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Question:
I was diagnosed in my 20's with "arthritis"
in my neck, but then it went away
for 20-something years. Then it came
back about 2 years ago, starting with
a nagging pain and sometimes worsening.
I went to the doctor and was given
Relafen and told again it's "arthritis"
but not if it's osteo- or rheumatoid..?
Just to take the medicine and rotate
my head. I took the medicine for awhile
then quit when it was upsetting to
my stomach (i have painful bouts of
IBS and a touchy digestive system).
The pain was off and on, but more
tolerable than the side-effects from
the meds.
Anyway, what's happened recently is
the neck has been pretty sore, but
also the left shoulder hurts badly
when i raise my arm, for a couple
of weeks now. Last Friday i awoke
in the night in very severe shoulder
pain, and i awoke Saturday with part
of my left hand and forearm tingling
and then numb. It's the pinky and
ring finger and outer side of the
forearm. They still feel numb off
and on and as if they are very cold
and wet. (they ARE cold, but dry).
I went to the doctor (prompt care)
and they took 5 x-rays of my neck,
and prescribed more Relafen for the
pain until they get results of the
x-rays read and an appointment with
my regular doctor. (HMO, all takes
a lot of time) The prompt-care doc
suggested i might be referred to neurology,
but to wait and see.
In the meatime, the two fingers keep
going numb and the neck/shoulder is
still painful. The Relafen relieves
the pain temporarily (but not the
numbness) but it does make me nauseous
and sleepy so i can't take it during
my work day. I work as a data-entry
operator so my keyboarding is intensive,
but have already checked out the ergonomics,
posture, etc. I work only 5 hours
a day currently, but after the first
hour or so i feel extremely uncomfortable
and my two fingers numb.
I won't see a doc until next Monday.
I'm just wondering if this could be
a pinched nerve, and if so what do
they do for that? Is it possible i'll
need to quit data entry?
Answer:
Could be a pinched nerve but it's
hard to say. The docs will figure
it out though (usually). Treatment
runs from meds through surgery. They
start least invasive and progress
to most invasive depending on what
they find. At this point you'll have
to be patient 'till they pinpoint
the trouble. My own similar problem
turned out to be caused by my elbows
pinching nerves in my arms. After
a couple of years and neck surgery
for a different problem, I finally
was referred to a neurologist who
could do the proper testing.
Also, this does sound similar to some
of my experiences with pinched nerves
and/or bulging discs in my neck. I've
had great success with physical therapy
and traction treatments. (I was travelling
for the past 4 weeks and took my over-the-door
traction unit with me, thank goodness!
I needed it!) When I had the bulging
discs this past year, nothing showed
on the Xrays. An MRI is better for
picking up disc problems, so if the
Xrays don't show anything, see if
you can get an MRI.
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