Constantly feeling sharp pains in your back? You may have spine problems. Dr Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Singapore General Hospital, gives detailed answers to your questions.
Do you experience sharp pain in your back that sometimes extend all the way to the back of your leg? Or do you occasionally feel a numbness or tingling sensation in your arm or leg? These could indicate a spine problem. Common spine problems include spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal), spinal fracture, degenerated disc disease and scoliosis.
Dr Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Singapore General Hospital, gives detailed answers to your questions.
Question by chai
Dear Dr, Besides sharp pain, is aching pain also consider as indication of spine problem?
Thanks.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Aching pain may also be considered as an indication of a spine problem, especially those that are chronic or long-standing in nature. This usually involves degenerative problems of the spine discs or joints diagnoses.
Question by simply6
Dear Dr. Guo,
It is painful for me to bend over my back, I went for a check and was told there was no fracture. What other checks can I do to ascertain?Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Fractures are not the only cause for pain on bending the back. More likely your joints or discs in the spine may be starting to degenerate or wear out. An MRI scan can further assess other structures that cannot be seen on xray..
Question by pocoyosky
Hi Dr
Are there any prevention measure to spine problems?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
The most common cause of spine problems is degeneration of either the intervertebral discs or the joints (spondylosis), which is actually a natural process that comes with age. Generally strenuous activities or injuries to the discs can predispose to earlier disc degeneration, however it is generally not something that any of us can avoid completely.
The key to prolonging the onset of degeneration is to maintain a healthy back and lifestyle, which means doing regular exercises especially those that strengthen the abdominal muscles and low back muscles, keeping a healthy diet to maintain an appropriate weight and avoiding smoking.
Question by Sch
Will taking calcium help in relieving spine problem?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Currently there are no supplements in the market that have been proven to improve or prevent spine degeneration. Supplements such as glucosamine sulfate +/- chondroitin sulfate may be useful for the joints in the spine, although the other structures like muscles, ligaments and discs may not benefit.
Question by esim
Is there any cure for spine problem? Is surgery the cure method?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Depending on the spine problem, surgery is usually the last resort in the treatment of back pain. It is usually only recommended if all other treatment options have been tried or in an emergency situation.
Question by mrina
What is the screening test available for spine problem check? Is it available at SGH??
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
To this date the cheapest and most effective screening test for the spine is a plain xray. It can pick up degenerative changes and rule out most major problems including most tumours, fractures or bony instability. However a normal xray does not necessarily mean there is no problem. Depending on the correlation of symptoms, further tests such as an MRI scan may need to be done.
Question by ireneneo
Is frequent backaches considered as a symptom of a spine problem?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Frequent backaches may be considered a symptom of a spine problem, although there may be many other causes for frequent backaches besides the spine.
One potential source of back pain is skeletal muscle of the back. Potential causes of pain in muscle tissue include muscle strains (pulled muscles), muscle spasm, and muscle imbalances. This is usually related to poor posture or tight muscles in the back. Simple back stretching and strengthening exercises and postural correction can help relieve this sort of pain.
If the backache persists despite rest and medications, you should go to your doctor for further evaluation.
Question by unicorn20p
Dear Dr. I occasionally awake with a curved spinal posture. Looking straight at the mirror the curve is toward the right side. This is accompanied by feeling of tightness and aching and I have to avoid lifting and exercise. The condition goes away after several days. Is there a cause for concern and what would be the best thing to do. Thank you,
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
A curved spinal posture in medical terms is scoliosis. Structural scoliosis is that in which the bony spinal column itself is curved and rotated, resulting in the curved posture that is seen in patients especially when bending down.
Functional scoliosis on the other hand is a condition in which the spine appears curved despite no structural abnormalities. Adults may develop functional scoliosis in the presence of severe muscle spasm caused by muscle strain, other injury, or degeneration of the spine. It may also be compensatory or postural, developing when patients change their gait or stance to compensate for differences in leg length or muscle imbalances.
You may be having the latter condition, based on your description of tightness and aching (which could mean a muscle spasm or tight muscle. Physiotherapy for some stretching and strengthening exercises of the back along with postural education may help you relieve your pain. However, you should first have an xray done to ensure that your scoliosis is not structural. A visit to the doctor for further evaluation can help you shed light on your problem.
Question by ong.siewhui
Dr Guo,
I'm 29 years old and was diagnosed with a central disc protusion in L4-L5 about two years ago.
The hospital issued me painkillers and has discharged me after 2 sessions of physiotherapy back then as I was told to do my own stretching at home. The back pain and stiffness have not get well in these years though it does not affect much of my daily life.
However, recently I experienced pain in the hip area and causing difficult to bend and thus restricted my movement. My recent cough somehow adds on to the pain. I took pain killers and did some stretching exercise but of not much help.
Would you please advise if my condition have worsen and do I need to revisit the doctor again? or are there ways to relief the pain?
I heard there are cases of surgery to shrink/remove part the bulging disc which might be causing the problem but am not sure if surgery is right for ma as I'm worried about the risk involved.
Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Central disc protrusions, unless there is any actual nerve compression, can usually be treated conservatively with physiotherapy, exercise and medications. However, in view of your recent onset hip pain, which is worsened by coughing, you may have injured your disc further. You should consult with your Spine Specialist for further assessment of your symptoms. A new MRI scan should also be done in light of worsening symptoms to further evaluate any additional injuries to your disc. Surgical options that may suit you include minimally invasive or keyhole decompression and discectomy, where only the bulging part of your disc is removed. Generally the risk for this kind of surgery is very low, usually a 1-2% chance of bleeding, infection and nerve injury. The specialist can further elaborate on the risks and procedure involved once you have been assessed and found to benefit from this type of surgical intervention.
Question by gnurjr
Dr. Gou, I have a C5 to C6 severe narrowing and indenting to thecal sac in my MRI along with multiple levels narrowing, which is bothering my left hand pain, tingling sensation. I am currently in conservative mgt, do I need surgical solution to solve my prob? Tks raja
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
If your symptoms of pain, tingling or numbness are persistent or worsening, or if it becomes associated with weakness and clumsiness of the hands and unsteadiness when walking, then you may need surgical intervention. Hand clumsiness and unsteady gait are signs of cervical myelopathy, which is an indication of spinal cord compression. In these cases, surgery is usually the better option, as it is know to worsen progressively if not addressed.
Surgery aims to stop further progression of the symptoms by direct or indirect decompression of the spinal cord. Otherwise if your symptoms are on and off / intermittent in character and improving with the conservative treatment, you may not require any surgery. You should follow up with your specialist if you feel that you are not responding to conservative management. He can better advise on the next step to take.
Question by mosmos
Dear Dr Guo, Everytime I squat down to do some house chores, my spin at the back near to kidney area will feel sore when I stand up again. The sore at the back will go off after 1-2 hours of resting. Is that a problem that I will need to see a doctor?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Most back pain that occurs after strenuous activities are due to muscle strains. Bending forward to do chores while squatting is a particularly stressful position for the spine and spinal muscles, and working in this position is likely to result in some muscle strain.
Usually this will get better after some rest and over-the-counter pain-killers. Physiotherapy and chiropractic manipulation can also help alleviate the pain. If the pain does not resolve after a period of rest, becomes persistent or worsening, or becomes associated with shooting pain going down your leg, you should see a doctor for further evaluation.
Question by oanna154m
I do ve numbness and ache at my neck area and right arm postion. is it the cos of spine problem? i do visit my company doctor, was told it ok. Do i need to do a proper check? Thanks
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Neck ache can be brought about by many factors, most commonly wrong posture, wrong sleeping position and strenuous activities, in addition to the likely presence of some degeneration or wearing out of your neck joints. Usually much improvement is gained by undergoing some physiotherapy, which includes stretching exercises and postural education, and taking and initial course of pain killers.
Certain changes can also be done at your workplace to correct your posture and minimise neck pain, such as the following: 1) When sitting erect at a desk and looking straight ahead: -Eyes should point directly at the top third of the screen. -Forearms should be approximately parallel with the floor when typing. -Elbows should be at the side. -Feet should be flat on the floor with the thighs parallel with the floor. 2) If you have a standing work station or perform other sorts of sitting, driving or carrying tasks, make sure that one side of the body is not constantly rotated more than the other side, and that there is as much symmetry in repetitive tasks as possible.
Other more specific postural changes can be taught by the physiotherapist in accordance with your type of job. Sleeping posture is also important – people who sleep prone or on their stomachs tend to have more neck pain, as the neck is held in extremes of rotation for a prolonged period of time. Pillow height is another factor - when choosing the right pillow, try to ensure that your head is in line with the rest of your spine, especially if you are a side-sleeper.
All these factors can help minimise or prevent neck ache, however if you begin to have radiating pain or numbness going down one or both arms, it would be better to consult a Spine Specialist for further evaluation. An MRI scan may be helpful in further clarifying your problem.
Question by seesweeling
Dear Dr. guo
Can I do a colonoscopy 3 months after I have had a spinal fusion surgery? The colonoscopy was scheduled last year and this year I went for a spinal fusion surgery (L4 and L5). Is there a need to reschedule the colonoscopy. Thank you for your advice
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
There is generally no contraindication for undergoing a colonoscopy at three months after a spinal fusion surgery. You may need to be given some prophylactic antibiotics prior to the colonoscopy, especially if you have any implants in place.
Question by scshari
Dear Dr Guo,
Whenever I carried heavy stuffs (eg. my backpack) for a period of time, I tend to experiences aches on my left shoulder areas. Sometimes I also have aches & numbing feeling in my left arm. It's only affecting my left side. Is that an indication of spine/nerves issues? Thanks.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Carrying a heavy bag can both strain the neck and cause stretching of some nerves that go down the arm. You may be having a nerve problem, based on your symptom of numbness in the left arm. At this point it is difficult to tell whether your problem is coming from the neck or peripheral nerves. You should visit your doctor for further evaluation. An MRI scan and a nerve conduction test may help shed light on the problem.
Question by milkmonster
Dr Guo, 1. Yes, I do occasionally experience sharp pain in my left lower back that extends all the way to the back of my leg (behind left knee). But more than often, the pain really intensifies when I'm near my menstrual cycle or menstruating, and am unable to stand/walk for long periods of time. Do you feel it is best to have surgery now, so as to prevent and avoid further complications as I age? 2. My 67yr old mother was recently operated for spine surgery by one of your colleagues at SGH. So is this condition hereditary? I don't wish to be in a similar state when I reach her age, so what are the steps I should be taking/doing now? Thank you so much for your time.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Back pain associated with radiating pain down to the leg may be an indication of a pinched nerve, and if so, is unlikely to be hereditary. Surgery is not always necessary in this case. You should first go to the doctor to be properly evaluated. Xrays and likely an MRI scan will be taken to assess the severity of your condition. A trial of conservative management is usually first in line, meaning physiotherapy, medications and exercise. If no improvement is noted, and your condition should warrant surgery, a Spine Specialist can help further elaborate what next steps should be taken.
Question by aejdr
I do not have persistent backache. However, I sometimes experience very bad backache during my sleep or early in the morning when I wake up. The pain is not persistent but if I stand for extended period, I can feel the backache too.
I just turned 50 yrs old and the other persistent pain is on the right shoulder. Its been ongoing for about a year and I need to stretch and move it about when I wake up in the morning as it become stiff.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
From your description, you may be having some joint degeneration in both your spine and shoulder. Degeneration of the joints a natural process that comes with age. Generally strenuous activities or injuries to the discs can predispose to earlier disc degeneration; however it is generally not something that any of us can avoid completely.
The key to prolonging the onset of degeneration is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which means doing regular exercises especially those that strengthen the abdominal muscles and low back muscles and those that stretch the shoulders, keeping a healthy diet to maintain an appropriate weight and avoiding smoking.
X-rays of both your lower back and shoulder can confirm your problem. Physiotherapy and judicious use of pain killers will help alleviate the pain.
Question by christina
Dear Dr Guo,
For the second time this yr, I experienced lower back pain after some hard sneezes. The pain caused me to be unable to straigthen up for a few days and even after I am able to straighten up, is still feel pain inside my lower back. During these 'episodes', it was more painful when I'm lying down and trying to turn fr side to side. Sometimes while turning, a sharp pain would grab me for a sec.
Pls advise if there's any cause for me to be concerned. Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Sneezing causes increased intra-abdominal pressure, which can in turn increase the pressure on the intervertebral discs. If you have severe pain in the back after sneezing, this could mean that you have a disc injury. An MRI scan and a consultation with a Spine Specialist can further assess your problem and advise you of your options.
Question by estella-chan
My mri report says the following: mild scoliosis, mild spondylolisthesis, mild disc bulging, disc degeneration, tarlov's cysts, etc, etc., most of which I do not know what they mean. The doctor told me generally that I have serious degeneration of the spine. My backbone seens unstable, I walk slowly, cannot stand too long, or walk very far. As years go by, my legs feeling weaker and weaker. But I do not really suffer 'pain' . I am thinking of going for surgery, but shall I?, since I dont feel pain. I am 65 years old. Thank you
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Pain is not the only indication for surgery. Increasing weakness and numbness and especially loss of bowel and bladder control are also indications for surgical intervention. From your symptoms, you may be having Spinal Stenosis (chronic nerve compression) with some instability (spondylolisthesis), which may continue to make your legs feel heavier, especially when standing and walking.
If this is the case, then you may in fact benefit from a surgery called an MIS TLIF (minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion), which is basically a keyhole procedure that frees the nerve which is compressed, and at the same time stabilises the unstable segment of your spine through fusion.
This will require implantation with titanium screws and rods to hold everything in place until bony fusion occurs. A personal visit to a Spine Specialist will allow him to assess your symptoms and physical signs and interpret your MRI, after which he can better advise you on the need for surgery or not.
Question by karen phua
I am a 20 years old male. I experience left shoulder and neck pain with numbness and tingling feeling. My finger also twist involuntary a couple of time. It can occur at anytime of the day for a few seconds. A MRI was done and the finding is mild disc bulge at C3/C5 & C4/C5. The doctor recommended physiotherapy. From the symptom I experience, is it a spine problem or just muscle stain? Can physiotherapy cure my problem?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Generally anything that elicits numbness or a tingling feeling may be classified as a nerve problem. In your case, it needs to be determined whether it is indeed coming from the cervical spine/neck or whether it is a peripheral nerve problem.
A quick trip to your doctor to have a nerve conduction test done can hopefully confirm this. Physiotherapy can be helpful in either case to relieve the pain and increase muscle strength, however it in itself in not a cure, rather it helps the body adapt to the problem.
Question by germaine.chan.lr@gmail.com
Hi Dr Guo,
I have experienced pain in the back especially towards the lower back bone approximately twice in the recent years. There were times where the pain was unbearable that I am unable to move on bed as it would agitate it and in the process I would have to slow down my breathing as any movements would worsen the pain. During days when I am very tired, the pain would come back once I lie on bed. around 7 years ago, I fell down while playing sports but my back wasnt really hurt. Im not sure if its due to that incident that caused my current pain in the back. I still love playing sports so I hope there are ways which you could advise me on my current condition. Thank you!
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
There are several possible causes for back pain. Mechanical back pain, which varies/worsens with posture or activity, accounts for 97% of cases, arising from spinal structures such as muscle, bone, ligaments, discs, and joints. In the absence of progressive neurologic deficits such as numbness and weakness, this may be treated conservatively, with specific emphasis on maintaining activity levels and function.
Regular exercise to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles and avoiding smoking can help you keep a healthy back. You can continue to participate in sports, but you should stop if it causes you pain or do it in moderation. Back pain persisting for more than 4 to 6 weeks may warrant further diagnostic testing and imaging.
Question by jeanwonglc118
I suffer from pain since march 2013 that radiates to my right leg whenever I walk or stand. The maximum time I can walk is about 15 mins and my right leg will feel numb and pain . I have consulted specialist in Sgh but there seems to be no treatment . I am only given painkiller and nerve medication which doesn't seem to help. I have been to TCM acupuncture a number of times and it doesn't help much. Is surgery the only solution to my problem?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Based on your description it is possible that you have pinched nerve. Majority of patients with this problem have found relief after going through physiotherapy in combination with pain killers and nerve medications. However as you do not seem to be improving, other options for you include a steroid injection directly into the painful area of the spine and of course surgery. Surgery basically involves decompressing the pinched nerve via a minimally invasive approach or keyhole surgery. If your pain continues to persist or worsen, it would be advisable for you to see the Spine Specialist.
Question by raidersmkq89
Hello,
Whenever i do situps on the floor (at home or even in the park), I can feel my tailbone rubbing against the floor and causing discomfort during the exercise. Also i seem to need to curl to the sides before going up on the upward movement. The discomfort is indeed alleviated if i use a thick exercise mat, though it is not always available, especially when i'm training out of the house. Is there any cause for concern about my tailbone, that it is slightly too protruding?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
It is not uncommon for some people to be born with larger or longer than normal tail bones (or coccyx). The pain is caused by pressure on the protruding area, and this usually only becomes noticeable or painful after losing a significant amount of weight.
This in itself is not a cause for concern, especially since the pain can be easily controlled externally by using cushions or thick mats. A quick visit to the doctor for an xray can confirm your condition. Meanwhile it is also helpful to do regular exercises which focus on the strengthening/building up the gluteal muscles to increase the protective layer of tissue around the tail bone.
Question by cpen.sit
Had slipped disc from a fall in 1981 and underwent laminectomy at L4 & L5. No problems until 2008. Did MRI - now L3 & L4 affected - nerve impingement. Did not want to do surgery, so doing "holistic" treatments like exercises recommended by physiotherapist and massages. However, pain is still present, so lifestyle is hampered, eg, unable to stand for long periods, cannot walk for long distance (like brisk walking), so lack of exercise.
Any other options for pain mangement? Have read about Apos Therapy. However, it is very expensive. Is this treatment worth the expensive price?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Based on your description of symptoms you may be suffering from Spinal Stenosis, which is basically chronic spinal nerve compression due to degenerative changes in the spine. Several options for pain management are available including physiotherapy, pain killers, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, TCM and the like.
Any one of these may be more or less suited to each individual patient, and generally satisfaction can only be assessed after trying each one. Another option is to have injections performed by the Pain Specialists directly to the painful area of your spine. Bear in mind that all these strategies are mainly for pain control. If the nerve compression is very severe and your symptoms continue to worsen despite all the conservative measures, you may actually benefit more from surgery.
It would good for you to see a Spine Specialist. A repeat MRI scan will likely be done to assess the progression of your condition since 2008, and the specialist can better advise you on your options for treatment.
Question by healthwell
Hi Dr Guo,
I had an X-ray in late 2011 on my lumbar spine and it shows a decrease of L5/S1 disc space associated with anterior osteophytes in keeping with disc degeneration. Advised by doctor to go for physiotherapy to relieve the pain.However, after about 10 sessions in 2012, there is some relieve for a while but the pain still comes back sometimes its hurts so much when benting forward and in the morning after waking up from bed. Is there any remedy to get rid of the pain? Should I go for further physiotherapy? I am in my mid 40s. I sit quite long hours as I am doing accounting work. Appreciate your advice.
Thanks and regards,
Ms Tay
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
The benefit of physiotherapy is that it helps strengthen your muscles around the spine (aka your core muscles) so it can help support your body and lessen stress on your already-degenerated L5S1 joint. If you are able to continue the exercises regularly on your own, then it may not be necessary to continue with the formal physiotherapy sessions.
Other exercises such as swimming or water based exercises are also quite beneficial and are generally a safer form of exercise for someone with low back pain. Avoidance of any prolonged sitting will also lessen your pain – during your office work, you should make it a habit to stand and stretch every few hours to alleviate the load on your spine.
It may benefit you to visit a Spine Specialist, where dynamic xrays can be taken to assess if your spine has any instability which may be contributing to yor pain. An MRI scan may also be helpful in further elucidating your condition.
Question by tan588
Hi Doc,
Sometimes, I have a sudden sharp pain at the beside of the spine. It lasted for a few minutes. My job required me to carry heavy items. So is it the carry of heavy items that caused the sharp pain or somethings else?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Most back pain that occurs after strenuous activities or heavy lifting are due to muscle strains, and these usually get better after some rest and over-the-counter pain-killers. Physiotherapy and chiropractic manipulation can also help alleviate the pain. If the pain does not resolve after a period of rest, becomes persistent or worsening, or becomes associated with shooting pain going down your leg, you should see a doctor for further evaluation.
Question by thereseong1
Hi,
I have history of scoliosis and I have experienced lower back pain on and off after prolonged sitting or lying down. I have noticed sharp pain of short duration radiating from the centre of my lower back to the right side of my pelvis in the recent months. Is this an indication that my scoliosis has worsened or other spinal conditions that I should be worried of? What treatment measures do I need to consider for my condition? Thanks!
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Scoliosis itself has not been proven to directly increase back pain, especially with the more minor (less than 30 degrees) curves. However due to the chronic abnormal positioning and mechanics of the vertebrae, it may lead to earlier wearing out or degeneration of the joints, which it turn may cause back pain.
Most of the time this responds well to conservative treatment, consisting of physiotherapy and pain killers. Regular exercises that strengthen your back and abdominal muscles (or core muscles) are also helpful. It would also be good to go for a scoliosis film / whole spine xray to determine if your curve has worsened. If your back pain persists or worsens, you should see a spine specialist for further investigation.
Question by evelyn
Dear Dr Guo,
2 yrs back I was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, worst at C4/5. I have been doing regular stretching exercise of my neck and thought it has reduce the pain tremendously. But lately, my right arm start twitching intermittenly and also both my hands start tremoring. The tremors happened whenever I am resting my hands on a surface. What is the caused? Should I be worrying about it?
Answered by Dr. Guo Chang Ming, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Cervical spondylosis is basically a condition where the joints of your neck are starting to wear out or degenerate. Generally this may bring about symptoms of neck pain and stiffness, and in the event that nerve compression occurs, numbness and pain going down one or both arms. This is usually brought well into control by conservative management which includes regular exercise and stretching along with pain killers as needed.
Tremors or muscle twitching on the other hand may have a variety of causes, including fatigue, emotional stress, certain neurological conditions, and some medications.
If your symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor. Further investigations such as MRI scans and nerve conduction tests may help further clarify the condition.
Ref: S13
