Cervical C5, 6, 7, 8 problems? neck, hand, arm?

Does anyone have problems with the c's too? Numb fingers,buzzing tingling zzinging hands, arms, pain between the shoulders, unable to write, lift or carry, stiff neck, unable to turn, or twist to the sides, or tilt the head forward or lean it back?

It's such a different set of symptoms to the lumbar spine and no core muscles to protect the area. Is there anything that I am missing that might help here?

Hi Cassie.

I'm sorry about the delay, I have been tired up on the other project, by the time I finished that, I was so tired, I couldn’t explain to you which way up I was. LOL

YES, I get these symptoms as well.:(

I have a C6/7 disc herniation, which creates a very sharp stabbing pain between my shoulder blades. Once this starts, it develops in to 'thick lump' of inflammation and swelling that spreads up to my T spine levels. It creates a sickening feeling all over my shoulders as well. Along the way, they lock up all the levels that feed the arms with nerve strands. At its worst, I have lost ‘all’ motive power and sensory perception in my right arm and hand, and ‘most’ of them in my left arm and hand. I also experienced pins & needles and electric shocks.:eek:

Because I can’t reach this area to ‘manually manipulate’ it myself, like I can my neck, lumber region or legs, it will just get worse and worse until it blocks my lymphatic glands, which in turn causes neck spasms, which then causes a blockage of my sinuses, leading to severe and disabling ‘migraine like’ head pains, confusion, balancing issues and vomiting.:(

I think most Doctors accept that these symptoms can be caused be the ‘C’ spine issue, but I also Believe that it could becaused by spinal imbalance, emanating from my lower lumber spine issues! I think that this is a valid diagnosis, if you accept the ‘skyscraper’ principle, i.e. if the base of any structure is unstable, weak or does not ‘flex’ in one direction when compared with the other parts of the base, weaknesses or increased stresses will be transferred to an area higher up the structure.

I believe that my ‘long standing’ lumber problems are the root causes of my C6/7 wear and tear, Because, apart from any thing else, I ‘never’ (7yrs) experience severe ‘C’ or ‘T’ level spine problem, such as arms, hands, shoulders and neck, without severe L5/S1 issues at the same time!! Yet I do experience lumber issues without the ‘C’ and ‘T’ spine problems!!!! Makes you wonder doesn't it??

Check to see if ‘you’ have any correlating issues yourself Cassie?

The only thing I found that stops the rapid onset of these symptoms, is a quick trip to my Osteopath for him to carry out a ‘butterfly lift’ which opens up my vertebrae and sternum and releases the pressure of the compression and ‘slowly but steadily’ reduces the inflammation and swelling. Depending on how severe my condition was ‘or’ on how long I was experiencing the symptoms for, a complete or substantial recovery, could take as long 4 – 5 weeks, so the sooner I go to see the Osteopath, the better!!

Hope that helps Cassie, if you need more info, you know where I am! LOL 🙂


Kind wishes


SPINELF

Yep I believe the two are linked, and especially empathise with the skyscraper syndrome. MK actually caused pain in my neck by moving my legs and stretching the spinal nerve too lol.

I did wonder if anyone would reply because so many with back problems seem to be short term 'slipped disc' type issues rather than chronic long term vertebrae and nerve problems. (And yes we allI know there is no such thing as a slipped disc but that typifies a lot of the people that post using that term before they research the situation and learn about the physiology.)

It seems that one past a certain age or past a certain stage of 'wear and tear' a different diagnosis starts to wander in?

I totally agree with your point about an apparent ‘2 tier’ diagnosis categories Cassie!

There has been an increase in good quality NHS advice, education, support and therapies for sufferers who have recently started to experience back pain, for those who are at the start of their chronic back pain conditions and for those with minor muscle damage and spasm issues (Tier 2) The latest Government initiative put forward by Paul Burstow MP is the NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12 plan, this ‘incarnation’ will offer much better ‘diagnostic data’ in the long term future, and will eventually help create, better treatment plans for those sufferers in this Tier 2 category.

This framework, together with the creation of a commissioning outcomes framework (COF), is to be developed with the help of NICE ‘the same public body’ that are resisting and refusing to force through introduction of superior MISS procedures into the NHS mainstream by simply sitting on the fence and passing the buck to the individual Trusts and their Spine Surgeons themselves!

Sadly, Mr. Burstow’s plan ‘offers nothing’ in the way of fast, safe, effective and minimally destructive surgical treatments, for those of us with long term, chronic, complex and constant conditions. Nor for those who have been left with no available NHS treatment options! He, in his capacity as a Minister of State for Health, has also ‘not declared his support’ for efforts to make desperately needed and urgent changes, to the NHS Trust policies of limiting the amount and types of spinal procedures that the NHS spine units are prepared to offer sufferers like us!

So, as things stand for long term back & leg pain suffers like you, me and many long term sufferers on this forum, we may (if lucky) be offered the choice of NHS Surgical decompression procedures like discectomy & laminectomy, procedures that still (after 60+ years) lack any safety, efficacy and trial evidence,that is essential inhelping potential patients to become fully informed and to prevent the ‘pre operative anguish, stress and doubts’ like those ‘strongly felt’ by desperate and chronic sufferers like
bfg 123 expressed in his recent and touching post!

But what adds insult to injury,is the fact that so many of us are being told, that they, the NHS Surgeons, cannot do anything to make us better and refuse to carry out (even) their destructive procedures on us, because it may make our conditions worse! But also then, they refuseto allow and fund any alternative, established, safe and NICE approved MISS treatments (like ELFD) available to us, elsewhere else in the UK!!

In other words Cassie, they are effectively saying, we can’t heal you, but ‘we’ll be dammed’ if we will allow any other Surgeon to fix you either! And we my friend, have no voice in this matter, and are powerless to change this outrageous situation, at the moment!!

I strongly believe, the NHS spine care system is broken, ineffective, unethical and is regarded by some, as their own (publicly funded) private business!

Speak soon Cassie

SPINELF

Hi, (newbie here)
I have a similar problem C5/6 C6/7 my thumb, index and middle finger are numb.
Shooting pains down my left arm, hand and wrist.
Consultant recommended an ACDF. (MRI looked pretty hideous.)
Been waiting over a year now for the op.
On Tramadol Nuropentin Paracitamol and Ibuprofen, none of which do that much.
Offered me Morphine which I refused as I would be unable to work taking that.

Hi, (newbie here)
I have a similar problem C5/6 C6/7 my thumb, index and middle finger are numb.
Shooting pains down my left arm, hand and wrist.
Consultant recommended an ACDF. (MRI looked pretty hideous.):(
Been waiting over a year now for the op.:confused::mad::confused:
On Tramadol, Neurotin, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, none of which do that much.
Offered me Morphine which I refused as I would be unable to work taking that.

Sorry for the bad spelling. 🙂

Waiting for op at the RVI in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with a Mr. M. J. Gibson.
I think the "bean counters" are dragging their heels.:mad:

Hi Vapour

Sorry for the bad spelling. 🙂

Waiting for op at the RVI in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with a Mr. M. J. Gibson.
I think the "bean counters" are dragging their heels.:mad:

I noticed that you live in the Newcastle area. Just in Stockton-on-Tees not that far from you at the North Tees University Hospital there is a spinal unit who have a very high success rate in cervical spine disc replacements mainly as you described tingling in arms etc. as well as problems with the lumbar spine, back pain etc.
They also hold Spinal Support Group Meetings where you can come in and chat with other patients with similar problems. The Spinal Support group Trust is a registered charity and get get about 100 people who attend the meetings and share their stories. The consultants also come in and do a small talk it's Mr. Krishna, Mr. Bathia and I think it's Mr. Freasam. Mr. Krishna has a very good website spinalsurgeon.com you may want to check it out. The next meeting is on Saturday 6th October 2012 10am-12pm you don't need to book just turn up there is no charges or anything like that. I Hope this helps. 🙂

Hiya Vapour

Check out 'none surgical' therapies first before commiting to Surgically invasive treatments. There are lots of links and on this forum for local Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Bowens and Alexanda Therapists (to name a few) so try these first.
My Osteos' sort my C6/7 issues wih simple massaging and lifts, a lot less painful!

best wishes

SPINELF

Vapour, Spinelf gives good advice, from personal experience so many of my clients have been so glad that they did not go down the surgery route, I am only advising you, its your choice of course.:)

Hi I've had 2 lower back discectomys now have problems with a bulging disc in neck,some days it feels like my neck is too weak to hold my head up i also have numbness and tingling in my hands I cannot hold anything even a newspaper in my hands without them going completely numb your right there is not much info out there for this problem Iam just going to wait and see what happens as this op seems a bit too gruesome got enough probs with both legs so hope this does not get worse

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it.
Tried the non surgical approach earlier, even the chiropractor said it doesn't feel right.
Asked about transferring to Teesside but was told I'd have to go back to the beginning again.
When I enquire about when the op might be I keep getting to there's still no date but I'm on the list. This is very demoralizing and pain killers are rapidly losing there effectiveness.
Pain is starting to effect my job.
Anyone know what the normal length of time to wait for the op???? as it's been over a year now.

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it.
Tried the non surgical approach earlier, even the chiropractor said it doesn't feel right.
Asked about transferring to Teesside but was told I'd have to go back to the beginning again.
When I enquire about when the op might be I keep getting to there's still no date but I'm on the list. This is very demoralizing and pain killers are rapidly losing there effectiveness.
Pain is starting to effect my job.
Anyone know what the normal length of time to wait for the op???? as it's been over a year now.

Hi Vapour

I know the feeling. It is not right to wait that long and you can't transfer. I know that North Tees Hospital in Norton have a fantastic Spinal Unit within the NHS. They also run Support Group Meetings and the consultants attend too. Sometimes I go and give support and speak to patients with Neck and Back problems. There is a meeting this Saturday 20th and it is free to attend. I know that Mr Krishna who will be there also does private work.

I hope you get a date soon and get rid of those nasty painkillers. Wish you all the best. 🙂