Deep upper back pain with standing and sitting

by Dave
(san jose, California, USA)


Hi,


I have had a cervical MRI. It indicates nerve root compression as severe for c3-c4 and c4-c6 on left side. This was after lifting a heavy treadmill down some stairs; I was on the upper end whilst another person lifted on the lower end.

The dull ache is mostly on the left side, exactly where you indicate in the article. It sometimes is also on the right side or center. I have mild to moderate bone spurs. I have small foramen openings to begin with due to short pedicles, so there was not a lot of room to work with.

My discs are mild to moderate. I am 50.

What would one do for such an injury related issue? I am seeing my ortho in a few weeks to go over the MRI.

In addition to the above I have a stiff neck and left deltoid pain.

Hello Dave,
Deep upper thoracic pain is something of a diagnostic nightmare; it's not impossible that the MRI findings are what we call an incidental finding; true but not relevant. Nevertheless it corresponds with the pain in your back.

Pulled rhomboid muscles, a subluxated rib or vertebra should also be considered.

If you turn your head to the left do you get pain going into your left arm or down the back? This is known as Spurling's sign.

Do you know if there are any hard neurological findings? Numbness, loss of reflex or weakness of the deltoid, triceps or biceps muscles?

Is the upper limb tension test positive? Find it using the search function in the navigation bar at chiropractic help.

If you raise your arm above your head, or conversely carry heavy parcels in your left hand, what happens.

It's encouraging you don't have night pain; a pinched nerve in the neck is often wakes folk whilst sleeping.

It's complex, so I won't give you a trite answer.

Obviously I'm biased but I'd recommend seeing a chiropractor before going for surgery.

I hope this contributes.

Dr B


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