NeuroTalk Support Groups - I'm new...I need help

Good morning, it's 1:00am and I've been up all night on my computer trying to find information about other people who have been injured through blood donation.

I honestly wouldn't tell people to not donate blood; I think it's a wonderful thing to do and I've done it many times before without incident. I think it's okay to ask questions though before someone sticks you! "Like, how long have you been doing this?" Or to make sure the person with the needle isn't in a hurry, which definitely was the case in my situation. (A blood drive at work)

Please allow me to vent. I just can't seem to get passed the total disregard the Phlebotomist seemed to have when she admitted she hit my nerve or muscle which caused me to jump out of my chair in agony. I'm furious...even a year later as I sit here with my swollen arm which feels like my bones are shattering and this burning neck pain. She just gave me an ice pack and asked if I was okay and told me to go in the hall at work and help myself to some pizza. I had no idea what had happened, but it didn't seem serious, (although it hurt like hell). It seemed quite common and of no concern to anyone working at that blood drive. No special instructions of warning signs or courtesy follow up call etc. Had I known that I would have these symptoms a year later and it was never to get better I would have sought help immediately because my research on the internet has mentioned the sooner you can identify nerve issues the less chance of having permanent damage.

It seemed to be getting better...but during the months following I would still get that certain "sting" I felt when it had happened in that spot. I thought it was just slowly healing etc. No swelling until about 6 months later. I woke up with my hand and fingers numb, then the pain in my arm came back full on and by the end of the day I was swollen. The only thing I could associate the pain to was that needle, because that's what it felt like! My Primary Dr. had doubts I had these symptoms from blood donation, but he suggested I see a Neurologist who I though was going to be my angel of relief. He put me on nerve pills and sent me for an EMG as I was having burning flesh pain on the outside of my arm and he detected some weakness in my left hand. The EMG just showed minor neuropathology at the Median nerve at the wrist. He was sure it was Radial...stumped. He sent me for an MRI, you know to see if there was fluid or a needle tip which broke off somewhere. He went on vacation, came back, didn't look at the results and said "I have a feeling this will get better over time". When I reminded him that it had been 7 months now and it seemed to be getting worse, he admitted..."I just don't know, so maybe I should send you to an Orthopedic Surgeon". Okay, fine...so I go to the O.S. who says "there is clearly something wrong, it doesn't seem like Carpal, it doesn't seem like Bursitis or Tennis Elbow". I ask if it could be RSD and she replied that it couldn't be because I don't have discoloration. She prescribed me Physical Therapy twice a week. I asked if before we do that if I could check to see if I had a clot in my artery, something I read which might cause this swelling etc. I was just trying to rule things out, and I've been doing a lot of research (as you can probably tell). She sent me to a heart specialist and they conducted an ultrasound on my left arm artery and found it to be clear. So I then called my Primary Care Physician again and just asked if he could order a blood test to test my sugar levels. Reason:I had Gestational Diabetes 7 years ago with my daughter and about a year after she was born my blood sugar was high and I was able to reverse it by losing a bunch of weight. My results came back completely normal.

You know...at this point you WANT something! Because having something that nobody can pinpoint just outright sux!

I was worried about physical therapy...because too much activity really hurts my arm. I expressed my concerns to my boss, she suggested I see an Arm/Hand specialist. I called the receptionist for his office and explained to her my symptoms. She called back within 5 minutes and told me he wanted to see me the very next day when he wasn't even scheduled to come in AND he was booked solid for 2 months. So I felt like "wow, he may be able to help!" He spent over an hour with me in his exam room. He also said he felt it wasn't RSD because there was no discoloration. But he really talked about options and what he felt might be the best way to get the arm un-swollen which would hopefully relieve the pressure off my nerves. He asked if I would like to try a Cortisone shot which actually took the swelling down for like a day. Then my arm puffed right back up...refilled with fluid I guess...I don't know. I've been going to Occupational Therapy, the OT who is trying to help me is very nice, but the sessions do not seem to be working. In fact, I was crying like a baby just two hours ago.

I'm just so frustrated...I've turned into a bitter person when I've always prided myself on being kind and generous. It just seems like no one can really help me.Hopefully someone here can relate or help to pinpoint a cause for my discomfort.

I just want it to be over...there are so many things I want to do. I want to play the guitar, I want to type without my forefinger going numb. I want to wash my hair or put it up without feeling like my arm is cracking.:mad:

I feel all alone, like there is no one out there who understands. I'm afraid to talk about it to much, I'm afraid people will think I'm a hypochondriac. I mean the doctors know something is wrong but they don't know what exactly. I have physical evidence of there being a serious malfunction here! The OT performed strength tests on me...my left hand/arm...very week. The back of my neck, puffy and on fire at times. (Like this evening) Swollen arm...but no one knows why? Can't I just get a full body MRI or something????

At this point I've contacted a lawyer...I just don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to continue to provide along side my husband for our three beautiful children and two dogs.

Okay, I'm done whining. Sorry :(

I'm happy to step into this community, it seems like it would be the right place for me to begin to understand what I might need to do. And if I can maybe help other people by telling them I understand it might make me feel less alone and more useful.