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What Causes Anterior Osteophytes?
Question: I had a MRI on 1/14/15. On the evaluation of C3-C4 indicates the following: Anterior osteophytes. There has been interval increased size of previous described broad-based disc protrusion which contacts and indents the anterior margin of the cord. The the cal sac is mild to moderately narrowed to approximately 7mm AP, compared to 8mm on previous exam neural foraminifera are intact.
I have horrible headaches and numbness in the right arm. In October 2014 I had a Posterior cervical decompression and multilevel cervical fusion with hardware C3-T1. In 2008 I had a Thoracic discectomy and also in 2008 I had a ACDF. I am scheduled to remove a large bulging disc at L5-S1.
My symptons with my neck are constant headaches starting in the neck and shoulders and moving up the head until it becomes a migraine. I have been on Botox for a year for my migraines. With my neck I have tried injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractor, pain medicine, at home neck traction. My neurologist feels this is not causing these symptons. I am desperate due to the constant pain. What is your opinion on this matter?
Thank You,
XXXX
I have horrible headaches and numbness in the right arm. In October 2014 I had a Posterior cervical decompression and multilevel cervical fusion with hardware C3-T1. In 2008 I had a Thoracic discectomy and also in 2008 I had a ACDF. I am scheduled to remove a large bulging disc at L5-S1.
My symptons with my neck are constant headaches starting in the neck and shoulders and moving up the head until it becomes a migraine. I have been on Botox for a year for my migraines. With my neck I have tried injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractor, pain medicine, at home neck traction. My neurologist feels this is not causing these symptons. I am desperate due to the constant pain. What is your opinion on this matter?
Thank You,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Migraine/Stress headache may simulate cervical spine symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Tarrywaggoner,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I appreciate that you have provided a detailed medical history.If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have told you that - your symptoms not responding to all modalities of neuropathic pain management including physiotherapy and chiropractor indicates that this is possibly not due to cervical spine.
Very frequently, Migraine and stress headache can have similar presentations. These both disorders can present with headache, neck pain and arm pain. Pain may start in neck or arm sometimes in Stress headache. It is quite logical. Just like the muscles of scalp, muscles of neck and arm gets stressed.
Numbness in arm, though, may be due to cervical reasons.
Migraine pain can present in arm, neck and head as well.
I suggest you to be on a therapeutic trial of amitriptyline, as this is the medicine which can take care of both Stress headache and Migraine. This will also cover the neuropathic component causing numbness.
Along with, please do mental relaxation exercises, meditation and yoga to relieve anxiety and thus the muscles stress factor.
PLEASE TAKE ALL MEDICINES UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A PHYSICIAN ONLY.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have some follow-up questions, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Migraine/Stress headache may simulate cervical spine symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Tarrywaggoner,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I appreciate that you have provided a detailed medical history.If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have told you that - your symptoms not responding to all modalities of neuropathic pain management including physiotherapy and chiropractor indicates that this is possibly not due to cervical spine.
Very frequently, Migraine and stress headache can have similar presentations. These both disorders can present with headache, neck pain and arm pain. Pain may start in neck or arm sometimes in Stress headache. It is quite logical. Just like the muscles of scalp, muscles of neck and arm gets stressed.
Numbness in arm, though, may be due to cervical reasons.
Migraine pain can present in arm, neck and head as well.
I suggest you to be on a therapeutic trial of amitriptyline, as this is the medicine which can take care of both Stress headache and Migraine. This will also cover the neuropathic component causing numbness.
Along with, please do mental relaxation exercises, meditation and yoga to relieve anxiety and thus the muscles stress factor.
PLEASE TAKE ALL MEDICINES UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A PHYSICIAN ONLY.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have some follow-up questions, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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