char2mar
Well-known member
Hi:
I just found out that I have a congenital defect in my neck. Aparently it is related to the BAV. I asked my Doctor to order a series of xrays of my spine and neck because I wanted to rule out that the pain I have in my chest is heart/valve related and nothing else. When I saw my Doctor yesterday she informed my that I have spina bifida in my c3 and c4 region of my neck. Basically there is an opening in the spinal bones in that area. They did not totally close. Consequently I have bone spurs growing in that area, which can cause pain in the shoulder and radiating numbness going down the arm and into the hand. Which may expain the numbness I get in my hands especially while I type or while I am slightly bent over taking blood while at work. She said that when my heart and spine was forming something happened on that particular day and thus the defects. She also said that it is quite common for congenital heart patients to have something wrong with the spine as both those areas develop at the same time. Has anyone else out there have problems with their spine??? Just wondering? I find it totally amazing that none of these defects have been detected in me before. Up until age 40 I felt great and was totally oblivious to any medical problems whats so ever. Being 40 something sucks!
Char
I just found out that I have a congenital defect in my neck. Aparently it is related to the BAV. I asked my Doctor to order a series of xrays of my spine and neck because I wanted to rule out that the pain I have in my chest is heart/valve related and nothing else. When I saw my Doctor yesterday she informed my that I have spina bifida in my c3 and c4 region of my neck. Basically there is an opening in the spinal bones in that area. They did not totally close. Consequently I have bone spurs growing in that area, which can cause pain in the shoulder and radiating numbness going down the arm and into the hand. Which may expain the numbness I get in my hands especially while I type or while I am slightly bent over taking blood while at work. She said that when my heart and spine was forming something happened on that particular day and thus the defects. She also said that it is quite common for congenital heart patients to have something wrong with the spine as both those areas develop at the same time. Has anyone else out there have problems with their spine??? Just wondering? I find it totally amazing that none of these defects have been detected in me before. Up until age 40 I felt great and was totally oblivious to any medical problems whats so ever. Being 40 something sucks!
Char