C7 Radiculopathy

[cathleen]

Hi There,

I have been suffering from Right C7 Radiculopathy for several months now.
I have had MRI showing disk sitting on C7 C6 nerves. EMG showed no nerve damage. I am on Amitriptyline 40mg/day which has worked wonders for the pain but still experience tingling and numbness. I have considerable weakness in right arm.

I was prescribed physio but can't afford it. Can anyone help me with exercise i can do myself at home? My other question is I am now experiencing numbness in both shins, no pain. Could they be related?

Thanks in advance.

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[jjose_01]

i am sorry but with your complaint, you have to be seen by a physiotherapist. Getting advice from a forum such as this can help but it is not that helpful since there is no proper evaluation and assessment which is crucial, it is the only reason why we have our own profession.

We want you to value our expertise by getting the help you need in the proper way, that is, to see a therapist that will evaluate you thoroughly. You can tell your therapist that you don't have the finances to go through a plan of care, instead, ask him/her for a good advice after they assess your case, I am sure they will understand.

[physiobob]

I there. Amitriptyline is basically an anti depressant, also used for pain modification e.g. in migraine. So it might mask the sensory input (or output) from the brain but if you have true nerve root pressure it will not mask/fix the dampened efferent response to the muscle. Paresthesia (pins and needles) in itself is not diagnostic of true nerve root involvement hower that with associated muscle weakness is more likely to be true.

Basically you need to get back to the Dr if you have true weakness. And if you're in Canada you should have access to great, free, public health physio. We cannot guide you for exercise of the neck in theis forum with such symptoms. You need to spring for at least one initial assessment and a home exercise treatment plan.

As for the lower limb symptoms, they could be from many issues, even side effect of the meds you are on. Best go back to the GP and see what more can be offered on their expense account

[cathleen]

I there. Amitriptyline is basically an anti depressant, also used for pain modification e.g. in migraine. So it might mask the sensory input (or output) from the brain but if you have true nerve root pressure it will not mask/fix the dampened efferent response to the muscle. Paresthesia (pins and needles) in itself is not diagnostic of true nerve root involvement hower that with associated muscle weakness is more likely to be true.

Basically you need to get back to the Dr if you have true weakness. And if you're in Canada you should have access to great, free, public health physio. We cannot guide you for exercise of the neck in theis forum with such symptoms. You need to spring for at least one initial assessment and a home exercise treatment plan.

As for the lower limb symptoms, they could be from many issues, even side effect of the meds you are on. Best go back to the GP and see what more can be offered on their expense account

Thanks for the help. We do have free health care, but physio is not covered.
I can have free surgery that I am sure would cost our heathcare system
thousands but they don't spring for physio. Go figure.
Start physio on Wednesday. Thanks again