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Does Colonoscopy Lead To Osteophytes In Cervical Spine And Degenerative Discs?

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Posted on Tue, 17 Mar 2015
Question: I there I've had a colonoscopy they never give me any sedation for it. Sadly at the time the doctor was asking to get the picture with the camera touch my colon.I was in a lot pains.From head to down my chest unable they were give to me any and possible medication for it .Still complaint about those pain had then an MRI scan which saying There are small osteophyte disc bars within the cervical spine,most marked at C 5-6where disc osteophyte bar is in contact with the anterior the a leading to moderate canal stenosis and reduction in the right C 6 neural exit foramen.There no evidence of canal compromise at any other level and there isn't foraminal stenosis.Mostly already I was having degenerate L 1-2 3-4 4-5 5-S1most marked from L3 L4/5 with borrowing of the exit foramine bilaterally here and same effacement a territory of the the cal sac.Disc material is seen touching the left S1 nerve root in the lateral recess at L5/S1 a degree narrowing is seen at L4/5 and L5/S1.also this last one collapse.My first few question are a colonoscopy can do all this damages? And under same research I've done on the first part is not clear to me my symptoms are:from my neck back side of it shoulder shoulder blade chest near harm pet bi hind my harm Elbow with very acute spasm through my neck and chest if I try to do pressure with my harm and horrible sensation same one breaking glass into your elbow and also headache if I not put my fentanyl patch almost forgetting getting also pain at the really end the stomach when I'm eating .Wish that you can give me proper answers to it till now no one did to me and can I never recovered from it?At the present moment which I was ask for a physiotherapist at list to press the pressure point no one seen care.need help and advice,believe or not after if you have been give me same of the answers I'm looking for I got few extra for you.At the present moment I uintaite Bend-up.hope the information been give to you are understandable.For now thank you XXXXX waiting for your respond.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
no.

Detailed Answer:
I cannot comment on your specific situation without directly examining you and the evidence. Further questions after this information therefore are very unlikely to lead to any new information at all and I am likely to have to answer merely by copying and pasting. Furthermore, there is the question of cause and effect which can never be answered with absolute certainty. Never-the-less there are some general information that seems clear and inarguable.

Very long term effects are not due to one sudden event but to long term processes.
I drive down a road through a valley. The valley was not made by my car. It was there before, the car is not going to do a big geographical change. It is going to take longer than a drive to make a valley.
Likewise Osteophytes "typically occurs when ligaments and tendons around the bones and joints in the cervical spine are damaged or inflamed." Like formation of a valley they take a LONG TIME TO OCCUR. They Grow. They are in the neck. It does not make sense that a colon procedure will cause them.
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/cervical-osteophytes-bone-spurs-neck
Nerves in the neck run out to the arms. Problems with these nerves are usually felt all along the path of the nerves--> out from the neck and down the arms and also up the back of the neck. The type of pain is often electrical/sharp/catching like a pinched nerve.
One assumes that the fentanyl patch all pains, all symptoms ONLY occurred after the colonoscopy otherwise the question would make no sense.

Likewise, the phrase "disk degeneration at multiple levels" implies a long term process but without seeing the MRI and it's interpretation I can only give a general statement. "local trauma and inflammation" would imply direct sudden damage. The former would be a long term degenerative process NOT all from a colonoscopy while the second would be an acute trauma but.... There is quite a distance from where the colonoscopy occurs and where the disk is, It is unclear how you get from the colon to the spine without huge damage in between. Analogous to the car driving down the valley and saying it caused the radio tower in the next county falling over... quite a stretch.

Colonoscopies are quite uncomfortable. Without anaesthetic, obviously nothing occurred during it (like falling off a table) that you would not have noticed. BUT, they do not cause conditions present before the colonoscopy nor do the do long term chronic conditions that take in all likelihood decades to occur.

Again, without seeing you, I don't think I can add to this, but I can mention general information about degenerative conditions, some ideas on causality, and how nerves run.
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
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Does Colonoscopy Lead To Osteophytes In Cervical Spine And Degenerative Discs?

Brief Answer: no. Detailed Answer: I cannot comment on your specific situation without directly examining you and the evidence. Further questions after this information therefore are very unlikely to lead to any new information at all and I am likely to have to answer merely by copying and pasting. Furthermore, there is the question of cause and effect which can never be answered with absolute certainty. Never-the-less there are some general information that seems clear and inarguable. Very long term effects are not due to one sudden event but to long term processes. I drive down a road through a valley. The valley was not made by my car. It was there before, the car is not going to do a big geographical change. It is going to take longer than a drive to make a valley. Likewise Osteophytes "typically occurs when ligaments and tendons around the bones and joints in the cervical spine are damaged or inflamed." Like formation of a valley they take a LONG TIME TO OCCUR. They Grow. They are in the neck. It does not make sense that a colon procedure will cause them. http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/cervical-osteophytes-bone-spurs-neck Nerves in the neck run out to the arms. Problems with these nerves are usually felt all along the path of the nerves--> out from the neck and down the arms and also up the back of the neck. The type of pain is often electrical/sharp/catching like a pinched nerve. One assumes that the fentanyl patch all pains, all symptoms ONLY occurred after the colonoscopy otherwise the question would make no sense. Likewise, the phrase "disk degeneration at multiple levels" implies a long term process but without seeing the MRI and it's interpretation I can only give a general statement. "local trauma and inflammation" would imply direct sudden damage. The former would be a long term degenerative process NOT all from a colonoscopy while the second would be an acute trauma but.... There is quite a distance from where the colonoscopy occurs and where the disk is, It is unclear how you get from the colon to the spine without huge damage in between. Analogous to the car driving down the valley and saying it caused the radio tower in the next county falling over... quite a stretch. Colonoscopies are quite uncomfortable. Without anaesthetic, obviously nothing occurred during it (like falling off a table) that you would not have noticed. BUT, they do not cause conditions present before the colonoscopy nor do the do long term chronic conditions that take in all likelihood decades to occur. Again, without seeing you, I don't think I can add to this, but I can mention general information about degenerative conditions, some ideas on causality, and how nerves run.