Brief Answer:
Decrese the duration of swimming.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the query my friend.

Friend please do not do over exertion of your body. Instead you can swim 1/2 miles in every two days and you really appreciate this because you will find more strength in your muscles if you follow my advise. Have balanced diet and a little protein supplements to give strength to your muscles.

You should be careful and consult doctor if

-you find decrease in power more than 4 or continuous tingling sensation for more than 30 mins if 20 mins then its ok no need to worry but just decrease exercise duration.
Weakness: trouble lifting objects, dropping things

-Difficulty walking (loss of balance), wide-based gait

-Coordination problems/clumsiness: handwriting, buttoning clothes, and feeding oneself can become difficult

-Neck pain and stiffness


My friend the following 5 tests will also help to diagnose cord compression but you should do not do them yourself these are done by examining doctor i.e doctor who do your physical examination. These are-

(1) gait deviation

(2) +Hoffmann’s test

(3) inverted supinator sign

(4) +Babinski test

(5) age >45 years.

You should not take point number 5 seriously.


Other important test are-

1) Myelogram- Your doctor may order this special type of computed tomography (CT) scan. CT scans allow better detailed cross-section images showing bone spurs and the size of the spinal canal. In a myelogram, color XXXXXXX is injected before the scan to better outline the spinal cord.

2) Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP), an electrical study, is done by stimulating the arms/legs and then reading the signal in the brain. A delay in the length of time that it takes to get to the brain indicates that there is a compromise of the spinal cord, either from cervical stenosis or a herniated disc.


If you want more detail then I would like to elaborate more about myelopathy.

Diagnosis of myelopathy is usually made by orthopedic surgeon after careful consideration of presenting symptoms in the patient’s history (e.g. neck stiffness, dexterity loss, unilateral or bilateral deep, aching neck, arm and shoulder pain, gait dysfunction, and stiffness and clumsiness) and physical examination (e.g. multisegmental weakness, losses during coordination testing, and variable losses of sensation and proprioception).

When suspected after pertinent clinical examination findings, a diagnosis of myelopathy is usually confirmed or denied by imaging methods (MRI). Anterior–posterior width reduction, cross-sectional evidence of cord compression, obliteration of the subarachnoid space, and signal intensity changes to the cord found on MR imaging are considered the most appropriate parameters for confirmation of a spinal cord compression myelopathy.

My friend you can consider Cleveland clinic > Mayo clinic as we in India usually talk much about first than second, but anyhow if a physician talk to you like me or like I have advise the tests or examine you like I have advise you the five tests above, that physician is best for you.

Yes you can consult neurologist to evaluate your neurological functions he may evaluate you more deeply and advise you more things. You may also consult him in detail for the five tests I have advised you above.

I hope you have got your answer.

You can ask any health related query when ever you want.

Thanks.

Dr. Singh.

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Brief Answer:
Do not just follow what the MRI says.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your response my friend.

You have already told me about your friend who is hand surgeon and also told me that you are as young as 37 even at age of 57.

I appreciate your youthfulness and positive attitude towards life, believe me you are young only if your thoughts are young.

Please do not go towards what the MRI says, just have regular follow up with your doctor and monitor any weakness, numbness or tingling sensation more than 30 mins.

You just need is only to cut down your time period and miles of swimming to half and that only for about one month. This will definitely help you and believe me you will again feel like 37 years old man.

Take balanced diet. You can do yoga i.e anulom vilom pranayam as uploaded on you tube.

Try to avoid alcohol and smoking as much as you can.

From our previous talks and your present history, I still think you are 37 years old.

Do not let negative thoughts to overpower your will.

I hope you have got your answer.

Nice to talk you.

Regards.

Dr.Singh.

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Brief Answer:
Thanks.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your response my friend.

Please stop drinking alcohol my friend, you will feel more energetic after stopping it .

Take balanced diet. You can do yoga i.e anulom vilom pranayam as uploaded on you tube.

If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
     
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer 5 points for me, so that I get a good feedback.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-chander-mohan-singh/67013

Regards.

Dr.Singh.

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Brief Answer:
Every patient is individual patient.

Detailed Answer:
HI,

Thanks for the response again.

My friend, I have already advised you that in this world every person is individual one. It means that in some patients these abnormal signal leads to drastic effects but in others no effects, so do not just follow what the other people say or MRI scan report.

You just need to have a keen watch to your muscle power, tingling sensation more than 30 misn, numbness. If any of these increase then consult doctor immediately.

Studies suggests that although MRI scan shows abnormal signals in some patients but controversy still exists over the optimal treatment time and the surgical approach for cervical myelopathy.

So at last I would like to say that although, signal changes on T2-weighted images may reflect pathological changes but cannot be used to predict prognosis at present.

Thanks.

Dr.Singh.

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