Have you ever heard of the spinal column shrinking?

Question

After having an MRI, my doctor told me that my spinal column is shrinking. My symptoms are: a burning and tingling sensation in my neck and down my right arm,severe muscle wasting in both of these areas, sometimes when I turn my head I get a sharp pain in my neck, I can hear a grinding sound in my neck when I move it, my right arm will go numb during the day and sometimes when I wake up in the morning my entire scalp and both of my arms are completely numb from my shoulders to my hands. I'm forty two years old and was wanting to know if you have ever heard of this or anything like it ? Thanks.

AND CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO FIX IT?

Answer 1

Yes
Its called spondalolisis (*sp) of the spine. Numbness tingling headaches are all symptoms. You need to go to a neurologist and see if they can stop it with surgery, by placing rods. I know that sounds awful but I have had 4 surgeries so far. I'm still hanging in here!

Answer 2

Yes, I have heard of this, and I am wondering what else the doctor told you. It sounds like to me that you are having a bulging disc that is hitting a neve that is causing these pain symptoms, I would also be curious as to what the doctor suggested for this problem.

While it is true that as we age our spinal colum looses minerals, and the discs start to loose moisture, the symptoms you are describing are much more serious that simple aging.

I had back sugery several years ago, and while my functioning is much better the pain is still there, but I have a good pain management specialist. I also suffered a work related injury in which my level of functioning has further decreased, but it is separate from my origional injury says the doctor, which is a good thing as they are ways to slow down the natural progression of the discs degenerating.

I am not a physician, so I am not qualified to give medical advice, but when I mentioned the numbing, burning and tingling in my leg an foot, the doctors got right on it and i had the mri, which showed a disc hurniation (sp?) large bone fragments floating around, and surgery was scheuled the next week. Now that was for my lower back, not the neck, and the neck is in a whole different ballgame.

Be very cautious about what ever suggestions the docs might give you with regard to sugery options, such a fusion or inserting pins to the affected discs. There are good sources of information available on all sorts of medical issues on WebMD. I used this site to get a lot of information prior to the surgery, and went to an online support group there after the surgery.

Good luck, and be gentle with your movements until your situation is more stabalized. My thoughts are with you.

Answer 3

I bet you are talking about spinal stenosis. It is a shrinking of the spine and I have it along with several other spinal diseases. It is actually a narrowing of the spine. It can squeeze your spinal cord and nerves. Of course it will affect your neck and arm. Mine is in the lower spine and I am permanently disabled because of severe stenosis. I have been ruled out as a surgical candidate and will end up in a chair at some point.I have several herniated discs as well as degenerative joint and disc disease. I am 47 and have had this since 19. It is awful and I wish you good luck. You have this other pain because the nerves to these other parts all come from the spine. Everything starts in the spine.

Answer 4

Spinal Shrinkage

Answer 5

No I have not its not astral perosis or whatever that bone decaying disease is? What else did the doctor say. I would amain he said a lot and at least told you what to do and what not to do?

I hope it goes well.

2fnbad <--- The doctor did not say anything about fixing it. If its not you who has the problem then I understand but I find it hard to believe any doctor would send you away without talking over treatment , cures , and other things along that line. Or give you a website or a book and or info something.

If thats the case then thats some doctor. "It seems your spine is shrinking. Ok have a good day take care bye bye...."

Answer 6

I have heard of a compressed spine and of the cartridge between the spinal bones wearing away but not of spinal shrinkage as implied in general. I am also 42.

Answer 7

I have the same thing. Mine is caused by injuries that I have had to the spine.

The doctor's have been trying to get me to be operated on for it several times. I have other friends and associates that I have met through the years that have had surgery. I am doing as well as they are, so until I can no longer stand the pain or no longer walk, I will wait.

Answer 8

im 21 yrs old i have ( dont know how to spell it right ) skoliosis and the doc told me that when i was young my body grew fast and my spine didnt catch up, i also when im sleeping my arms go numb, never touched my scalp, but not both of them go numb its either one of the other and it scares me cuase i think im having a stroke or somthing, but yea with my desiese i have very sharp neck and back pains too but not everyday, only like once in a while, ive lived with it since i was 14, i would suggest to go to another doc and get re-evaluated... hopes this helps!

Answer 9

carpenter'shammerer (the guy who mentioned spondylosis) is probably right, though for the life of me I can't figure out why its affecting mostly your right arm. Get a second opinion, seriously. And from a different doctor. It could be something else.

Answer 10

Yes. As you age it does shrink. That's common knowledge.