Right on, Doc! Another successful diagnosis!
For those who came late...
Back in July, I had another fall. Something went sproingy-snap, intense pain in my neck, radiating down my left arm. ensuing weakness in the arm.
My doctor ordered x-rays, which led to more x-rays, which led to the ordering of an MRI Something else went sproingy-snap a few days later, which led to the ordering of said MRI to be done *right away*. And the wearing of a cervical collar. Which I am still wearing.
Anyway, a diagnosis was made. Cervical Radiculopathy. Say it ten times fast. Go on. I dare you.
Physical therapy and a visit with the neurologist followed. Neurologist wanted me to see an apparently brilliant young neurosurgeon from Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. He actually came to Corning, which he apparently does sometimes, which is nice.
He asked all kinds of questions, then said, "Well, you do have a herniated disc, and it's at the right level, but the fact that the physical therapy isn't helping makes me think that's not the issue. He suggested that I had an injury to my left brachial plexus. This is a nerve junction in your shoulder. He thinks there might be a neurofibroma there, too, and wants a nerve-conduction and a special type of MRI. Deal is, he said, that it was not pain from my neck radiating down to my shoulder, but pain from my shoulder, radiating *up* to my neck.
Well, got online today and did some searching. Came across an article in the journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians (American Family Physician) from November 2000 (Miller et. al.)
First line is:
"Patients with acute brachial plexus neuritis are often misdiagnosed as having cervical radiculopathy."
So.
Check out me, being all unusual and stuff.
So now I wonder...
Back in July, I had another fall. Something went sproingy-snap, intense pain in my neck, radiating down my left arm. ensuing weakness in the arm.
My doctor ordered x-rays, which led to more x-rays, which led to the ordering of an MRI Something else went sproingy-snap a few days later, which led to the ordering of said MRI to be done *right away*. And the wearing of a cervical collar. Which I am still wearing.
Anyway, a diagnosis was made. Cervical Radiculopathy. Say it ten times fast. Go on. I dare you.
Physical therapy and a visit with the neurologist followed. Neurologist wanted me to see an apparently brilliant young neurosurgeon from Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. He actually came to Corning, which he apparently does sometimes, which is nice.
He asked all kinds of questions, then said, "Well, you do have a herniated disc, and it's at the right level, but the fact that the physical therapy isn't helping makes me think that's not the issue. He suggested that I had an injury to my left brachial plexus. This is a nerve junction in your shoulder. He thinks there might be a neurofibroma there, too, and wants a nerve-conduction and a special type of MRI. Deal is, he said, that it was not pain from my neck radiating down to my shoulder, but pain from my shoulder, radiating *up* to my neck.
Well, got online today and did some searching. Came across an article in the journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians (American Family Physician) from November 2000 (Miller et. al.)
First line is:
"Patients with acute brachial plexus neuritis are often misdiagnosed as having cervical radiculopathy."
So.
Check out me, being all unusual and stuff.
So now I wonder...