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New here, and need info 1 Year, 11 Months ago
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Hello, glad I found this site and hope to get some info from some of you.
I started out with minor elbow pain and thought it was just tennis elbow or something. The pain started getting worse nad then I noticed my small fingers on my left hand would tingle and go numb occasionally. Had a substatianal increase in the numbness, and now have the tingling every 2-5 minutes. I have also devolped pain in my upper shoulder blade area, and can trigger the tingling and numbness just by tilting my head to the left.
I have a nerve test scheduled for this Wednesday, and not too sure what to expect after that. Any input or suggestions would be great.
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Re:New here, and need info 1 Year, 11 Months ago
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Hello Fasttraxx, and Welcome to the Site!!!
Lets wait to see what the nerve conduction study shows. Pinkie, ring, elbow, shoulder and shoulder blades, you *might* be looking at issues at the C7/T1 level (the very bottom of your neck, and very top of your Thoracic region.
It sounds on the surface that you might have a disk issue that is irritating (or maybe starting to crowd your left exit nerve root in the foramen (radiculopathy). Lets see how that study goes. See my signature below, I am very familiar with what you are describing, but don't want to speculate till the test is done. Have you or are you going to have an MRI for your neck? Chat soon..  Again, welcome to the site!!!
Brenda
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Mar 08 ACDF with Instrumentation C5/6
April 08 Subcutaneous Ulnar Transposition, Guyon's Release and claw fingers release
Aug 09 ACDF with Instrumentations C6/7
Oct 09 (new) Degenerative disk disease with Osteophytes C7/T1 Degenerative disk disease C2/3, disk bulge, Osteophytes
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Re:New here, and need info 1 Year, 11 Months ago
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I have had a past MRI of my neck, but to be certain I can't remember if it showed any issues within that area. Possibly a herniation of a disk, but I'm sure the Dr. tomorrow would know.
If there are issues with the disk putting pressure on the nerve, what are the general corrective guideline that go along with this? Is surgery the only option?
BTW - thanks for the welcome.
-Chad  |
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Re:New here, and need info 1 Year, 11 Months ago
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Howdy Chad...
Lets see what your doctors says tomorrow, then we can go from there.
If it is your neck that is the cause, depending what the issue(s) are with it, most doctors start with conservative treatments first. Massage, epidural injections (steroids), flexation exercises, physical therapy, "time" (if a herniation) to see if it dries up and shrinks back into the disk.
Surgery is always an option Chad, but most times the "final option" really. My first hernia (C5/6) they didn't do to many things on the conservative side since the disk was on my spinal cord. From first appointment with the Neurosugeon to surgery was about 2 months. For my C6/7 due to increasing rapid onset weakness 5 weeks. If you have a disk issue based on your post, it is "happening slowly", so they would probably go with many conservative options first.
I guess for now I will hope for the best on tomorrow's appointment. Please let us know what he says. Fingers crossed for ya!!
Brenda
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Mar 08 ACDF with Instrumentation C5/6
April 08 Subcutaneous Ulnar Transposition, Guyon's Release and claw fingers release
Aug 09 ACDF with Instrumentations C6/7
Oct 09 (new) Degenerative disk disease with Osteophytes C7/T1 Degenerative disk disease C2/3, disk bulge, Osteophytes
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Re:New here, and need info 1 Year, 11 Months ago
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Okay, well the testing was a bit interesting, kind of like getting a extreme tattoo when the needles were placed in the muscle, and now I know how my dog feels when I zap her with a shock collar.
It was however determined that i have two areas that are pinched or damaged. One was the elbow area of course, and the other was the wrist/palm area, she called it something like a guyun channel? Not too sure on this one though. Also, she said i may need a new MRI to determime if a herniation is pushing on a nerve area. Which could be why when I turn my head to the left, it triggers the pain.
Anywho, I see the ortho Doc in the morning to determine which surgery would be best. Any help from this group would be great to present a best surgery option, that will allow me to heal quickly, but i do not want a repeat surgery over and over again. If I need the the one that immobilizes me for a few weeks, then i rather have that than going back time and time again.
Thanks for the feedback.
-Chad
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Re:New here, and need info 1 Year, 11 Months ago
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fasttraxx wrote:
Okay, well the testing was a bit interesting, kind of like getting a extreme tattoo when the needles were placed in the muscle, and now I know how my dog feels when I zap her with a shock collar.
It was however determined that i have two areas that are pinched or damaged. One was the elbow area of course, and the other was the wrist/palm area, she called it something like a guyun channel? Not too sure on this one though. Also, she said i may need a new MRI to determime if a herniation is pushing on a nerve area. Which could be why when I turn my head to the left, it triggers the pain.
Anywho, I see the ortho Doc in the morning to determine which surgery would be best. Any help from this group would be great to present a best surgery option, that will allow me to heal quickly, but i do not want a repeat surgery over and over again. If I need the the one that immobilizes me for a few weeks, then i rather have that than going back time and time again.
Thanks for the feedback.
-Chad
Howdy Chad,
I had the Subcutaneous Transposition of the elbow and Guyon's release in the same operative time slot. 3 weeks prior to that is when I had my C5/6 hernia and bone spurs (Osteophytes) removed and then fused at that level. For me the neck was a 100% in so far as the surgery and expected recovery, and the elbow with the Guyon's, hummmm... I would say 80-90% recovery with those releases. Hope that helps.
Brenda
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Mar 08 ACDF with Instrumentation C5/6
April 08 Subcutaneous Ulnar Transposition, Guyon's Release and claw fingers release
Aug 09 ACDF with Instrumentations C6/7
Oct 09 (new) Degenerative disk disease with Osteophytes C7/T1 Degenerative disk disease C2/3, disk bulge, Osteophytes
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