Hi, my thread was meant to be in 'causes' but somehow I could not seem to find that option.

However, three years ago I was rear ended at approx 30mph. Since then I have had extreme symptoms including literally thousands of neck spasms lasting for 45mins average. The pain has been horrendous to bear.

I have been to London to see a private Movement Neurologist as it was suggested that I could possibly have dystonia. That has now been ruled out.

However, another symptom I have is that my neck locks in a backwards positon if I hold it back as if looking up at the sky (one reason why dystonia was mentioned as a possiblity)

I have now developed Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and have had NCV and EMG which shown up that I have ulnar nerve problems at the elbow. I also have the numbness in my little and ring fingers of my left hand that go along with the symptoms. I also have a fair amount of pain in the underside of my elbow.

When I asked the Surgeon whom I was referred to (NHS) I told him that I was also beginning to have problems with my other two fingers and thumb of my left hand and also my thumb. Also, I have intermittent problems with my wrist, thumb and forefinger of my right hand. I asked him if these could all be connected to the whiplash injury three years ago. He was a very unapproachable doc and he just said "I've only been asked to treat your ulnar nerve in the left hand and that will require me to put an incision in your elbow and perform the operation as the EMG shows that this is where the problem is". I again asked if any of this could be caused by the Whiplash accident and he simply said "this could all be concommtiant of your neck". Then he dismissed me to have a pre op for the surgery which is to be carried out in 6-8 weeks time.

I am astounded by this Doctors' lack of communication and bedside manner. I have had consultations with three different Professors' in London at the NHNN and they came accross as very humble (one of them whom I saw to rule out Dystonia, is reputed to be the best in the world in his field) yet this 'doc' was so so unhelpful. He made me feel as though I was just a piece of meat from an abbatoir.

I am rather confused that this doc told me that all of my symptoms can be concommitant with my neck injury, but was not going to discuss it with me because the only thing that I was at the Hospital for was for him to look at my left hand (some muscle wastage) and to decide upon treatment.

I live in Liverpool and would like to know anyone knows of a hand specialist whom will talk properly to me (I will go and see them privately) as I don't want to have surgery just for the sake of it, nor do I wish to be simply kicked out of Hospital at the end of my op by a Doc whom knows of other problems that can have been as a result of my whiplash accident, but simply keeps his mouth shut just because "he wasn't asked to report on it".

I don't feel comfortable with this doc and I am not going to tell my own doc whom has helped me so much during the last three years of my experience with this hand specialist.
(The referral to the hand specialist, came via a Neurologist at Liverpool)

Apologies for the long post, but I did not want to leave any unanswered questions. (which I will have done somewhere)

Regards

Linsky

Hi Linsky, welcome to the site. I don't live in the U.K., so I cannot offer advice on the best way to navigate your health care system. However, one universal truth across all countries is that we are each responsible for our own health care. We are just one of hundreds of patients a doctor sees each week, just another head of cattle, but of course we are very important to our own selves. So if a doctor is not listening to you or treating you properly, you need to bring it to his/her attention or find another doctor.

The ulnar nerve starts at the spine in the neck, travels across your shoulder, down your arm, around your elbow and into your hand. Although most people experience ulnar problems at the elbow (a real trouble spot) compression can occur anywhere along the nerve path. I am a living example of this, as I occasionally have ulnar nerve problems in my shoulder that resonates down through my arm. So although I am not a doctor, I do know firsthand (plus from plenty of reading) that it is possible to have ulnar nerve problems in the shoulder and neck. So it's quite possible your whiplash is the cause or at least an irritant in your problems. So my advice is not to let up with your doctor until he/she addresses your concern. Good luck!