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What Causes Persistent Arm Numbness While Having Herniated Cervical Disc?
Hello, I have experienced arm numbness (R side only) and it s been this way for a few years. The numbness started off being occasional numbing of the right arm. I do have herniated Cervical discs C2,C3,C4,C5 and I felt pretty sure that was the cause. I visited a DO and she wanted an MRI of the cervical Spine. She didn t think the herniation was severe enough to cause the numbing but wanted me to have an EMG done to support whether it was or not. I had the EMG test and that Neurologist said he felt the numbness was from Carpal Tunnel. Over the 1-2 months the numbness is constant and the pain radiating down my arm to my hand is becoming very hard to ignore. My right hand is difficult for me to make a fist and my three large fingers hurt and are swollen. The tingling and numbness is all day. Every few minutes I shake my arm to feel the blood begin to flow. I can still grasp objects but not everything. Do you think this is Carpal Tunnel and if so, what would they do to correct this for me?
According to your symptoms specifically "I feel like blood flow after shaking" makes me understand this is some kind of blood vessel obstruction in the distal part of arm or wrist. EMG studies must have been normal and thus your doctor suggested you the same diagnosis. To confirm you should go for Doppler studies of distal arm veins. Carpal tunnel can be treated with surgery and you don't have to bear such prolonged sufferings due to this.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ashish Ranjan, General & Family Physician
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What Causes Persistent Arm Numbness While Having Herniated Cervical Disc?
Hi, According to your symptoms specifically I feel like blood flow after shaking makes me understand this is some kind of blood vessel obstruction in the distal part of arm or wrist. EMG studies must have been normal and thus your doctor suggested you the same diagnosis. To confirm you should go for Doppler studies of distal arm veins. Carpal tunnel can be treated with surgery and you don t have to bear such prolonged sufferings due to this. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Ashish Ranjan, General & Family Physician