Know How Our ICliniq Doctor Helped a Patient With Pins and Needles Sensation in the Upper Body

A patient reported to our iCliniq doctor and said that he felt a pins and needles sensation in his palm and feet. He also expressed that he felt a stinging pain in his upper body when he performed physical activity. The patient further informed our doctor that he had undergone an X-ray and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. He then told that the radiographic report of the thoracic spine mentioned features suggestive of ankylosing spondylitis, such as ossification of the interspinous ligament and reactive sclerosis in the thoracic spine, although the MRI scan reports did not show such features. He further mentioned that he takes medication for nerve pain and added that he had a blood test report that was normal except for an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Our iCliniq doctor carefully assessed the condition and analyzed the reports. He understood the patient’s concerns about the dissimilar reports and explained to the patient that MRI was the gold standard for spine imaging and that it did not show ankylosing spondylitis. He further added that the radiology reports showed ligamentous ossification and reactive sclerosis, which could be suggestive of degenerative spondylosis or reactive changes. He assured the patient that ankylosing spondylitis could only be an alternative possibility. Our doctor recommended that the patient see a neurologist for the stabbing pain and a physical therapist for appropriate treatment for the disk protrusion as mentioned in the MRI report. He further consoled the patient and made sure he was clear about the condition.

The patient expressed that he was satisfied with iCliniq doctor's suggestions. He mentioned that our doctor gave understandable explanations of the observations from his X-ray and MRI scans, which helped him clear his questions regarding his condition. He further thanked our doctor for explaining everything in detail.