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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Numbness In Arms & Spams Common Due To Herniated Disc?

I have had my C-5/6 disc replaced with an artificial disc. I still have two more herniated disc (C54/5) and (C6/7) I am still in pain with limited movement. L&I says since I don t have numbness in my arms, the pain is not consistent with the injury of herniated disc in my C spine. I do have neck pain, shoulder spasms, some weakness, difficulty sleeping and when the neck pain starts, it shoots right behind my eyes. Is this all consistent with my injury, or do you think something else is going on?
Tue, 29 Mar 2016
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Orthopaedic Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi
Herniated cervical discs will often cause numbness, pain shooting down the arm and fingers with some weakness because the disc gets out of its space and pinches a nerve and the area that this nerves supplies gets numb and weak, these are symptoms that would prompt a C spine surgery. Neck pain and shoulder spasms alone could be just spasms of the muscles around the C spine. however you mention that you also have some weakness but you don't say what area of the upper limb is weak. Weakness in the shoulder could be just due to a torn shoulder ligament or tendon(rotator cuff). I would suggest you get reviewed by your doctor for a thorough examination or even get a second opinion .
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Is Numbness In Arms & Spams Common Due To Herniated Disc?

Hi Herniated cervical discs will often cause numbness, pain shooting down the arm and fingers with some weakness because the disc gets out of its space and pinches a nerve and the area that this nerves supplies gets numb and weak, these are symptoms that would prompt a C spine surgery. Neck pain and shoulder spasms alone could be just spasms of the muscles around the C spine. however you mention that you also have some weakness but you don t say what area of the upper limb is weak. Weakness in the shoulder could be just due to a torn shoulder ligament or tendon(rotator cuff). I would suggest you get reviewed by your doctor for a thorough examination or even get a second opinion .