Chronic and Severe Arm and Hand Pain, anyone ideas?
 

Hi I am new to this forum and I have some question's and I hope anyone here can help. I have had 2 herniated disk surgeries, 1 done about 4 years ago by an Orthopedic Surgeon and the 2nd one done 1 1/2 years later by Neurosurgeon. After my second surgery I began having numbness, tingling, stinging pain, and stiffness in both hands. It got so bad that in the morning's I could not move my finger's. This has been going on for 4 years and I had an MRI done for the back and neck 2 weeks ago because the pain started to radiate to my arms. My left arm had all the symptoms I stated above 3 days ago and any place I tried to move it the pain increased and I could barely lift my arm. I saw an Orthopedic Surgeon assist. and she said nothing is wrong with my MRI report. I don't know if anyone here can actual tell me what is going on by what my MRI report says because I can't. All I know is I'm in such severe pain I literally want to die.

It says in the MRI report: There is multi level disc bulging in the lumbar spine. There is a shallow smallish, broad left L5-S1 disc protrusion. There is mild to moderate left foraminal narrowing at this level. There are some arthritic changes of the L5-S1 apophyseal joints, probably osteoarthritic. Disc protrusion at T12-L1, Disc Bulging at L1-L2, L2-L3, L-3-L4,and L4-L-5.

For the neck the report said: Mild C3-C-4 and minimal C7-T-1 central canal stenoses due to generalized disc bulges. C4-C-5 Minimal right C5 neural foraminal stenosis secondary to uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.

My primary care doc. couldn't tell me much of anything, can anyone tell me what all that means in simple terms? Would this be the source of my hand and arm pain? Thanks so much for what ever you can share.

I think I'd take my films and report to another top rated neuro or neuro surgeon for evaluation as well as a clear concise list of all your symptoms.

The C spine stuff could be the cause of your arm pain.

Did you have any accidents or injuries to cause these problems, or does back troubles run in the family??
What kind of work or activities do/did you do?

Does your upper back or neck hurt or get tight feeling?

Chronic Hand and Arm Pain
 

I haven't been in an kind of accident. I have degenerative disk disease and I believe it runs in my family, and I also have scoliosis. I am only 34 and I hate having to deal with so much pain on a day to day basis. It is mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting.:( I found a top of the line Neurosurgeon but he doesn't accept my insurance. Most of the doc's I've seen for some reason keep saying MRI is normal, and nothing is too worry about. I've had lot's of blood work done before the MRI and I don't have any lyme disease or arthritis. The best I can describe the pain in my hand joints is like sharp fingernails pinching you til it REALLY hurts, and it's all day everyday.
Some days it radiates to my arms and some days it doesn't. I am to see my PCP thursday and I am hoping to again for the umteenth time to get a top of the line "Someone" as I don't know who to see anymore.

The reason i asked about your work and activities is that there is a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome {TOS} , often due to repetitive type jobs, or certain injuries {whiplash etc} that can cause hand , arm, nerve pain - but it usually has neck and upper back pain or discomfort with it.
You may want to read on our TOS forum to see if it fits at all or not. Check the useful sticky there too - various therapy & treatments mentioned that might work for all causes of pain -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

I just think your dr/drs isn't listening to you & your pain - people do have differing pain tolerances IMO.

Keep looking for one that will care and listen to you.
Has any of them sent you for PT evaluations? By an advanced therapist of cousre.
sometimes the PT places can suggest a good dr:cool: