Heather

[sllowe]

Hi Heather,

We've not chatted.  It seems you are our resident expert Radiologist of the group! Your posts are so educational and I wanted to thank you and pick your and the forum's brains!

I was dx'd this year w/MS, but I always have a nagging question mark in my head reference my neck, and I'll try to explain why.

My C-spine MRI showed: Within the spinal cord at the level of C5 there is an ovoid focus of high signal noted measuring 10mm in craniocaudal dimension x 7 mm in transverse diameer x 4 mm in AP diameter.  This is in the midline anteriorly within the spinal cord and is consistent with a focal demyelinating plaque.  No abnormal enhancement is identified to suggest active demyelination.  

At C-4 a left paracentral HNP and left uncinate spur is present with moderate mass effect upon the anterior left thecal sac and mild left foraminal stenosis without cord ompression.

My Neuro, who is very good, told me he believed I had a lesion in that level prior to the MRI.  I've always had issues with my neck, pain, loss of mobility, and now issues between the shoulder blade.  I always feel as if the entire area is all jammed up.  For approx. 15 years, I just had myself convinced (when I would wake up w/the problem) I simply slept on it wrong, again!

Any light you can shed on the info provided would be great.  And, I apologize that I didn't ask a specific question.  If I had to put come up w/a question - as silly as it will sound.....My question would be something like this.....
        Can inflammation and/or lesions along with HNP's be giving me nagging, jammed up, and limited mobility in the neck and seemingly (feels like) pinched nerves in between my shoulder blades (at times)?

SL

[sllowe]

OMG! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought it was all in my head, and with all the new members, I felt guilty to ask you. . .I hope you had a good night with family.

SL

[Quixotic1]

Hi, the answer to your question is yes.  The lesion at C5 is from the MS and can raise havoc from your shoulders down.  The HNP, even though it doesn't impinge on the spinal cord, the nerve exiting there is passing through a narrowed opening at C4 and could easily be irritated and adding to the mayhem and frivolity.

Here is a site with a list of the "myotomes."  These are the list of muscles and functions affect by each vertebral level.  You will see that C4 and C5 have actions across the shoulders and lower neck.  I think this will make a whole lot of sense to you.

http://www.apparelyzed.com/myo-dermatomes.html

Hope this helps.  Quix

[Heather3418]

No I am not the forum's radiologist.  In fact, we do have a forum radiologist, but I am not sure of his name.  Perhaps some of the others, can help.  Sorry,

Heather