Quote:
Originally Posted by Rolacoy
I subscribe to a web site called "Visible Body". On the site subscribers can view the whole human body in 3-D. It can be rotated to any angle, zoom in or out. Body parts can be made visible or invisible. I used it to turn off everything but the bones and nerves in the arm and shoulder. The nerve from C-6 goes right to the four finger and thumb. It feels as if my problem is only on that nerve. Also that nerve is very sensitive. Several times recently I have caused my arm to go numb by laying or leaning back in a chair, putting pressure on the nerve under my shoulder blade.
burning skin -------------------- Yes, at first my whole thumb and four finger felt as if they had been scalded, that has improved, now only when I wear wrist support that binds them. They always seem warm to the touch. At first my four arm and upper arm burned, that is much better. It seemed to improve from the top down.
skin color changes --------------- I don't think so.
swelling --------------- I don't think so.
extreme sensitivity to touch or breezes --------------- very much so, maybe not a breeze, but any place along the nerve that I referenced above.
As far as the meds, I have been on 15mg per day, that two pills, for more than two years for back problems. Since this happened I am taking 3 pills per day. I think they help. Sometimes, not often I take a 7.5mg Hydrocodone and I feel pain relief in about 30 minutes. As far as I can tell the LYRICA and Cymbalta, I see no difference. I think they were prescribed for "maybe these will help".
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Hi Roy,
It sure seems like you are on an awful amount of medications, especially for your age. If Cymbalta and Lyrica aren't changing your condition than why are you on them?
I would try a nerve conduction study on your neck and arm.
I would try a sympathetic nerve block to see if your pain is sympathetically maintained or sympathetically independent pain. If it's sympathetically maintained you probably have RSD. That type nerve block only last a few hours and is really only good for confirming if your sympathetic nervous system is the culprit. If it is, try a long lasting nerve block to see if your sympathetic nervous system might just decide to shut itself off. If it doesn't shut off you still get pain relief for an extended time. You can do physical therapy while your arm is pain free that might help your pain level later when the feeling comes back.
You have had the pain for a long time and it hasn't spread past your arm, which is good news.
First thing is find out if it's sympathetically maintained or not. If it isn't it doesn't necessarily rule out RSD, if it is, it probably is RSD.
It sounds like you have some type of compartmental syndrome going on. (compression of nerves, blood vessels and muscles inside a closed space). RSD can certainly cause that. Arthritis can too.
Do you have any atrophy of your arm muscle? Do you have any skin, bone density, nail or hair changes on that arm? RSD can cause that. A bone scan can show bone changes too.
2 doctors saying the same thing, I would check out the sympathetic nerve block to try to confirm RSD.
PS. I am not a doctor so my advise is based on my understanding from materials I have read. Please check out everything and confirm it with your doctor. Find an anesthesiologist familiar with RSD. You can usually see one with a pain clinic referral from your regular doctor. Shop around and find an RSD informed one and ask the doctor to refer you to them. Make sure they are taking new patients too. (they do the nerve blocks)
Hope this helped.
Jerie