As some of you know, I have been suffering from excruciating pain in my right arm, shoulder and hand since the first part of November. Thinking it was associated with the exacerbation I was experiencing, one would assume it would subside with the IVSM infusion I had over Thanksgiving. Well, it got worse.

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving, I finally gave in and went to the ER the pain was so bad. I had a full series x-ray of my right shoulder which showed nothing abnormal. ER doc referred me to an ortho specialist. He ordered an MRI of my shoulder. He said it also showed nothing abnormal.

Today, I saw the neurosurgeon. He says that there is definitely something on the spine MRI that I had on Nov 19th that is causing the lower arm/thumb/forefinger numbness and pain and possibly the neck and some of the upper shoulder pain. And he's going to take a closer look at the shoulder MRI, as he's not convinced it's normal. Something's got to be causing all this pain and lack of movement

He was also concerned about the increase in symptoms after I had the IVSM.

He is wondering if I might have a new lesion on the Thalamus causing the pain.

More testing is in order.

Brain MRI, EMG (I hate that!) and a cortisone shot in my neck to relieve some of the pain that the known pinched nerve at the C3/4 is causing.

So, I am still wearing this sling on my right arm and no idea when all these tests will be accomplished. I am so tired of all this pain. I told the doc today, I don't think I have ever been in this much pain even when I broke my ankle.

Guess I have some homework to do. Since my brain MRIs have been sealed for the last year or so due to the clinical trial, my neuro and I have no idea what has been happening. So, a new one is in order to see what's been going on. The last one I had was 2006, other than in the trial.

Merry Christmas everyone.