Hi,
I started having pain in my left forearm about 8 mos ago. It was just a little annoying at first, but continued to get worse. I tried resting it, but nothing seemed to help. The pain would come and go, seemingly randomly. Now it is so bad and constant I feel like I just can't stand it. I am short tempered at work - a problem when you are the boss, and short tempered with my kids and my husband - thank God, so far they have all been very understanding, but I don't want to live like this.
The pain got really bad in April after I finally went to see my pcp. Hard to believe, but he twisted my arm behind my back and said"does it hurt when I do this?" I almost came out of my skin. He told me I probably had an injury to the rotator cuff and that we should just wait for a few more weeks and see if the pain went away. If not he would give me a referral for physical therapy.
What a dope! I went home, did some online research and came up with my own theory. I was rear ended in a car accident a year and a half ago. I did not think I was injured, but I was thrust hard against the seatbelt harness, and my shoulder was sore for a couple of days. I bought a new car in September. I think the new car seatbelt was putting too much pressure on the bracheal plexus area. So I changed cars with my husband, who has no problem where the shoulder harness hits him.
Problem is my pain, after I figured this out, had really spiraled out of control. And, I lost so much mobility in my shoulder and arm. I can only lift my arm up about 6 inches from my side, and about cheast high going forward.
Since I figured this out in APril, I went to an acupuncture Dr. twice and that really broke up the muscle spasms. I went to a chiroproactor a few times after that, but did not notice any pain relief. Then I tried a theraeutic massage twice. While helpful, the pain came back within a week.
My theory is that the new car I got in September had a seatbelt harness that put too much pressure on my bracheal plexis area, aggravating my suptrascalpular nerve, which had sufferred trauma and had some scar tissue in the area when I had the car accident..
I had hoped that by changing cars, and not using the left strap on my bra, that I could keep pressure off that area and give that nerve time to calm the heck down. No such luck. I am taking Ibuprophin, using a heating pad when it gets really bad and I can't sleep, tigar balm, icyhot patches, biofreeze, capsian cream, tried the hypnosis chrinic pain relief sessions via the web - causle the pain is in our head - right? Okay I am desperate and am ready to scream.
I had an appointment with physical therapy yesterday. The two therapists that did the assessment confirmed to the best of their ability, without an mri, which my pcp thought was a waste of time, that it was not a rotator cuff injury, but a nerve problem, due to the radiating pain that shoots down my arm if Imove it wrong or stretch too far.
How do you cure nerve pain? No one seems to be able to give me a straight answer. I don't want to go on strong painkillers - I have a 45 minute commute to work and two boys to take care of.
ANyone know a good Dr. in West Michigan - preferably the Kalamazoo/BattleCreek area? I think I need a new PCP and a pain mgmt doc? On monday, I'm making an appointment with an accupunctuist. The one I was was in Dallas when I was there on a trip. So, I could use a recomendation if anyonone knows of a good one in this area as well.
Any and all advise is welcome. I want to get back to my sunny disposition, instead of feeling like everyone can just go to the blazes.
Pain sucks, lol
Thank you in advace for your help!!!!