a neurologist/neurosurgeon.
From the history provided by you, I guess the lesion in the spinal cord is around the middle of the neck (probably between C3 and C4 vertebra.
This can be due to a lipoma (fat nodule) in the spinal cord causing the compression or due to disc herniation or syringomyelia.
I would urge you to consult a neurologist or a neurosurgeon at the earliest and get yourself examined, a complete clinical examination will give a lot of information regarding the degree of involvement and will guide further action.
You would also require an MRI scan of the whole spinal cord to pinpoint the location and extent of the lesion. Along with this you will also be asked to undergo spinal tap (examination of spinal fluid).
Please do not neglect this issue, as it seems like progressing.
I hope this answers your query, feel free to write back if you need to discuss further.
Wishing you good health.
Warm regards.
Your symptoms suggest serious spinal cord issues.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have carefully studied your description and I can understand the difficulties you are facing.
Your symptoms are quite alarming and need an urgent review by a neurologist/neurosurgeon.
From the history provided by you, I guess the lesion in the spinal cord is around the middle of the neck (probably between C3 and C4 vertebra.
This can be due to a lipoma (fat nodule) in the spinal cord causing the compression or due to disc herniation or syringomyelia.
I would urge you to consult a neurologist or a neurosurgeon at the earliest and get yourself examined, a complete clinical examination will give a lot of information regarding the degree of involvement and will guide further action.
You would also require an MRI scan of the whole spinal cord to pinpoint the location and extent of the lesion. Along with this you will also be asked to undergo spinal tap (examination of spinal fluid).
Please do not neglect this issue, as it seems like progressing.
I hope this answers your query, feel free to write back if you need to discuss further.
Wishing you good health.
Warm regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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