I have been bouncing around from doctor to doctor and each seems to give me a different suggestion of what to do for the elbow pain I’ve been experiencing. My primary pain is around the olecrenon process and medial epicondyle. I’ve been experiencing tingling in my fourth and fifth digits as well as weakened grip (about a 50% reduction in strength). Recently, I have experienced random fasciculations. Bending the elbow up causes severe pain in the same area and I’ve started wearing a brace to hold my elbow straight at night. I’ve been doing physical therapy twice a week and my physical therapist beleives it is a problem with my ulnar nerve. I’ve had x-rays (normal) and an MRI (small joint effusion, everything else normal). I saw a doctor that was recommended to see about a cortisone shot, but that doctor didn’t think a shot would help. I’ve also gone to an chiropractor who just made it hurt worse. It has been almost seven weeks since the injury first occurred, but no one seems to know exactly what to do with me. Right now I just want the pain to stop. Should I go see a neurologist or a orthopedist? Do I need a family doctor to recommend me? Is there a surgery that can help? Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.
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I’ve been having a tightening, almost crippling pain in my left arm around the tricep/bicep area for the past few months that hasn’t gone away. Anti-inflammatories works great, but once the medicine is gone the pain starts right back up. Its so severe sometimes i can barely lift my arm and it keeps me awake at night. Ive recently run out of Voltaren, the anti-inflamatory ive been prescribed, and have been using advil and tylenol, but i know it can start to have really bad affects if you use it over a long period of time.
MY regular doctor said to see an Orthopedic. I went, got an X-ray, he moved my arm, and said go to a Physical Therapist. However, he really didnt seem to have much interest in me at all, and I’m not sure how well-thought his idea was. I cant necessarily afford to go to every doctor until I land on the right one. I was just wondering if anyone knows whether Physical Therapy is the right thing or if i should go see another kind of doctor?
Thanks!
It started in July of ‘06 and got to the point of not being able to stand upright, with shooting pains down my left side down to my knees..Doc said after mri’s and x-rays that I have Degenerative Disk Disease, arthritis, and multiple bulging disks. I went through facet joint blocks, discogram, myelogram, 2 months of physical therapy, and ended up getting a spinal fluid leak from the procedures, which I ended up getting a blood patch(blood drawn out of my arm and injected into my spinal cord) to stop the migraines. I since stopped being a guinnea pig and went to a chiropractor who said I don’t have any of those things, just out of alignment. But after getting adjusted for 4 months now, I still have no relief, not a day goes by that I don’t have this nasty pain! I ended up quitting a job after almost 5 years because it caused too much pain on my back. My question is, where do I go next?!! It’s rather depressing and driving me absolutely insane!! I want to play with my kids!!!
I would appreciate any comments from someone who has gone through this or any similar procedure. I am especially worried about the rehab/physical therapy phase. Not so much the process, but the results. I know the repair will never be as strong as before the injury, and wondering can anyone give some insight on what I can expect?
I’ve been to a pain management doctor for my scoliosis and the first visit he put me in a physical therapy program and gave me a script for some patches. The PT made my back worse if it did anything at all and the patches dont work. He said I was too young for pain killers but I need them badly. Whats the next step? if the pt and patches didnt work will he reconsider pain killers?
I am in therapy to treat chronic back pain. Initially, I was suffering for over three years from terrible, sharp, daily pain deep between my shoulder blades. I saw a doctor and she recommended #1. That I read the writings of Robin McKenzie (who teaches people to treat their own back and neck problems by focusing on posture and gentle exercises and to #2. See a physical therapist.
Using props at work, in the car and even in bed, I’m been able to give myself support that has greatly reduced my pain. Also, my first few physical therapy sessions left me feeling strong and thrilled to be improving.
Then things started to go downhill. I started having a backlash the day after therapy. I was having deep, sharp pain again. Also, the pain has spread into my mid-back. It’s not nearly as bad as before, but my progress has certainly plateaued. I’ve been hearing a lot of “I don’t know” from my therapist and they have been cutting back on the difficulty of my exercises.
It was suggested to me, by my therapist, that I should go back to the doctor. She may run some kind of tests. I’ll be seeing her tomorrow.
I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with this. What happens next? Am I going to get an MRI or something??