[Perna]

I've had really bad pain in my neck/shoulder/arm since the beginning of July and have been going to physical therapy (where my doctor, an internist, giving up, sent me) for almost a month. My physical therapist and I are baffled and she's thinking I'll have to go to a neurologist or accupuncturist, etc. and last night was the pits; excruciating pain so I didn't get any sleep until 5:30 a.m. (until around 8:00 a.m.).

I dropped out of grad school this morning, no way I can work with this pain and sent an e-mail to a neurology testing center/group of DO's to see if they "want" me :-) I think some of the pain is stress related (from school and other obligations) so I'm hoping things will get better soon. I don't think I like my primary care doctor but I haven't been seeing him very long and changing right now seems too difficult. Not sure what I'm going to do about that. My physical therapist says this is not in his specialty which is a little why he's been so unhelpful (and argumentative - don't argue with me when I don't feel well! :-) but I'm sure eventually this will all straighten out. Sigh.

[SeptemberMorn]

I think I'd go to a neurologist and get their opinion before doing anything else.

Have you had X-rays done or something on that order? Know exactly what it is you are dealing with.

Hope your pain eases soon, Perna.

[Perna]

I was lucky and got an appointment with one of the nurse practitioners at my doctor's office an hour after my PT appointment today. The physical therapists gave me a TENS unit (electrical stimulation) to take home and that's a relief and I got several muscle relaxers and pain meds from the nurse practitioner and a chit to have a CT scan done; I did x-ray originally but that doesn't look at tissue, just bones (I have a little arthritis in my neck, but apparently lots of people get that when they get older). The nurse practioner and I decided we'd see what the CT scan said before going further with the neurologist idea but she suggested acupuncture (which the PT did too) so, if it weren't a holiday weekend, I'd be doing fine. Plus, the neurology diagnosis center I e-mailed yesterday called me on the phone while I was at the doctors today so I'll call them Tuesday and explain what's going on and have them waiting in the wings in case I need them. It probably just takes time and with my making it worse on Wednesday, may take a whole lot of time.

I took the muscle relaxer and non-narcotic pain pill an hour ago and they're not doing much. Tonight when I go to bed I'll take the Oxycodone. I'm a little more hopeful.

[kimmydawn]

(((((((((((((( perna )))))))))))))

I hope you're finding some relief.

Also, there are some VERY informative and kind ppl at our sister site, NeuroTalk, here (a direct link to the TOS forum there):

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

You're in my thoughts,

KD

[January]

((((((((((((( Perna ))))))))))

My rhuematologist gives me voltaren for my arthritic pain and tissue pain. Remember my sternum fracture and all the tears? I have gone from constant pain to no pain unless I do something really stupid and pick up something too heavy.

I hope you feel better very soon.

Hugs,

Jan

[Perna]

Thanks KD for the link! I am feeling better, January; my doctor originally gave me an anti-pain/anti-inflammatory for arthritis, a "different"/special NSAID (different from Ibuprofen) but it didn't do anything for me since it's nerve compression or problems instead of muscle/tissue. But the muscle relaxer/anti-spasm thing she gave me might be really helping (only doesn't seem to help with any pain) but last night I was surprised when the oxycodone let me sleep through the night (until 5:00 a.m.) when I'm usually up a couple times normally. Getting sleep is really helping a lot I think (instead of thrashing around probably injuring my arm/shoulder/neck and the problem even more).