Hi Cheryl,

Are they still giving you medicine for the pain? I hope so.

I was asking my neuro's advice today about back pain that leads to shoulder and sometimes arm pain. He was describing the muscle actions and told me how to use stretching exercises to help with the pain. I'm hoping it helps. Sometimes it gets bad enough to wake me up at night or I can't move in the morning after a long night's sleep.

I hope they can help you with this and that it won't be an invasive fix.

I saw the physiatrist today. He spent about an hour with me after I commented that not one of the docs I have seen in the last two months has done an actual "hands on" does this hurt exam. They just ask me where it hurts and I tell them from my neck down to the tips of my fingers and from my shoulder blade around to just past my armpit. He was surprised. So he had me put on one of those gorgeous paper gowns and did a "touchy feely" does this hurt and what kind of pain exam.

Temporary dx - frozen shoulder and pinched nerve at the C3/4, and something-er-other that I didn't quite catch at the C5 that's affecting the shoulder but he's not real concerned about that right now.

So, what's the plan? He's gathering up all my MRIs, EMG, and going to talk to the neurosurgeon and the ortho doc before I see them next week. In the meantime, stop the Soma and start neurontin. He asked me if I had ever tried Lyrica oh yeah, best hallucinagenic drug I've ever tried. Ok...how about neurontic. Haven't tried that one. Let's try that, maybe heat instead of the ice, and maybe nerve block at the C3/4 if you don't get any relief in the meantime.

He wants to try pain management program along with my massage therapist in lieu of surgery of any type (yeah I am all for that).

He listened...he wrote stuff down, and spent an hour with me! I was only scheduled for 15 minutes! I see him again in 3 weeks but see 3 other docs in between.

Gee, and I thought MS was expensive. This has become THE most expensive problem I've ever had.

I am blaming this on P Shappy....she's contagious. LOL! Need mints Shappy.

I NEED A VACATION is what I need! A very long one.

Oh--oh! Hey P_S...How long have you had your FS? I have had mine over 2 years now. So the question is...Did I give it to you and then you gave it to FG? OR...did you give it to me and I gave it to FG?

Well....anyhoo...she can't say we have never given her anything.

P_S, by the way know a great FS therapy move with Mint City mints!

P_S = P Shappy

FS = Frozen Shoulder

FG =

OK..Don't roll your eyes or point & laugh, but I was talking to my (ex)MIL, she just went in to Mayo this past week with extreme pain in her shoulder & arm that would not let up, and I thought of you..What they found out is that it's a problem with her esophagus. Her stomach is producing too much acid, tearing up her stomach and esophagus. What actually caused the pain was muscle spasms in the esphagus. Totally weird. She never really gets heartburn, either..Anyway, like I said, probably way off but thought I'd throw that out there. Hope you find out what's going on soon!

So now we have something ELSE in common? What do you do for your shoulder?

I am ready to amputate.....

Cheryl, I am so sorry really sucks not much I can do hugs prayers positive vibrations and an occasional suggestion, Acupunture and or look up acu pressure, involves using pressure points to help ease pains, I imagine at this point you are open to a suggestion or two

I sure hope it gets to feeling better real soon

FG - Continuing to keep you in my prayers. I hope the Neurontin helps you with the pain. It takes a bit to get used to but it sure is my best friend.

Polar - You are not way off. Things as simple as an abscessed tooth could cause that kind of pain. DBF and I just had a discussion about this as he is going through something similar to FG situation.

very true Trish, Deb had severe abdomen pains for about a month no one could figure it out, it was an absessed tooth, have they done any blood work to make sure there is no infection?

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

I am seeing my PCP on Monday for blood work. Massage therapist is working on trigger points and pressure points and she is doing a great job.

Last night I tried the heat and it did help....stopped the soma but haven't started the neurontin yet. Have to find time to get the rx filled. Long story...been working very long hours this week, but that will end tomorrow.

Doc has suggested referred pain but so far nothing has panned out in that area. I am open to anything at this point.

And no Polar, you are not way off base. I have asked these docs a bazillion questions!

Another long-shot here . . . but have you had xrays recently?

My best friend had very bad shoulder and arm pain for about a year, and was having physio done on it. When the pain didn't let up, the PT finally sent her for an xray. They were meaning only to xray the shoulder, but "happened" to get her lungs in the picture. That was how they dx her lung cancer.

Like I said, it's a long-shot . . .

Cherie