Saw Neurosurgeon..surprise ..surprise.

[Maggie]

That is what Gomer Pyle says. I saw the doctor for the numbness in my hand. The MRI films look like rocky road, but, that is not my pain generators.

Even have 50% compression on the spinal nerve at C5-6 and that isn't causing the problem. It is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. That was good news but he says the numbness and muscle wasting is probably not reversible. It is my dominant hand and I play piano and paint. Can't do that too good now.

I was thinking the Little finger and ring finger problem was from my C7-8 and that is getting low. Anyway, he is sending me for an EMG and also a referral to a physiotherapist to evaluate me for the leg weakness.

QUESTION. Do any of you know anything about the outcome of CTS surgery.

Also, I wonder if the spinal nerve compression could be causing leg weakness.
Good day everyone,
Maggie, the worn-out nurse

[Pharmacist.steve]

That is what Gomer Pyle says. I saw the doctor for the numbness in my hand. The MRI films look like rocky road, but, that is not my pain generators.

Even have 50% compression on the spinal nerve at C5-6 and that isn't causing the problem. It is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. That was good news but he says the numbness and muscle wasting is probably not reversible. It is my dominant hand and I play piano and paint. Can't do that too good now.

I was thinking the Little finger and ring finger problem was from my C7-8 and that is getting low. Anyway, he is sending me for an EMG and also a referral to a physiotherapist to evaluate me for the leg weakness.

QUESTION. Do any of you know anything about the outcome of CTS surgery.

Also, I wonder if the spinal nerve compression could be causing leg weakness.
Good day everyone,
Maggie, the worn-out nurse

Often Vit B6 can provide some relief 50mg-100mg bid

[Mark N]

Maggie, yes nerve compression could account for leg weakness. I am just wondering why he is discounting 50% spinal cord compression as this indicates a need for immediate spinal surgery to me or is it on the nerve root? Even if it is the nerve root I would go after releasing that to see how much relief you get. Hopefully someone can come here with expericnde with the CTS.

[Kathi49]

I have to agree with Mark.

[curiousforever]

Cubital tunnel is same as ulnar nerve.

I had ulnar nerve decompression at the elbows on both arms. I had until that point cried just loading the dishwasher due to the pain. If it's pain and numbness, you actually get some pain relief right after surgery.

The recovery was not bad - and I had only sensitivity at my elbows (I still won't let docs hit me there with the hammer thing). I had no problems from that nerve for 1 1/2 yrs.

I have pain in all the nerves in my arms now - and in one leg. NOT from impingement however. They can't figure out what the problem is.

The question is - is it impinged at the c level or somewhere else - or both? That will probably determine what they do. If they only do the elbow - and it's compressed at the spine also - not sure how much that will help.

To keep from further damage - surgery should be done soon....

Good luck!

[Maggie]

Thanks for the info on the vit. Steve, I will try that. It will take them forever to get me worked through the system. That would be great to have improvement with vitamins alone.

Mark, I am very concerned about that much compression as it is on the central spinal nerve and not the peripheral nerve. I have blamed so much of my leg pains and tiredness from lumbar in the past.

I'm hoping my referral to the physiotherapist will shed some light.
Curious, thanks for that information from someone who has been there. I've had both Carpal Tunnels done and this is very much the same type of pain.

The NS and I viewed the MRI together and he cleared most all of the peripheral nerves. I was shocked when he got to the compressed level. It looked like half a donut.
I'll be back for more questions.
Thanks guys.
Maggie

[Peter B]

hello,

Pardon my ignorance but, what does a surgeon do to alleviate spinal stenosis?
I have spine issues but not enough to be considered a "spiney", in my opinion.
Anyway, if stenosis is a narrowing of the canal, how would a doc increase the width?

Pain free days,
Pete

[Maggie]

In my case, the narrowing, or compression, is herniation of the disk at that level. I have stenosis but that isn't causing this.

It gets to be a matter of seperating out the different degeneration that is going on. So, in this case it would require removal of the disk matter that is pressing on the canal.

For stenosis, they have to open up the exit pathway (laminectomy and other structure impeding it)