Oh dear FG, I'm so sorry that you're still in pain. :hug:

Although a frozen shoulder is really nasty, I sure hope you don't have RSD. I've read lots in that forum and we have our own dear Ali who keeps us up to date on RSD/CRPS.

If as you say TOS has been ruled out, so maybe we can all make up a diagnosis for you.

How about :

BS = Bloomin' shoulder

Surely there are other diagnoses out there.
Any suggestions?

I really hope the nerve block works for you Cheryl and I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and sending you many pain-free hugs!! I am SO glad that your doctor has done the nerve block and hopefully it will help you and give you some much-needed pain relief!!

Like I said in my previous post, please feel free to post in the RSD forum and ask any questions you may/will have ... we are all there for you!:hug:

Thinking about you and please keep us updated when you can!!

Thanks Ali. I will probably post something in the next couple of days! I have been reading and the doc gave me a good synposis yesterday.

The nerve block helped a LOT. I got my first good night's sleep last night since mid-November!! Seriously, I slept for about 7 hours! It was wonderful!

Today I went to PT and the PT guy was amazed at how much better he could move my arm. He said he could feel the capsulation, the tenderness, the swelling, and some crackling or noise in my upper arm that we equated to rust on a cable type noise. My elbow pops in certain movements. My pecks are still tender, but not like last Thursday. The muscle under my armpit is still untouchable as before so there is definitely something going on there.

He did an ultrasound treatment and electric stimulation along with some light stretching exercises, and some light traction on my neck.

I am making progress. It's not taking me 2 hours to get dressed, but the bra is still a challenge! LOL!

I've lost 5 pounds! :D

congrats on the sleep...hoping tonight is the same, and for all nights hoping for you to get good sleep hugss,sarah

Figures....why didn't I get the frozen shoulder where you lose 5 lbs :rolleyes:

Glad ya got some relief FG

I love hearing progress in the RIGHT direction.

Glad to hear the nerve block helped! :)

So glad to hear the nerve block worked! But let's not start in about bras. Remember the last thread about bras went on forever! :p

Cheryl, I'm so glad to hear you got a reduction in pain. Whoohoo!!!! :yahoo:

Jeeshh...sounds like you have been spending your life in doctors offices these days. Major time suckage and frustration just waiting for an answer. I hope you get the good news you deserve and get to feeling better soon. :hug:

Natalie

FG - This is awesome news! I am glad to hear the block helped and that you were finally able to get a good nights rest. I hope this trend continues for you.:hug:


Sandy - Just for the sake of the bras. Check out this thread that Snoozie started in the Women's Forum. These are so cool.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread77259.html

Glad to hear you finally have some relief!!

I guess you haven't been able to work too much either, with all this going on ... :eek:. Hopefully Winter is your down time anyway, and you'll feel better in time for Spring. :hug:

Cherie

I saw the doc today for a followup and he is going to do another nerve block Friday. I guess they do them in a series - guess I am going to have to go to the RSD forum and ask some questions!!!

I told him I don't care how many he does as long as it helps!! I have had 2 nights of sleep. Without percocet! I think I may be getting my life back!

Well, sort of. Still can't move my arm very far, but it is relatively pain free. That's what I can live with right now.

Still have a lot (LOT) of other things on my plate so a huge decrease in pain is good!!!

Shappy - when you are right handed, eating is difficult. So the lose of weight is no big surprise!!! :p

Whatever it takes, sweet pea....er potato..:hug:

Glad you have a treatment that helps Cheryl. :hug: Ya know, pizza is pretty easy to eat left-handed. Same with salty margaritas. ;) :) We need to fatten you up girlie. :hug:

I have officially been dx'd with CRPS along with MS now. Now I have TWO incurable diseases.

I think Salty Margaritas are definitely in order....but I think I might have Jack Daniels on the rocks. If that's ok with my salty buds! :hug:

I am no longer baffled by pain...I have an answer. :(

CRPS....CARP! :(


Pain mgt. better work!

Shaps....I wonder if I can get Jack Daniels in FG's mints?

Now FG....I had to learn to do a lot of things with my left hand.

Eat, comb my hair.... what? You aren't buying into that? Cause you have seen my hair and you don't think I comb it. Thanks!

Well, you need to eat. So start eating. No more lose the weigh stuff.

And :hug:

Sheese FG!!!! :hug::hug::hug::hug:

Aw Cheryl, :(

I don't know anything about CRPS but I'm sure sorry you have it. :hug: :hug:

Seriously though, you need to eat. Going hungry isn't going to help anything. Do we need to have pizzas delivered anonymously? :hug:

Cheryl,

I am so sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with CRPS:hug:! I wish there was something I could do to try and take your pain away but there isn't unfortunately - just know that I am here for you and that I DO understand what the pain is like and how severe it can be!!

I wish you the best of luck with your nerve block today and really hope you get some more pain-relief!! Thinking about you!

oh Cheryl. I am sorry to hear the dx. I hope pain management will keep letting you sleep at night, to dream good dreams.

I am just glad that I finally KNOW what it is! :)

The nerve block this morning went very well, again. Slept most of the day. Next one is scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon so I am good to go on my trip Wednesday. :D

I know your relieved to have an answer but I am sorry you now have two diseases to deal with. :hug:

Go ahead and have a date with Jack. Slather some salt on your hand and lick away to take the "kick" out. :D If that doesn't work eat some pretzels and chase them with Jack. :p

I am sorry to hear you have CRPS Cheryl. :( It is good that the nerve blocks are working for you. Some people it does nothing, so that's great news.

I believe they can repeat a series of them in 6 months, if necessary. I know the nurses in the hospital would go down to get their cocktail shot on their lunch hour. They injured themselves easily with patient turning and lifting. For some it became chronic, others it went away.

Here is Medline's take on CRPS if some of the folks here never heard of it.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Also called: Causalgia, CRPS, Reflex sympathetic dystrophy


Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an uncommon nerve disorder. It causes intense pain, usually in the arms, hands, legs or feet. It happens after an injury, either to a nerve or to tissue in the affected area. Rest and time may only make it worse. Doctors are not sure what causes it.

Symptoms in the affected area are

Dramatic changes in temperature and color
Intense burning pain
Extreme skin sensitivity

The cause of CRPS is unknown, and there is no cure. It can get worse over time, and may spread to other parts of the body. Occasionally it goes away, either temporarily or for good. Treatment focuses on relieving the pain, and can include medicines, physical therapy and nerve blocks.

From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

That is exactly what I have and that is what the docs/PT are doing. I am trying Neurontin but I seem to be having problems taking more than 300 mg! I am trying to titrate up on it,

Thanks for the information!!! It is very helpful!

I am SO glad to hear that your nerve block yesterday went well Cheryl and really hope that the next one before your trip goes well and that you get even more pain-relief!!:hug:

I was just wondering, has anyone mentioned a condition called Dystonia to you?? I know you mentioned having symptoms of 'Frozen Shoulder' but I just wondered whether you might have Dystonia as a LOT of the symptoms are the same!! I have both CRPS AND Dystonia and my Pain Management Doctor said that Dystonia is very common in RSD patients although not many doctors know about it unfortunately. Dystonia causes limbs to lock into un-natural positions, develop muscle atrophy and muscle spasms etc etc.

It might be something worth looking into if no-one as mentioned it to you already. Before I was diagnosed with the RSD/CRPS no one knew what was causing my foot to stay rotated but then my Neurologist took one look and knew immediately what was causing the problems and put me on a muscle relaxant to try and help.

I hate that you are having to deal with all of this on top of the MS and really wish I could help you in some way. If you have any questions, please know that I am here for you!

Cheryl sorry about yet another dx, but GLAD at least to have you know what it is, so that they can help conquer the pain better!! Hoping at least for less pain!!

Go ahead Jack it is, and pizza, then the salty or sugary margeritas!! mmmm hugssssssssss,sarah

Thanks Ali, but it is definitely frozen shoulder. It's not locked into any odd position and the ortho doc and the pt guy can definitely feel the capsulitis. They are working on it...it was caused from my arm being in a sling for so long due to the pain. They think they caught it early enough that we can work through it and get it moving again before it completely freezes.

Thanks for your help. Just pointing me to the RSD/CRPS forum was a lot of help! I appreciate that! :hug:

I had my last nerve block injection today. Now we play wait and see what happens. In the meantime, I continue PT to release the frozen shoulder.

Ah PT...pain therapy - sorry, physical therapy!

:D

:hug::hug::hug::hug:s for you flygirl!!!!!:hug::hug::hug::hug:

I hope that things work out, Cheryl.

By the way, is it your left arm? You know that you have to have some additional drag on that left wing in order to turn left around the pylon.:)

-Vic

:hug: FG! I hope everything works out well for you. Keeping you in my prayers.:hug:

Pain? my PT will not let me go to the pain, says it makes the muscles respond by tightening to protect the shoulder. The shoulder will melt.:)

cheryl,

i'm glad they decided on a dx.
and at least they are able to do the nerve blocks.

i hope with all this and pt that you will improve significantly.

thanks! I do too!!!


Oh I wish....unfortunately it's my right arm! Maybe they will change the course! OR let me fly upside down! Now that would be a feat! LOL!

:D

So I've been told! I was kidding about the PT guy. He's great! I still have so much soft tissue sensitivity and swelling in the subscapularis and teres muscles group that it's kind hard not to have pain. But I am working through it! I will get there.

Thanks Judy! :hug: Just having the nerve pain at a lower level (under 5) is putting a smile on my face and that's good enough for me!

:D

Yes, you have an answer, but it sure sucks big time :(

I'm sorry Cheryl :hug:

I'm hoping you see some improvement soon.