Question
I had a clevical laminectomy C5-C6 on the Sept.24 and was wondering if the numbnes in my left arm and and muscle titness in my upper back and neck around the scar are normal.What can I do to releave theses symtoms that I have had after my surgury.It has been 5 weeks.

Answer
James,

Those symptoms are typical of nerve impingement.

A laminectomy doesn't take care of the common cause of nerve impingement:  muscular contractions.  Numbness in the arm indicates entrapment of the nerve plexus called the brachial plexus, which exits the neck near the collar bone.

Muscular contractions lead to the degeneration that often makes laminectomy seem necessary.

A course of training in muscular control (not stretching or traction) to relieve those neck and upper back contractions is indicated.

You may read my article on whiplash injuries (and others) to get a more complete understanding of what I say here.  See somatics.com/page4b.htm.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold