2 Problems: Are they Linked????

[sunnybono]

Here is my story:

I'm a 36 yr old male from Toronto, Canada. Approx 3 months ago I woke up with severe neck pain/strain. I could barely move my neck. Prior to that I noticed several nights as I would watch TV that my head was slowly dropping as if there was nothing supporting it. MD order MRI and sent me to sports medicine doctor who prescribed physio. At physio I was given a heating pad along with electric shock to the muscles around my shoulders and back. Included in physio was a machine that would stretch my neck. I would feel instant but temp. releif. About 3 weeks ago I started to get severe pain/tenderness above the occiptal bone to the top of my head PLUS blurry vision. MD order second MRI. The following are the findings of the MRI's:
1st MRI was for my spine due to neck pain. Findings: No Alignment abnormalities. Cord appears normal in calibre & signal intensity. At C3-4 there is left paracentral osteochondral bar present. At C4-5 there is a small central osteochondral bar but no cord compression or foraminal narrowing. At C5-6 there is a central osteochondral bar and annular tear. This results in mild effacement of the anterior subarachnoid space and minimally abuts the anterior spinal cord. IMPRESSION: Degenerative change as described above, most marked at C5-6.where there is a central osteochondral bar which minimally abuts th anterior spinal cord.
2nd MRI was for my brain. Findings: Several tiny foci of T2 white matter hyperintensity seen predominantly bifrontally with a few lesions see within the parietal lobe and a single lesion within the left temporal lobe. No lesions withing the corpus callosum or posterior fossa. No resitricted diffusion. No susceptibilty artifact is seen on gradient echo. The ventricles, basal cisterns and sulcia are preserved. No mass lessions. Of note there is suggestion of a partially empty sella. The pituitary stalk is slightly deviated posteriorly. Suprasellar structures including suprasellar cistern, internal carotid arteries, cavernous sinuses, and optic chiasm are unremarkable with no evident of mass effect or abnormal signal intensity. Orbits normal. Note of left maxillary polypoid thickening.

Currently all physio has stopped as I was not getting any better. I've just started to take 50mg 2 times/day of Arthrotec which has releived of some of the pain, but head is still tender. Hurts mostly when I sleep or if I touch it. How serious do you think this is?? IS this normal for a consideral healthy 36 year old male. Major changes in my life approx 3 years ago I lost about 60lbs in 6 months by eating no carbs. Now I'm 5'11" approx weight 220lbs. Could this weight loss have anything to do with this??

Your thoughts please & appreciated.

sk

[RustyD]

Welcome...

First of all I am not a doc.. Or pretend to be...

Check this out.

My ex Girlfriend is a teacher.. And she was teaching one day and her head fell to the side and she could not lift it.. She was in tears and one of the students ran for the principal and nurse.. They were never sure what was causing it but wrote down a diagosis of T.I.A. which is a Transient Ischemic Attack . Check this out.

I cannot perceive how weight loss might have anything to do with this. If it does please educate me...

Finally, I have learned that MRI intrepretations are not a science. I have had one MRI read by three different radiologists and they all concluded differnent thing. It is more of an opinion...

I would make sure I was seeing a neurologist first and foremost. I am guess the sports medicine doc is probably an ortho.. And I would do it soon...

Good Luck to you...

[mbrfz]

I have to lift my head with my right hand inthe am if I sleep with my left arm over my head. something to to with tos and brachial plexus. hope this helps. mbrfz