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Had Cervical Neck Surgery. Experiencing Pain And Numbness In Shoulder And Arms. Recommend?

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Posted on Wed, 6 Nov 2013
Question: I had cervical neck surgery three years ago and the last 3 months have been experiencing pain and numbness in my left shoulder, arm, and first three fingers of my left hand. What do you recommend?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

First 3 fingers numbness with arm and shoulder pain are most likely caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Due to compression of the medial nerve in the wrist, the pain and numbness appears in the medial nerve area (which is exactly first 3 fingers). The pain radiates along the arm to the shoulder.
Please try a simple test. Flex your wrist gently as much as possible and hold it in such position for 60 seconds. If the pain and numbness appears, carpal tunnel syndrome it is.
Other possible reason is a spine problem especially that you have had a surgery in this area.

I suggest you to visit neurologist, have wrist ultrasound and EMG first. If it wont diagnose this syndrome, spine MRI should be next.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Had Cervical Neck Surgery. Experiencing Pain And Numbness In Shoulder And Arms. Recommend?

Brief Answer:
Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

First 3 fingers numbness with arm and shoulder pain are most likely caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Due to compression of the medial nerve in the wrist, the pain and numbness appears in the medial nerve area (which is exactly first 3 fingers). The pain radiates along the arm to the shoulder.
Please try a simple test. Flex your wrist gently as much as possible and hold it in such position for 60 seconds. If the pain and numbness appears, carpal tunnel syndrome it is.
Other possible reason is a spine problem especially that you have had a surgery in this area.

I suggest you to visit neurologist, have wrist ultrasound and EMG first. If it wont diagnose this syndrome, spine MRI should be next.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.