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What Causes Neck Pain, Headaches, Pinched Nerve Spasms In Shoulders And Back?
Question: I'm wondering if I need to worry or get a specialist to look at me - the last time I went to a neurosurgeon in 2013 - he said not to worry about it and come back if something breaks. Yet I don't seem to be recovering from my 2012 acdf.
I had a single acdf in 2012 - c6-c7 - was suppose to be double c5-c7 but complications of ossification on the posterior ligament which required delicate drilling - so they opted to only do the one - my May 2015 MRI says moderate to severe disc herniation - with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar projecting to the left - no cord signal impingement - but slight letting of the cord. I have constant neck pain, daily headaches - get a lot of pinched nerve spasms in shoulders and back. I keep getting memory drops - forget things that I shouldn't - i sometimes drop my conversations mid stream - but that also could be because my migraines have increased and I have brain lesions - which a neurologist said is just migraine brain :-) I also have trouble sleeping - can only sleep on right side - if i sleep on back or left i get pins and needles - my neck and leg also spasms when first settling down for the night
I had a single acdf in 2012 - c6-c7 - was suppose to be double c5-c7 but complications of ossification on the posterior ligament which required delicate drilling - so they opted to only do the one - my May 2015 MRI says moderate to severe disc herniation - with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar projecting to the left - no cord signal impingement - but slight letting of the cord. I have constant neck pain, daily headaches - get a lot of pinched nerve spasms in shoulders and back. I keep getting memory drops - forget things that I shouldn't - i sometimes drop my conversations mid stream - but that also could be because my migraines have increased and I have brain lesions - which a neurologist said is just migraine brain :-) I also have trouble sleeping - can only sleep on right side - if i sleep on back or left i get pins and needles - my neck and leg also spasms when first settling down for the night
Brief Answer:
Periodic follow up needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
In my opinion, you should consult a specialist for both of your problems (memory and cervical disc disease problems), because both conditions need regular periodic follow ups with neurologic evaluation and imaging studies.
Follow up in your case is necessary to identify any worsening of conditions in early stages and to treat the actual symptoms.
In addition, May MRI findings need to be correlated with imaging studies at ACDF time.
If there is progression of both, neurologic deficits and disc herniation in imaging terms, there is need for treatment (conservative first with NSAID drugs, exercises and physical therapy in order to strengthen cervical muscles and reduce joint loading).
There is need for periodic mental state examination also, in order to follow up brain functions and damage progression or not.
In conclusion, you should consult a Neurologist in order to follow your condition.
Hope this helps. I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Take care.
Periodic follow up needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
In my opinion, you should consult a specialist for both of your problems (memory and cervical disc disease problems), because both conditions need regular periodic follow ups with neurologic evaluation and imaging studies.
Follow up in your case is necessary to identify any worsening of conditions in early stages and to treat the actual symptoms.
In addition, May MRI findings need to be correlated with imaging studies at ACDF time.
If there is progression of both, neurologic deficits and disc herniation in imaging terms, there is need for treatment (conservative first with NSAID drugs, exercises and physical therapy in order to strengthen cervical muscles and reduce joint loading).
There is need for periodic mental state examination also, in order to follow up brain functions and damage progression or not.
In conclusion, you should consult a Neurologist in order to follow your condition.
Hope this helps. I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thanks Dr. Spaho - you actually confirmed a few things that I too have thought of. It was just nice to get clarification. I was actually surprised to see that a neurologist had responded as I had selected spine specialist - but that;s ok - you seemed to answer things for me.
Are you familiar with OPLL - when the first surgeon discovered significant calcification on my posterior ligament - which is why they changed my original acdf surgery from a double c5-c7 to just a c6-c7 I was just surprised why there was no follow up to monitor the OPLL - especially when having an actual decompression often progresses the calcification. Based on my understanding of the progression of OPLL and the progression of the herniation from my previous ACDF - i just found it odd that no further diagnostics or monitoring was even requested. :-)
Are you familiar with OPLL - when the first surgeon discovered significant calcification on my posterior ligament - which is why they changed my original acdf surgery from a double c5-c7 to just a c6-c7 I was just surprised why there was no follow up to monitor the OPLL - especially when having an actual decompression often progresses the calcification. Based on my understanding of the progression of OPLL and the progression of the herniation from my previous ACDF - i just found it odd that no further diagnostics or monitoring was even requested. :-)
Brief Answer:
Follow up needed about OPLL too.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
As you can see by my profile, I am a Neurosurgeon, or Neurologist surgical, however, regarding to your question, yes I am familiar with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.
It is a condition most commonly found in Japanese and diabetic people, but can be found in other people as well.
It is a slow progression condition that needs periodic follow up clinically and by imaging.
If debilitating symptoms develop and severe stenosis of spinal canal, then posterior laminectomy/ decompressive surgery is indicated.
Hope I helped you. Best regards.
Follow up needed about OPLL too.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
As you can see by my profile, I am a Neurosurgeon, or Neurologist surgical, however, regarding to your question, yes I am familiar with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.
It is a condition most commonly found in Japanese and diabetic people, but can be found in other people as well.
It is a slow progression condition that needs periodic follow up clinically and by imaging.
If debilitating symptoms develop and severe stenosis of spinal canal, then posterior laminectomy/ decompressive surgery is indicated.
Hope I helped you. Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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