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5987839 tn?1381922502

Arm Pain from T-Spine Lesions?

I have non-specific lesions in my brain, and old lesions at T2, and T6 - both on the ventral side. History of Optic Neuritis. Dx in 2013, been on Copaxone 20, and now 40. No new lesions since diagnosis.

Since May of this year, I have had arm pain on the right side. Seems to centralize in upper arm, but travels to lower arm as low as wrist when it wants to. I describe it as a very dull internal pain. Sometimes the arm just feels tired. Few things:

- It feels like pressure, like someone is squeezing on the inside sometimes
- It is worse when I wake up. I feel it more in morning, and off/on throughout the day. I cannot tell if it's that I *notice* it more at different times of day or not. I also cannot tell if it's worse when I am stressed. This may very well be true.
- It does not get worse with use, or better with rest or exercise/stretching
- Ice, or heat do not help
- Anti inflammatory or any other OTC med does not help
- FYI: I also have ankylosing spondylitis (autoimmune/inflammatory - based in lower spine though)

I went to my MS Neuro. She did not think it was MS, but did T & C MRIs .. nothing came up.
I then went to Ortho & Neuro ... I was cleared, I even had a nerve conduction study. Nothing came up.

So, here I am with this nagging pain every day. It's like a freegin 4 on that scale of 1-10 .. not bad enough to complain loudly, but it's now been here long enough (7 months) that I am damn sick of it.

My MS Neuro ruled out MS, seemingly because there were no new lesions, specifically no C-spine lesions.

My question is this ...... could this be from the old lesions on my T-spine? Every doctor is only as good as their interpretation of the facts .... she does not seem to think that the T-spine lesions I have would impact my arms. I get it .. I've seen dermatome charts ......., but I wanted to ask this community for their input nonetheless.


9 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi,

I, too, have been having pain and weakness in both arms for 2 months straight.  I cannot do anything with my arms because it aggravates the pain.  It feels like the muscles in my forearms are sore, and up into my left mid arm and chest area.

It is very painful and scary to have the arm problems.  I am a medical transcriptionist, so it makes it very difficult to work.

Take care,

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there, it sounds like spasticity to me too. I had similar bicep tightness some general weakness in the bicep down to the palm of one hand.

When was deep tendon reflexes were done in a form of neuro exam I was told my arms and legs had "brisk" reflexes.

I did not think much of it until I had to take a lot of notes by hand for a solid week a couple of months later.

One bicep was rock hard at rest. I finally got into my neuro and got Baclofen. I do not take much at all and got massage therapy with myofascial release. It has taken almost 10 sessions so far but I have noticed a huge difference.

Did anyone test your reflexes? That would help exclude any potential spasticity. Apparently it isn't very common in the arms for MS but it can happen as I know from my own experience.

If nothing else, the reflex test could check another possible cause.

Good luck,
Corrie
Helpful - 0
1831849 tn?1383228392
Another possibilty could be neuropathy, or nerve pain.

I have this in my feet. There is nothing wrong with my feet, but without meds they hurt. It can feel like someone dropped a bowling ball on one or both. It can also feel like they are in a vise.

The "Everything's Fine" message that travel along nerve pathways from brain to pain control center get corrupted. Lesions along the way result in the pain center getiting "FIRE! FIRE!" messages.

I take a combination of Elavil and Lyrica, which takes the pain away. NSAID's won't work on nerve pain.

Kyle
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Baclofen worked great for me - I took it until I got pregnant.
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
You might try Baclofen or Zanaflex or another muscle relaxer. Baclofen does not work for me but many MSer's are on it. Unfortunately there is no test for gray matter damage.

Alex
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Always good to eliminate anything that may not be MS, so that it can be treated. However, it sounds like you're experiencing spasticity in your upper arm.

I had forearm spasticity in both my right and left arms after my diagnosis. The pain was a dull soreness that made the muscle weak. I would try to use the arm, but it would be so sore that I couldn't complete the movement. I can press on that muscle and get some relief, and stretch out the forearm to get a little more flexibility.

I think my problem originates in my spine - I have lesions at T6, T10, and the conus. I also have lesions in the neck but they're very old.
Helpful - 0
5987839 tn?1381922502
* correction - doesn't come close to my nerve
Helpful - 0
5987839 tn?1381922502
Alex,

WOW, and I'm so sorry about the cancer! Scary how something can go so long not even knowing ..

We have (I think?) ruled out a pinched nerve with Ortho ... they showed me my C-spine MRI, and I have a small bulge but they showed me how it doesn't even come close to my disc.

I am lucky for good insurance and a good health network, so if there are other fields or tests that you can suggest, please let me know. Thank you.
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
I have that but for me it is a neck disk  and a pinched nerve not MS. I go to a pain clinic. I take Zanaflex several times a day.MS is mostly a gray matter disease, MRIs only see white matter so lesion location and symptoms do not always match up. I always got to my PCP first because not everything is MS. I have diaphragm spasms all the doctors thought MS but it was cancer. The doctors and I missed it for six years because we fell into the trap of thinking everything is MS.

Alex



Helpful - 0
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