Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[Izell]

injuried on 12-20-07, delivery driver-office supplies. appt. with neurologist this Wed. presently have 2 bulging disc in cervical area. expericen stiff neck with headache at base of skull. pain around shoulders blades, sometimes burnin. Both shoulders feels as if pulled out of sockets. extreme pain, and weakness, and numbness. Down to both elbows, tenderness,numbness, and weakness. Both forearms tenderness, numbness, and weakness. Both wrists are same as others. Hands are weak, constantly numb around thumb and pinky fingers are painful and numb. sharp pain in center of palm. Also now experience same symtoms in left foot and ankle. Anxious to find out what is happening to me. Will I be dealing with this for rest of my life. Now 42yrs. old. Hard dealing with this. Any info would ease me a lil' bit. Thanks.

[myodoc]

The injury last December may have either caused or worsened the bulging discs in the cervical spine. Regardless, this is likely causing the upper extremity symptoms and may be also leading to the leg symptoms, unless there is also low back pain from the injury. In that case, I would recommend an MRI scan of the lower spine. The good news is that bowel and bladder function are normal presumably. At this point, I would recommend following up with the Neurologist. To further evaluate the nervous system, an EMG study would be helpful. This is a test to study the nerves as they come from the spine. Also, this can screen for carpal tunnel syndrome. Depending upon these results and your examination, options would include medications and physical therapy. More aggressive measures are pain center consultation for neck injections or a surgical opinion. This will depend upon the neurologic exam and tests. The goal is reduce your pain and weakness.