Suggest Treatment For Pain And Numbness In Hands And Legs Due To Spinal Stenosis

Posted on Tue, 18 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 Answered on

Fri, 4 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : If I lean my neck from side to side I can hear a crackling sound on both sides I have c-3-c5 spinal stenosis and several herniated discs .also today while bending over to pick up laundry heard a popping sound then pain shoot down the back of my legs for several minutes then they went numb my crotch area is numb and I'm in moderate to severe pain not sure which hurts most my neck or my back I'm gonna go with lower back I e got pain in my right arm and In my feet but mostly a sharp stabbing pain on my right side lumbar right leg tingles please if you could get back to me quickly because urgent care closes at 8pm cst I have less than two hours otherwise to go to the er it's a 45 min drive please help soon.

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (10 hours later)

Brief Answer: Neurotropic medication can be started Detailed Answer: Hello, I have studied your case and reports Canal stenosis leads to burning/numb sensation and pain in your arm and leg. MRI shows mild to moderate disc bulge with canal stenosis. Due to compression of this nerve root there can be leg pain associated with it. For these symptoms analgesic and neurotropic medication can be started. Till time, avoid lifting weights, Sit with support to back. You can consult physiotherapist for help. Physiotherapy like ultrasound and interferential therapy will give quick relief. I will advise to check your vit B12 and vit D3 level. My patients get good relief with holistic approach like pranayama, yoga, and XXXXXXX XXXXXXX You can also start them. Epidural steroid injection may give prolonged relief. If there is no relief with all conservative measures then cervical decompression with fusion or disc replacement can be done. Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Wishing you good health. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (3 hours later)

The popping sound I heard followed by the intense pain should I go to the hospital for that or just alternate heat and ice that's what I been doing all nights woke up barley able to move my left arm it feels numb and locked in place I can hardly move my body feels like I've been hit by a truck. My neurosurgeon is gone for the week otherwise I would try to get an appt My pcp doesn't understand what is going on and my neurologist only prescribed me gabapentin 400 mg 3x daily no one will give me anything for pain because they think the physical therapy I'm doing 3x a week with ultrasound is enough I'm scheduled for an epidural injection on Mon the twenty fourth do I need help before then? . I'm I in terrible pain now my right are is going numb as I type this so I better go just need to know is this an emergency?

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: Neurological weakness is emergency. Detailed Answer: Hello again, If your neurological weakness is increasing[you are feeling numb as if there is no arm] then you should go to ER. If this is happening repeatedly from past few months then you can wait and continue rest,physiotherapy and medication. Epidural injection will help you so if possible you can get that as early as possible. Final and permanent solution for canal stenosis is decompression. Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Wishing you good health. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar