Spinal Stenosis Online Support Group

Well I was just about to be looking up some causes of spinal stenosis since I was diagnosed today, but came here to check my normal forums when I see a spinal stenosis in the recent discussions list!

I'm an odd case....as I seem to be with every issue I have.

I'm 18 years old, never had any trauma, with spinal stenosis in C4 and C5 resulting in radiating pain down my right arm. Had pain in my shoulder for the last 3 months, after they fixed most of the spasming it still hurt and about a month ago it started going into my arm. Now by the end of the day even with little to no use of it, the pain gets down into my hand. Fingers have never been effected and I can still do stuff with it, it just hurts to. Still have occasional spasming and have flexeril for that. I have no known cause and start physical therapy on Monday.

I am a newbie in all this so any advice would be GREAT!

HI Ellenelle

Sorry you are in pain.

Welcome to the group.

You need to get an MRI of your cervical spine to find out what is going on.

Do not get surgery unless you are dying from this.

Epidurals sometimes help the cervical spine.

All of your symptoms say cervical spine pinched nerve.

ANother thing - sometimes a medril pack of prednisone helps.

Persoanlly none of them helped me very much - but I do use a big old percussion vibrator every 3 months or so to control the pain.

I will post a picture of the vibrator on my profile page.

Sometimes chiropractics can be helpful too.

You seem to have a rediculopathy.

hugs, Raoul

I've noticed you seem to have been around the block here. Sounds like me with my main issue, New Daily Persistent Headache.

I've had the MRI and x-ray of both shoulder and neck when I went to see an orthopedic about the shoulder pain. I was told I have a pinched nerve. Surgery is definitely not on the table at this point, I know there are many less invasive therapies to try first. I actually saw chiropractor today, have seen one since I was 7. I am going to google it too but what is rediculopathy?

And thanks

Rediculopathy = means you have a pinched nerve.

I had that and it was terrible.

Went to a chiropractor for 3 months til he fixed it prettuy much permanently. well worth the effort. Problem is to find a good chiro who is good with the neck.

Otherwise you might go to Brookstones and try their percussion vibrator - go to a store that has some available in the store to try.

I is excellent for the neck, for me.

Yeah with the original shoulder issues I went to mine and my shoulder blade was sticking out and a couple ribs were out of place but due to spasming they wouldn't stay in place so after 3 weeks he sent me to regular dr who gave me flexeril. They also sent me to orthopedic who said it's never the shoulder it's always the neck or arm and did the x-rays and MRIs. Shoulder and ribs finally were staying in place but still had the pain. Orthopedic then told me he doesn't work with the spine and sent me away with nothing (aren't they gems?). Regular dr is the one who gave the me the actual diagnosis and is sending me to physical therapy and then to a pain clinic if it doesn't help.

I just thought about it and could one cause of this possibly be that I have a straight neck? Know it's been like that for a year and half, never had x-ray of neck until that point so not sure if it was before or not.

Hi

Anything is possible - but I would bet you had a fall and hurt yourself.

The last time I had a major fall was when I broke my elbow 4 years ago. Not any falls at all recently either. My mother calls me a mystery child.

you still need to see a good cardiologist abou that atrial something.

and you need to get some good chiro stuff.

too tired now - have to rest.

good night and thanks for all your wonderful help