[akmoose]

I had a mri of my neck for cause of my pain in left arm in 12-17-07. Just 2 weeks ago while at doc appointment i had my dad with me and he asked for the mri results. What would you do? I have tears in 3 disk's and bulges in at least 3. I had radial nerve release done in jan. It helped some. Now i have pain in both arms and have been told i might have Tos. Also have muscle atrophy.

[Jomar]

Hello,
Just wanted to post out TOS forum useful sticky for you..
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread135.html

be sure to find an expert in TOS as the over lap of symptoms can confuse many drs.
What levels are your tears & bulges at?

c spine, T spine or Lumbar?

[Jomar]

oh and I learned to request that copies of all tests results be sent to me also.
It's handy to have them in your own records- some will send them with out you asking ,but it's good to ask to be sure you do get them.

Where is your atrophy? hand/arm?

you may have what is termed a double or triple "crush"
If you have TOS and also do have the nerve impinged or entrapped at other locations in the arms ie - ulnar or carpal tunnel or both.
nerve conduction study NCV/EMG would show if they are involved for real

TOS symptoms can appear in those places but the cause is higher up in the neck or arm pit.

[akmoose]

I have atrophy of whole arm on the left that is very visable and the right not bad yet. The bulges and tears are in the c spine. I had the ncv/emg done and they said "normal". When they did the reflex test on my ulnar nerves in elbow no movement at all on both sides. The ulnars pop over the bone in both elbows and make my finger numb. I also get numb on my hips and rear end when i sit a certain way. Bending over for any amount of time i have a problem straighting. I cannot have anybody touch my lower back beacause it hurts and can make me light headed. I will post on the TOS also. Thanks for the respone.

[Jomar]

The lower back thing sounds unusual , was that area MRI'd?

[I cannot have anybody touch my lower back beacause it hurts and can make me light headed.]

[akmoose]

The mri was of my neck. And i will ask my lower back to be mri'd. It seem to be where the disks are that are the most tender and hurt when anybody touchs them. I cannot sit in one spot for very long or my back will start bothering me. My job was a lot of heavy lifting without proper technique. We could not lift the proper way even when we tried. Also when i was in high school my back was hurt.