What Causes Numbness In Toes And Fingertips, Weak Limbs While Treating Degenerative Spine?

Posted on Mon, 25 Jan 2016

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

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 Answered on

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My father has a degenerative spine. There is stenosis in both the cervical and lumbar region. He experiences numbness in toes and fingertips, and also his right side, especially limbs, feel weaker. He's 80+ and has multi-drug allergy. We are afraid to even consider surgery as an option. He took a fall in XXXXXXX 2015. After that, he has stopped going out of the house. Earlier, he used to stagger while walking. Now, his right knee is very weak, sometimes getting a swelling with pain if he tries to go for a walk or do exercises. Could you please give me your view on this...especially the knee. He's wearing an elastic sleeve for supports.
Thanking you...
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Might be osteoarthritis; get Xray done

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Welcome to HCM.
This is Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta answering your query.

I understand your concern.
Your father is having a degenerative disc disease as you have mentioned. It has involved cervical as well as lumber spine and there are features of neuropathic pain too. For further comments on this condition, I would have to look at the MRI plates and also examine the patient clinically. However, even if the patient needs operation, you want to avoid it. This is acceptable at this age of the patient.
And for the knee, it might be osteoarthritis for which an xray should be done of both knees standing AP and Lateral view.
So get the x ray done and upload the reports for further advice.
For now, avoid squatting, give hot dry compression and painkiller gel like diclofenac locally. Exercise in the form of static quadriceps drill will be helpful.

Hope I have answered your query.
You can consult me for any further query.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina