Hi all! I am glad I found this site, it is so good to know I can come here and folks will understand what is going on with me. When I mention CuTS to others, like family, friends, etc., they look at me like I just flew in from outer space. I have always had a fear of telling my doctors everything, as in where I hurt and such, for fear of being shot down as a complainer. And I have tolerated the pain fairly well over the years. But now I am 40, and I know if I want to be able to use my hands, that I am going to have to become more assertive. Not aggressive, at least not yet. I just saw a new neuro today, referred by my MD after some dizziness and headaches last week. When I spoke of the pain in my arms, she checked a few things and scheduled me for a EMG in a couple of weeks. I couldn't even tell her I had been already diagnosed a few years ago. I feel like that if I go into her office with all these areas of difficulty, that she won't believe a bit of my symptoms because there are so many. Make sense? I certainly don't want to come off sounding like I am telling her how to treat me. And the sad thing is that I know she needs to hear these things, she can't read my mind. I see her again in two weeks. I really like her, hope she and I can get to work on treating this. My arms, especially my right, hurt so much it wakes me up in the night with such pain that I cry.

Hey topcat! Welcome!

Don't be afraid to tell the doc about your symptoms! I dealt with wrist pain off and on for 8 years and I too felt like people just blew it off as nothing big. But over time, CuTS can have permanent effects. When my elbow suddenly started hurting and it didn't go away, I finally went in to the doc and I'm glad I did. If you are afraid you won't tell the doc everything, write it all down and then show her. That way you won't miss anything. Your health is important. I completely understand you feeling like it's not important and that you don't want to bother her with something that you think might not be worth mentioning but you should. You can do it!

Thanks, I do like the idea of writing it out. I know seeing it on paper won't seem near as overwhelming as just bringing it up on my own. And it is a great starting place, so she can ask me questions, and I can go from there. I go back in two weeks.

topcatdancer wrote:
Thanks, I do like the idea of writing it out. I know seeing it on paper won't seem near as overwhelming as just bringing it up on my own. And it is a great starting place, so she can ask me questions, and I can go from there. I go back in two weeks.

Topcatdancer, Welcome!!! Another reason to tell your doctor "all" is that FINALLY Cubital Tunnel is being more recognized in the medical sector than it was even a couple of years ago! Even local news stations are starting to tell stories of it. Unfortunately they use titles such as "cell phone elbow", waiters elbow" etc., but when they interview a doctor to discus, the doctor at least does call it Cubital Tunnel!

Additional of course (and like you said, she can't read your mind) if you don't disclose everything to her, she might "under-diagnose" your problems. Remember, they are there to help fix us! Good luck with it, and again welcome to the site.

Brenda

Topcatdancer,

As a healthcare worker (I'm a respiratory therapist) I'm going to recommend that you tell your doctor ALL your symptoms. Docs come up with your care plan based on what YOU tell them. They can't be expected to be mindreaders. You should not feel like you're complaining when you tell your doc what's going on. If the doc doesn't know what's bothering you, he may put you through uneccessary tests which is going to waste your time and money and may prolong getting a definitive diagnosis.

KBTO416's idea that you write your symptoms down is a great one. I do that myself mainly so I don't get sidetracked and forget to tell the doc something. Remember YOU are a part of your healthcare team (the most important part, really). Ask questions. Be vocal. If you have questions after your appointment call the office. A good physician is going to listen and take your feelings into consideration when he's coming up with a care plan for you.

Good luck!