Could neck pain, stiffness, hand numbness indicate syrinx?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having significant neck pain that goes out into my shoulders a bit. Pain is accompanied by severe stiffness. Also, my hands have been falling asleep about seven or eight times a week (roughly) and even ache a bit. I thought I might be dealing with a pinched nerve, but all my symptoms are fairly bilaterally equal. This last week I was put through an MRI for a lipoma in my left shoulder and neck area and they found that I also had a lower cervical syrinx at C6 about 3 mm. Could this be causing the pain and numbness that I have been dealing with? Or is the syrinx something that should be removed? I am awaiting an appointment with a neurosurgeon but I thought I would reach out in the meantime. I appreciate any information that you give me.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It may very well be the syrinx. A syrinx can cause pain and temperature sensory deficits to occur early but may not be recognized for years. Syringomyelia typically causes numbness, weakness, atrophy, and often fasciculation, and reduced reflexes of the hands and arms. The pain and/or numbness is felt as a sensation in a cakelike distribution over the shoulders, arms, and back. It may be decompressed surgically a bit for that you would need an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the C-spine to look for a more detailed anatomy.

I hope this helps.