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What Causes Chest Pain, Numbness, Tingling Sensation In Lower Legs And Arms?
Question: I am getting chest pain and have numbness and tingling down my legs and arms worse when laying down. I just had a total cervical disc replacement at c6-7 on XXXXXXX 10th. I really don't know if I should be worried.
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to nerve compression caused by the disc replacement.
This symptomatology is not related to any cardiac disorders (including coronary artery disease). So, I would exclude this possible cause.
I recommend consulting with your surgeon or neurologist for a careful physical exam and a new spine MRI to exclude possible spinal canal stenosis or any other nerve or spine compression, which would cause this clinical scenario.
Some other tests are necessary to exclude other possible causes of chest pain:
- a chest X ray study
- inflammation tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate)
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to nerve compression caused by the disc replacement.
This symptomatology is not related to any cardiac disorders (including coronary artery disease). So, I would exclude this possible cause.
I recommend consulting with your surgeon or neurologist for a careful physical exam and a new spine MRI to exclude possible spinal canal stenosis or any other nerve or spine compression, which would cause this clinical scenario.
Some other tests are necessary to exclude other possible causes of chest pain:
- a chest X ray study
- inflammation tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate)
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for answering my question. I already had X-rays to make sure artificial disc is in right location which it is. Surgeon has scheduled EMG but can't get in til July. I just didn't know if there was something causing me not to be able to sleep. I lay back and the pain is just so intense and the chest pain which I think is so strange.
Oh and I can't have Any MRI with spinal cord stimulator ..
Oh and I can't have Any MRI with spinal cord stimulator ..
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am sorry that you can not perform any MRI, as it is a really helpful examination which gives a lot of detailed information.
In absence of MRI, I would recommend performing a spine CT scan and some other tests to investigate for any possible spine or nerve compression, which could lead to this symptomatology:
- a nerve conduction study (ENG) to exclude possible peripheral nerve compression
- Somato-sensory evoked potentials and Motor evoked potentials. There are electrophysiological tests (similar to ENG), which study the central neural pathways (including the spine and the brain) and can be really helpful in this situation.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am sorry that you can not perform any MRI, as it is a really helpful examination which gives a lot of detailed information.
In absence of MRI, I would recommend performing a spine CT scan and some other tests to investigate for any possible spine or nerve compression, which could lead to this symptomatology:
- a nerve conduction study (ENG) to exclude possible peripheral nerve compression
- Somato-sensory evoked potentials and Motor evoked potentials. There are electrophysiological tests (similar to ENG), which study the central neural pathways (including the spine and the brain) and can be really helpful in this situation.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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