Question
6 weeks ago I had an accident mountain bilking and broke the c7 vertebra as well as suffering compression fractures to 2 vertebra lower down the spine.
Immediate symptoms were numbness and tingling in left thumb and fore finger as well as pain across left upper side of back. A few days later the severe pain was in my left tricep and left fore arm. The left tricep seemed to vanish overnight and now 6 weeks later it hardly activates at all and tricep isolating strength tests have it at about 35 % of my right arm. Functions in the hand and arm appear ok but the tingling in the thumb and fore finger remain. Do you have a view on long term prospects/ shorter term advice on seeking more clarity on the root cause of the issue as my consultant has said it should recover over time. I would like to kow if there is a way of establishing whether  or not any long term damage has been caused.
Thanks, Peter

Answer
Dear Peter,

I wish that I had a good answer for you, but the prognosis is dependent upon the type of fractures.  You should have a consultation/evaluation with a neurosurgeon to verify that the spine is stable after such an injury.  Your prognosis is best evaluated by such a specialist. Cervical spine fractures can be very serious... and can also have a very good prognosis.  If your spinal fractures are neurologically and structurally stable, you need to give yourself months to recover. Arm pain and tingling sensations are neurological signs of irritation or compression.  If the compression/irritation of nerve tissue is not severe, the muscle tone should return with time.

I am sorry for your injury. I hope that it is stable and that you are able to recover fully. Listen to your specialists.

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