1. < Spine Health
Profile picture for mlerin

Excruciating pain from cervical (C7/T1) radiculopathy

Posted by mlerin @mlerin, Nov 4, 2019

I've been in excruciating pain in the right shoulder and throughout the arm and hand for months. MRI diagnosis is C7/T1 and C6-C7 severe foraminal narrowing and stenosis. Had a cervical epidural injection last Thursday and so far no relief. Is prolotherapy or PRP a good option? Any other non-surgical treatments out there that actually work?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Profile picture for Misty123
Misty123 | @leigh123 | Jul 19, 2023
In reply to @birdman518 "I recently posted about my experiences with realizing that I have (99% probability) cervical radiculopathy, plus..." + (show)
Profile picture for birdman518 @birdman518

I recently posted about my experiences with realizing that I have (99% probability) cervical radiculopathy, plus possible ulnar nerve damage that causes pain and tingling from my neck down to my right hand. All fingers are affected, but mostly my thumb and index finger.

But the most pain I have is in my shoulder. I have assumed this was related to the neuropathy, but then I realized that the amount and intensity is almost the same as when I had a rotator cuff injury from playing tennis... probably at least 15 years ago. But I have not done anything like that to cause that problem to recur.

Does this sound to anyone here like it is part of the nerve issues? Has anyone with C6/7 nerve pain had shoulder pain?

Thanks,

Mitch

Jump to this post

Hi, I had a similar experience… I hurt myself at work manual handling heard and felt a pop in my shoulder/scapula area.. next day the right shoulder, arm and thoracic area throbbing and on fire burning, scan showed bursitis so 2 steroid injections and 4mths of physio still no relief, my physio wanted to mri both my shoulder and brachial plexis, both scans came back with nil issues, my shoulder was the main source of pain 2 months later dr decided to do cervical mri with shows severe disc prolapse and facet joint issues in the c5/6 and c6/7, I had no neck pain at all… neurosurgeon ordered a diagnostic c7 epidural injection with supposed instant relief, instead my neck became incredibly sore and stiff with severe loss of rom and pain radiated from my neck to shoulder and down into my hand, first and middle finger and thumb.
I found the injection aggravated what ever was going on.. fast forward another 3mths I had a c6/7 fusion… now 6mths after surgery my pain since the fusion has doubled, I now have that same burning throbbing frostbite feeling down my entire right side from neck to foot and have just been diagnosed with chronic regional pain syndrome.

REPLY
Profile picture for erdocsmom
erdocsmom | @erdocsmom | Nov 21, 2025
In reply to @mlerin "Thanks for the nicely detailed message. My main issue is foraminal narrowing which is most significant..." + (show)
Profile picture for mlerin @mlerin

Thanks for the nicely detailed message. My main issue is foraminal narrowing which is most significant at C5-C6 on the left and at c7-T1, right. Interestingly enough, both areas have narrowing but my pain and all symptoms are on the right only, seem to be stemming from c7-t1. I’m 4 days out of an epidural injection and it’s not working making me think it didn’t take. I heard a lot about prolotherapy and PRP and prolo seems to be the next step I’ll pursue before considering surgery. I’m so glad you had such a positive outcome with surgery. I live in northern CA but am willing to go to Mayo Clinic to consult with good physicians. Do you mind sharing the name of your spine surgeon? Thanks again for the wealth of info. We should all live a life free of chronic pain.

Jump to this post

@mlerin
I have severe stenosis at that level along with severe disc space height loss at that level and the level above. Also, some severe to moderate stenosis in the two levels above.
I don't know where you are in Northern California, but I was a work comp adjuster for 30 years in Redding. If you're going to stay in Northern California, Stanford and UCSF are your best bets. I'm in Idaho now and having my surgical consult here on December 3rd. You're the only one I know that's had problems at the same level I have as my C7/8 T1 is the worst level. I'll be interested to see what you find out and what doctor you choose. It would be hard for me to travel as far as the Mayo for surgery. Wishing you the best of luck. Keep posting so I can see how you're doing, please.
Kathy

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.