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!
A little back info: I had a major car accident in 2006, and came out with what I assumed was nothing more than a seat belt shaped bruise. I declined offers to go to the emergency room, as I thought I was fine, but a few days after I found that I was in increasingly bad back pain. By the time I found a doctor and was put through physical therapy, most of the muscles in my cervical and thoratic spine had atrophied to some degree, and this limits my mobility and gives me daily pain. Since 2006 I have been on both Ultram and Flexeril to control pain, but they are both doing a whole lot of nothing.
I plan on seeing my doctor today- how should I approach the topic of receiving stronger pain meds without seeming like a junkie? It’s not as if I’m asking to be on morphine… I just want to be able to do things my peers are doing. Being 20 and in pain all the time is pretty depressing.
I am having a lot of sciatica pain. Without going into detail I had surgery for a disc problem 6 years ago. I don’t want to go that route again. It’s very costly and really I think made me have more problems now than if I went another way.
I am starting a new job in a week and will be sitting down a lot. I need to control the sciatica pain. What would you do first? I am planning on seeing a doctor but seriously can’t afford going through physical therapy and the whole nine yards right now.
University of Santo Tomas. BS degree has accreditation level of 2 valid until 2008. It is accredited by FCCPT (credentialing commission). On the other hand, our masteral degree is not accredited and began only 2002. UST is the only university in the Philippines with an MSPT. UP has none. I’ve read other sources that 2002 and below graduated do not need a masteral degree but 2002 and above graduates need a masteral degree. I also read that a minimum entry level of at least masters level for foreign physical therapist desiring to work abroad. If this is the case, then technically no Filipino can work in the US as a PT if they are 2002 and above graduates. I believe that there might be a way or alternative to help Filipinos in working there since PT abroad is in demand.
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??