further tests

following the mri scan couple of weeks ago, i finally got to see the specialist today. what the specialist told me was very much similar to what kl told me last week, and more. the mri scan was ordered given my increasing complains about my stiff neck as well as the tingling sensation and numbness at my last fingers on both hands. the specialist made me do some simple moves (such as pressing my last fingers against one another, using my thumbs to hold a piece of paper, etc)... and i was told that the multiple spurs do not seemed to be sufficiently serious to warrant surgery yet. however, what caught me by surprise was her explanation to me that although the spurs on my cervical bones are not that serious yet, there are also signs that my elbows are also impinging my nerves on both arms.

this had aggravated the spur problem and worsened the numbness on my fingers. so, for the meantime, to manage my cervical bones, it's more intensive physio, traction, medication (to lower the inflammation and muscle relaxants. and as for my elbow, i was referred to the rehabilitation center to get 2 casts made. the casts are meant to prevent my elbows from bending when i sleep and i will have to wear these casts before retiring to bed nightly. and thru the day, i had also been advised to minimise bending my elbows and that means minimise using keyboards, minimise putting my hands on the table... la la la... in addition, further tests have been ordered two months time to determine the extend to which my nerves have been affected and whether the neck or the elbow were the main cause of the pain/ numbness.

hmmm, my coming nights will be interesting. sleeping with straightened arms, much similar to robots...

heh heh...

ps: jokes aside, the specialist also said something quite worrying - that i should do my utmost to avoid sudden jerk to my neck cos she noted that i have a case of thick tissues in my spinal canal and this had made my spinal canal rather small. together with the spurs and the tightness, it is rather easy for my neck to snap when i experience a sudden jerk... and when such a thing happen, i will become paralyze neck down...