NeuroTalk Support Groups - So, results of MRI of my cervical spine came back--

--and the longstanding degenerative disc disease and osteophytic complexes I have from C3 all the way to C7 have progressed, with particularly severe foraminal narrowing at C5/C6 (C6 nerve root) and C6/C7 (C7 nerve root). There is also now moderate central canal stenosis at those levels.

This is certainly consistent with my current burning hand, arm, chest, and shoulder/scapular symptoms, which you may remember started March 15th after a weightlifting session went awry--although we still don't know why I have facial symptoms as well. Hyperesthesia--the delayed overreaction of pain nerves to generally non-painful stimuli--IS a hall mark of compression of the spinal dorsal root ganglia, which I apparently have, but it can also occur in more peripheral conditions, and given my unusual history--a full body acute onset small fiber burning neuropathy on April 11 2013 (happened in hours), with eventual healing and re-enervation, though probably in patterns that are different than they were prior to the onset-- I wonder if some sort of double crush phenomenon is going on. Moreover, I suspect that given my unusual history that my dermatomal sensory distribution is far from the classic map at this point (perhaps the C3/C4 nerves account for more of my facial symptoms).

There doesn't seem to be frank cord compression (yet)--though I wonder if it happens it certain positions, which could explain the more widespread, outside-the-dermatome symptoms (after all, the MRI was done reclining). I don't have L'hermitte's sign--the electric shock down the spine upon chin flexion to chest.

I'm being seen by my old crew at Cornell, but beyond the gabapentin have not been recommended anything beyond physical therapy and the cervical strengthening exercises, which I am quite familiar with and have been doing. But given lack of improvement in almost two months, I'm wondering if it's time to schedule a surgical consult.