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Originally Posted by fern
I may choose to or not to have TOS surgery on one side or on both but I want to know the diax so that I can address anything I can make better. Also I've got another problem that needs surgery first so my rib-resection would have to be delayed. I'd love to be able to handwrite a page or fix my own dinner on the same day that I exercise. I've been waking up with a lot of bi-lateral elbow pain. And I have the elbow pains whenever I hold something lightly or even keep my arms bent and not supported.
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Fern, I sympathize. I was told 7 years ago that my arm pain was tendonities. I iced, ibuprofened, PT'd and massaged, and it got better a bit, but never resolved. The dr. refused to do anything at that time but insist it was tendonitis, and I was never Xrayed or received and MRI. He wrote an insulting summary for the Permanent and Stationery report, and said they'd done all that could be done.
Fast forward 6 years later - dreading the oncoming cold weather, I decided to go back to the dr. and see if there were any new treatments.
This dr. did an Xray - which negated a skeletal TOS diagnosis, but revealed degeneration of the neck.
A later MRI showed significant disk degeneration - and bony osteophytes pinching on the spinal cord - right where the signals for the arms are generated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fern
The local PT said that people in cold climates get lots of aches and pains and dismissed it as that. I just want to find someone who can help me sort through the problems I'm having. At least now I know that I'm hypermobile and that when I can't be strengthening I am subject to getting all this stuff. I had a surgery 2.5 mos ago and lost strength while recovering. Since I need another surgery I want to get in shape as much as possible so I won't further decline.
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It could be arthritis - my aches in cold weather are attributed to arthritic changes, and yours might be as well.
My current diagnosis is degenerative disk disease, osteoarthritis, possible TOS, and tendonitis.
There is one thing you don't mention - meds. I have been on low dosages of Elavil as a way of short-circuiting the chronic pain signals to the brain. It's been a Godsend, most especially because it helps me sleep.
I have problems with elbow pain in the morning too. The eleavil has helped that, but I also have to make sure I don't sleep with my arms extended. I've added a small pillow at night so that rather than stretching out fully, I stretch out, and the hand hits the pillow instead. Sort of like a barrier, so I don't stretch in my sleep.
I also pile pillows on my lap when reading, again so my arms don't over-extend.
So, check out osteoarthritis, put pillows in the bed and on your lap, and ask about micro-doses of elavil. Every little thing helps!
Sandi