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Do Imbalance, Arm Numbness And Neck Pain Indicate Spinal Cord Damage?
Question: am 77 y/o male 3months post op posterior cervical laminoplasty. Fell on face. No serious injury, but myopathic sx returned - unsteady gait and balance issue. some left arm numbness. If this is a bruised spinal cord injury, on top of past myelopathy, was is time in which it may improve ? Any treatments for it? Steroids helped for a short while. MRI not done yet.
also have muscular neck pain posteriorly, like post op pain
also have muscular neck pain posteriorly, like post op pain
Brief Answer:
Muscle relaxant might aid.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am not so sure that symptoms are due to spinal cord damage. It is possible but it could also be due (hopefully) to injury to soft tissue, muscles and ligaments, resulting in inflammation and muscle spasm which can also justify those symptoms. If a spinal cord injury is suspected while I understand that a MRI may take time, perhaps a cheap simple x-ray may be done to exclude vertebral displacement or fractures.
Regarding improvement times usually about 3-6 weeks for muscle spasms and inflammation, while if spinal cord injury it would take longer at least 3 months.
As for treatment apart from NSAIDs muscle relaxants like Flexeril for a couple of weeks might be of help as well as warm compresses.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Muscle relaxant might aid.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am not so sure that symptoms are due to spinal cord damage. It is possible but it could also be due (hopefully) to injury to soft tissue, muscles and ligaments, resulting in inflammation and muscle spasm which can also justify those symptoms. If a spinal cord injury is suspected while I understand that a MRI may take time, perhaps a cheap simple x-ray may be done to exclude vertebral displacement or fractures.
Regarding improvement times usually about 3-6 weeks for muscle spasms and inflammation, while if spinal cord injury it would take longer at least 3 months.
As for treatment apart from NSAIDs muscle relaxants like Flexeril for a couple of weeks might be of help as well as warm compresses.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Muscle pain in posterior neck definitely returned after fall. Feels alot like post op pain did. Would Baclofen help? I hear it causes dizziness.
Would physical therapy be indicated now to help with my unsteady gait and balance issue. The symptoms improved alot . But have returned. Seem to come and go though. Thanks
Would physical therapy be indicated now to help with my unsteady gait and balance issue. The symptoms improved alot . But have returned. Seem to come and go though. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Baclofen is used mainly for spasticity due to central nervous system lesions. It does also have muscle relaxing properties so it might be beneficial, but it is not commonly used as a first choice for that purpose, other muscle relaxants like the one I mentioned are more commonly employed.
Yes physical therapy would help and is indicated. I had assumed that since surgery was only 3 months ago you were still under physical therapy. I believe it should be continued both to help with this recent injury as well as to be increase spinal stability and avoid future issues.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Baclofen is used mainly for spasticity due to central nervous system lesions. It does also have muscle relaxing properties so it might be beneficial, but it is not commonly used as a first choice for that purpose, other muscle relaxants like the one I mentioned are more commonly employed.
Yes physical therapy would help and is indicated. I had assumed that since surgery was only 3 months ago you were still under physical therapy. I believe it should be continued both to help with this recent injury as well as to be increase spinal stability and avoid future issues.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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