This is so familiar! I had all those symptoms, including the hand & bicep pain & weakness. EMG was normal, MRI was not, but Dr.'s said cervical problems couldn't be causing my symptoms. I thought the cause was thoracic outlet syndrome, then cervical cord issues. Dr.'s disagreed.

What I DO have (finally, after years, a diagnosis) is chronic myofascial pain. My back (and the rest of me) is covered in muscle knots & trigger points. If you can press on a tender spot on your back & pain travels down your arm, that may be your problem, too. It is excruciating, but treatable.

Wishing you a fast diagnosis!

Mary

Thanks mg, don, ginnie and Holles,

I guess I'll reply all at once to make things easier. The wrench in all this is that everything seems to come and go and change in intensity. I can't believe it is wise to have to wait until things are permanent for them to take it seriously. But the worst thing right now is waking up or being kept awake by this dull aching tightness in my right lower leg mainly. It makes it impossible to get comfortable and fall asleep. I also wake up with cramping and sort of a feeling of parts falling asleep or numb. It even happens in my jaw and mouth area which is a bit scary. I really don't want to go on any strong sleep aids. I've taken melatonin but it seems to make me really groggy the next day.

I am not sure what I will do about the arm emg. Trying to decide if it's worth the cost since, at this point, I'm not feeling the arm symptoms like I was before. I have insurance but will still have to pay 20% of it. The neurologist has set me up for physical therapy for my neck as well as my lumbar degeneration.

Thanks again everyone for the words of encouragement. I will look into myofascial pain syndrome. My last job of 8 years really beat me up physically and probably caused my spine issues. Lots of driving and jumping around... and stress is showing its toll.

StrongerMan

I forgot to bring up the topic of the upright MRI vs. recumbent. I have read of instances where drs miss a cord compression that doesn't show up on an mri without load or flexion/extension. Below are some sample images showing the difference.

As you can see, there can be a drastic difference in deformation of the spine and cord impingement. I asked the assistant I spoke with to pass this along to my neurologist, but nothing further was mentioned. I woke up this morning with numbness in my left cheek, jaw and left side of lips which lasted several hours. It seems to me there is inflammation or something compressing or interfering with a cranial nerve (trigeminal or facial) that innervates that area. My face is not drooping or anything but this has me concerned. I have told my drs. about all this as it has happened before along with the dysphagia, though not simultaneously.

I hope you get things figured out sooner rather than later.

Thanks Katieaero, same to you.

Hey,

The differences between supine and dynamic MRI's can be striking and instructive. Or they can be an incredible waste of time and money and send you down the wrong road. Rely on an ortho or neuro who has ordered numerous studies of each type and stop comparing the stock marketing examples! BTW, Facial nerve is predominately motor for facial expression and sensory for the face is Trigeminal (V).

*edit* I know what the cranial nerves do.

*edit* I came here for help and support.

Hi Strongman--I know but I really think you took Dubious post the wrong way. Dubious was a chiropractor for several years at least over 25yrs or more---before becoming a patient and had failed spine surgery-- and now can no longer work over it. So---i have read several of dubious post and is always coming from a clinical point of view is all. Never meant to be insulting Im sure of that --just wanted to let you know my real thoughts!!