Question
I was reaching across a pt at work 12 weeks ago and felt immediate pain, burning and tingling in my rt forearm.  Was treated as tendonitis for many weeks.  Arm pain and numbness decreased after 5 weeks, then neck, scapula and left finger numbness started. Been having manual traction at physio with no relief.  Last night the base of my skull on the left also went numb.  Today neck and left scapula is paining and last 3 fingers on lt hand are tingling.  Please help, about to loose my mind with pain.

Answer
Dear Elizabeth,

Any time that symptoms are extending into the arms and hands, radiating from the neck region, it sounds like a possible Cervicobrachial syndrome... or nerve symptoms in the arm/hand related to injury in the neck.

Possible causes of nerve symptoms related to neck problems are:

1) Cervical spine disc bulging
2) Cervical spine stenosis
3) Cervical spine Facet joint arthritis
4) Cervical spine lushka joint arthritis
5) cervical rib syndrome
6) Cervical spine disc degeneration
7) A combination of any of the above.

The point that I am getting at is that you very likely will find your answer as to the cause of your troubles in a cervical spine MRI study.  

What you need to do is to seek care with a quality chiropractor or a pain specialist MD, or a neurologist.  These doctors would perform the needed evaluations to determine the cause of your symptoms.  Only after the cause or diagnosis is determined can you expect to find a treatment plan that can provide symptomatic relief.

I hope that this gives you some ideas.  Good luck in your search for an answer.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com