I have a cervical vertebra 6 (C6) fracture and an incidental lumbar disc protrusion at L4‑L5; now I’m experiencing mild foot numbness—should I contact my doctor right away?

Immediate Medical Evaluation Required for Foot Numbness with C6 Fracture

Yes, you should contact your doctor immediately—new or worsening neurological symptoms like foot numbness in the context of a known cervical spine fracture represent a potential medical emergency that requires urgent evaluation. 1

Why This Is Urgent

Your situation involves two critical red flags that demand immediate attention:

Cervical Spine Fracture with New Neurological Symptoms

• New numbness in your feet with a known C6 fracture indicates possible spinal cord involvement, which can progress rapidly and lead to permanent neurological damage if not addressed promptly. 1, 2

• The American College of Radiology identifies numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the extremities as key indicators of spinal cord injury requiring immediate evaluation. 1

• Foot numbness with a cervical injury suggests the spinal cord itself may be compressed or injured, not just a nerve root—this is far more serious than isolated radicular symptoms. 2

• Up to 50% of cervical spine fractures can be associated with spinal cord injuries, and symptoms can evolve or worsen even after the initial injury. 3

The Danger of Delayed Recognition

• Normal CT scans do not exclude significant spinal cord injury—purely ligamentous injuries and cord contusions are invisible on CT, and over 13% of post-traumatic epidural hematomas have normal CT scans. 2

• Recent evidence from 2025 suggests that in patients with spinal cord injury without fracture displacement (SCIwoFD), early surgical intervention may not always be necessary and could potentially be harmful in select cases. However, this applies to stable patients without progressive symptoms—new or worsening neurological deficits change the entire clinical picture. 4

• Delayed diagnosis of cervical spine injuries results in increased morbidity and mortality, and physiotherapy or movement should never be initiated without proper clearance. 5

What You Need Immediately

Urgent Imaging

• MRI of the entire spine is essential—it is the only modality that directly visualizes spinal cord injury, ligamentous disruption, and epidural hematoma. 2

• 20% of spine trauma patients have noncontiguous injuries at multiple levels, so imaging should include both your known C6 fracture and the lumbar region where your L4-L5 disc protrusion exists. 2

• Your L4-L5 disc protrusion could theoretically cause foot numbness, but in the context of a cervical fracture, you must rule out cervical cord involvement first as this carries far greater risk. 4, 6

Critical Assessment Points

• Evaluate for cauda equina syndrome: The most frequent finding is urinary retention (90% sensitivity), but early symptoms include numbness in the feet, saddle anesthesia, and progressive weakness. 4

• Check for progressive motor deficits: Any weakness in your legs, difficulty walking, or loss of coordination requires emergency evaluation. 1

• Assess for bilateral symptoms: Foot numbness affecting both feet suggests central cord or cauda equina pathology rather than a single nerve root from the L4-L5 disc. 4

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not assume the L4-L5 disc is the cause without ruling out cervical cord involvement—this could be a catastrophic error given your C6 fracture. 2

• Do not wait to see if symptoms improve—with known cervical spine injury, any new neurological symptoms warrant immediate evaluation. 4, 1

• Do not continue normal activities or physical therapy until you have been properly evaluated with MRI and cleared by a spine specialist. 5

• Plain X-rays miss up to 77% of cervical spine abnormalities, so if you've only had X-rays, this is insufficient. 2

Immediate Action Steps

1. Contact your doctor today or go to the emergency department if you cannot reach your physician immediately. 1

2. Remain as still as possible and avoid activities that could worsen a potential spinal cord injury. 1

3. Request urgent MRI of the entire spine (cervical through lumbar) to evaluate both your C6 fracture and the relationship between your symptoms and the L4-L5 disc. 2

4. Document any progression: Note if the numbness is worsening, spreading, or if you develop any weakness, bowel/bladder changes, or difficulty walking. 4

The combination of a known cervical fracture with new lower extremity neurological symptoms creates a high-risk scenario that cannot be managed conservatively without urgent imaging and specialist evaluation. 1, 2