A cervical pinch nerve case

Dr. David Song

Ms. Y, 45 2007-09-25

She has left hand tingling and numbness for two months, sharp burning pain for over 10 days.

The numbness appeared on the early August, tried western medicine but no effect. The pain started on the whole left arm on the early September, anti-inflammatory and painkiller didn’t work. She had X-ray at that time, reported degeneration on the C4, 5. Sept. 14 morning, the pain suddenly increased to unbearable, found nowhere to put the arm, and totally could not sleep. She been off work since last week, visited a chiropractor every day. After 3 days treatments, she felt a little better, and then it got even worse.

Now, there is burning pain on the ulnar side of left arm. No extension of the neck, hard to lie face down. No left triceps tendon reflex. The left ulnar skin is more sensitive than the right. Pulse is thin and rapid, and tongue is reddish with peeled coating in the center.

X-ray pictures showed:

C5 Luschka joints are sharp (both); C4, C5 vertebra slight moved backwards, increased C6~7 rear space; Narrow on right C4~5, C5~6, C7~T1 foramen, especially C4~5 reduced to half; narrow on left C4~5, C5~6, C7~T1foramen, C7~T1 reduced to half.

Impression: acute cervical spondylosiol (C8 never is stimulated).

After one session of acupuncture and slight Tui Na massage, the pain was reduced right away. She had 6 sessions of similar treatments, the pain on the arm was totally gone, only slight numbness on the left baby finger remained.