Medical Question

[UGA12]

Accupuncture or accupressure ! :0074

Check some natural remedy sites online

Not saying I am above this, but that would be down my list.

UGA - I would strongly consider seeing a chiropracter. They certainly aren't the answer to everything (some people swear by them, some hate them). I am a fan for CERTAIN conditions.

I've had the radiating pain down the arm multiple times. Normally caused by a nerve in the neck - and your self diagnosis of a "catch" in your neck makes total sense.

He/She would xray your neck to ensure there are not any structural issues, and if none, likely give you an adjustment - which in many cases, will increase the blood flow, lessen or eliminate pain and numbness.

Just an option for you - I do understand that many folks are uncomfortable with Chiro's. But that is where I'd go first.

Have already had an xray of neck, but much like the accupuncture it would be further down the list.

UGA12:

I had similar symptoms, as you have described. No neck problems, but severe pain and some numbness.

To make it short, I had many tests and was frustrated with no one identifing the problem. I finally got in to see the best shoulder guy in the world, who fortunately also practices here. He does seminars and surgeries in several countries - I got lucky in getting the referral. The best they could come up with before surgery: bursitis, scare tissue, and a clavicle bone that was irritating some tendon, requiring the bone to be shaved down.

When they got in there during surgery, they found a severe rotator cuff tear - something I always suspected and supported by my symptoms. It was never detected in any test I had, including MRI's.

The surgery was 18 months ago. The pain has been eliminated by about 85% (slow going rehab) and is still improving. I'm on course for a person my age as I probably have 6-12 months to go.

Bottom line, I really, really feel your frustration and there is help out there. Be persistent, as it took me a few years to find the help I needed. Good luck!

Did you have an Arthrogram? When I had mine they told me the dye they injected would show a blowout of the rotator cuff. In adition to all the things they told me they saw on the MRI they said I had a bone spur. Your experience sounds much like mine:facepalm:

get checked out by neuro, that should be your number one priority right now

I assume at this point this means just bypass the orthopedic and schedule an appointment with a Neuro? Any idea what else they would do besides an MRI of neck?

 

[SixFive]

Going to post this on the off chance that anyone has ever experienced anything similar and might be able to shed some light.

Long story short I have had three operations on my shoulder with the last coming in 01. About three months ago I began experiencing intense pain in the back of my shoulder, and shortly after, my arm began to become numb and had the sensation of being asleep when my arm was put in certain positions. After 7 years on one side of the bed, I had to switch sides with the wife because of the pain. I went to Dr. and described what was going on. Given my shoulder history I was certain I had a torn rotator cuff, but didn?t know what was going on with the numbness. I told him I didn?t care about the numbness as the intense pain was priority #1. An mri revealed bursitis, arthritis, a lesion, and a couple of other things that I didn?t understand, but in the end he couldn?t explain the sharp pain. He put me on muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory and eventually on a follow-up gave me a cortisone shot. The shot helped with the sharp pain but he couldn?t tell me what it could be.

That brings us to the numbness. I was sent for an EMG(nerve test) and the attending dr said there was nothing abnormal. I told him that it felt like something was going on in my neck and that when I moved it a certain way, I could feel something twinging in my bicep. He basically said that an MRI would have to now be taken of my neck and according to the results that it might be something that can be fixed with physical therapy(very hard for me to believe).

My questions are 1) has anyone dealt with acute shoulder pain that was caused by something that an MRI wouldn?t pick up? and 2) Have any of you dealt with your entire arm going numb/to sleep from the shoulder down? It really feels more like the circulation is being cut off. Anytime the ball in the socket is pushed up it immediately occurs (push-up position for instance).

I know I rambled, but it has reached the point that I am willing to come to a bunch degenerates (term of endearment) for medical advice, so I hope you see I am getting desperate.

TIA

I'll post what I know before I read any responses, so sorry if a repeat.

When I had a ruptured disc in my neck, my neck was only stiff. My intense pain was in my shoulder, and I had numbness and tingling in my arm all the way to my fingers. When it first started hurting so bad, I just knew that I had torn a rotator cuff. It was my neck, and no problem with the shoulder; that's just where my pain was referred to.

The negative EMG means that you don't have carpal tunnel syndrome or some other associated nerve damage localized to your hands or forearms. I bet it hurt like a sob, didn't it? They suck!

Physical therapy can be very effective for neck problems and is far more successful than physical therapy on lower backs. I'm also very high on going to the chiropractor.

Your symptoms sound like a herniated/ruptured disc in your neck.

This is a dermatome chart. Look at the colors and where you have your associated numbness, tingling, and pain. I knew exactly where my problem was before I had my MRI by looking at one of these.

Hope you don't have this problem. Keep us informed.

 

[SixFive]

get checked out by neuro, that should be your number one priority right now

I assume at this point this means just bypass the orthopedic and schedule an appointment with a Neuro? Any idea what else they would do besides an MRI of neck?

yes, on the neurosurgeon and yes on bypassing the ortho if this is your neck. Don't let some bone mason work on your neck. Leave that to the professionals (neurosurgeon) :0008

 

[UGA12]

I'll post what I know before I read any responses, so sorry if a repeat.

When I had a ruptured disc in my neck, my neck was only stiff. My intense pain was in my shoulder, and I had numbness and tingling in my arm all the way to my fingers. When it first started hurting so bad, I just knew that I had torn a rotator cuff. It was my neck, and no problem with the shoulder; that's just where my pain was referred to.

The negative EMG means that you don't have carpal tunnel syndrome or some other associated nerve damage localized to your hands or forearms. I bet it hurt like a sob, didn't it? They suck!

Physical therapy can be very effective for neck problems and is far more successful than physical therapy on lower backs. I'm also very high on going to the chiropractor.

Your symptoms sound like a herniated/ruptured disc in your neck.

This is a dermatome chart. Look at the colors and where you have your associated numbness, tingling, and pain. I knew exactly where my problem was before I had my MRI by looking at one of these.

Hope you don't have this problem. Keep us informed.

No Doubt it is C5-6

The bold part above is the exact symtoms and self diagnosis I made. If you dont mind me asking, how did youhurt it? I really do not remember doing anything that would have hurt it.

What is the treatment for ruptured or herniated disc?

yes, on the neurosurgeon and yes on bypassing the ortho if this is your neck. Don't let some bone mason work on your neck. Leave that to the professionals (neurosurgeon) :0008

Gotcha. I will begin looking tonight.Thanks for the information and that chart. It shows exactly where my problem is.

 

[SixFive]

I don't know I hurt mine, but I think it was associated with playing the WII :facepalm:

 

[UGA12]

I don't know I hurt mine, but I think it was associated with playing the WII :facepalm:

So it can happen without an injury. How did you overcome yours(how did you treat it)? How is it doing now? And yes, the EMG was not pleasent. The shockes we managable, but the needles into the muscles was pretty uncomfortable!

 

[SixFive]

So it can happen without an injury. How did you overcome yours(how did you treat it)? How is it doing now? And yes, the EMG was not pleasent. The shockes we managable, but the needles into the muscles was pretty uncomfortable!

I had surgery (discectomy). That took care of the arm numbness and most of the pain. I also had PT b4 surgery, but n my case, it did not help.

I now get adjusted at the chiropractor every 2 weeks. I feel great most of the time now, so u definitely can overcome. I fortunately did not hafta have a fusion, so that makes recovery better.

 

[kcwolf]

UGA, I had no labrum issues, and yes, it sounds similiar to what you have, or would not have bothered posting. My point, maybe over looked, is I finally had an expert of review my diagnois and still failed to find the tear. It had nothing to do with "bragging" about a certain doctor, more about the failure and difficulty in finding the problem.

All I want to stress, is stay vigilant and persistant. It took me way to long, but probably ready to play golf next year and feel ready to start a new business. That is a lot of progress for me, who felt a "basement" life of recluse was the best I could look forward to. Life is good as long as you don't weaken!

I'll gladly refer my doctor and/or tests if you want. Just like helping my friends at the best gambling site.

:toast:

I don't check GF very often, stay in touch.

 

[UGA12]

I had surgery (discectomy). That took care of the arm numbness and most of the pain. I also had PT b4 surgery, but n my case, it did not help.

I now get adjusted at the chiropractor every 2 weeks. I feel great most of the time now, so u definitely can overcome. I fortunately did not hafta have a fusion, so that makes recovery better.

Thanks, that makes me feel a little better if worse come to worse and an operation is needed. What kind of PT could be done for this. I just have a hard time seeing PT correcting what this has become, but I will try anything at this point.

UGA, I had no labrum issues, and yes, it sounds similiar to what you have, or would not have bothered posting. My point, maybe over looked, is I finally had an expert of review my diagnois and still failed to find the tear. It had nothing to do with "bragging" about a certain doctor, more about the failure and difficulty in finding the problem.

All I want to stress, is stay vigilant and persistant. It took me way to long, but probably ready to play golf next year and feel ready to start a new business. That is a lot of progress for me, who felt a "basement" life of recluse was the best I could look forward to. Life is good as long as you don't weaken!

I'll gladly refer my doctor and/or tests if you want. Just like helping my friends at the best gambling site.

:toast:

I don't check GF very often, stay in touch.

Think you confussed me with mags as he was aking about the labrum. Regardless, thanks for the advice, and if for some reason it is not a heniated disk then I would like to talk to you more about your tests and things. With everything posted above though, everything points to c5-6 herniatd disk. Thanks again for the information, and its great to hear that you found your answer:toast:

 

[SixFive]

PT's really help some people with neck injuries. They can do massage, modalities, joint mobs, stretching, and exercises, and maybe more.

 

[kcwolf]

PT's really help some people with neck injuries. They can do massage, modalities, joint mobs, stretching, and exercises, and maybe more.

Agree big time, there are more things they can do than time or space to name them.