I went in today for an MRI of my right shoulder as the first visit upon physical inspection he thought I have a torn rotator cuff. News to me but hey I am along for the ride, let him do his thing. He was the one who told me to let him do his deal and if at the end of his rope we haven't figured it out we can decide together what is best. I thought that was extremely fair even tho I would be undergoing several redundant therapies.
After the MRI I had an EMG of both hands and my left foot. I was able to view the EMG screen and it was a tech, not a doctor that performed that part of it. I saw several anomalies and she had to amp up several times to get the smallest of readings in my left foot. I also saw several anomalies in both hands. The complaint was numbness in my right hand, with weakness. I have pain from the neck to the shoulder through the arm and into the forearm, same as when it was caused by the herniation, but not as bad. I also have pain in the pectoral minor. My right pectoral is in atrophy as is my right tricep. I was told it would be that way from the doctor and I might get the function back, and I might not. All of this is to try and rule out why I am in pain after two cervical fusions.......
So after the tech finishes I am moved into another room where the doctor comes in and sticks me with the needle to look for muscle noise. He did top to bottom in less than two minutes! He looks at the EMG readings both pages in under 10 seconds and says nerves look fine. Then says I have carpal tunnel in both hands.......He says he is sure my rotator cuff is torn but hasn't looked at the MRI yet but the noise was as high as it can get in the URE.
He asked about the meds he put me on, Neurontin and Lidoderm pathces and I told him the patches didn't help at all, and that I have become very irritable with the neurontin, so he writes a script for Celexa and then tries to write for Tramadol for pain in which I am allergic too. I told him I was allergic to Tramadol and he asks what happens and I told him and then he asked who wrote that and I told him my PCP. He asked what else he wrote and I told hi Ibuprofen and Robaxin and he says that is adequate for my pain level.......but then he starts talking about the shot CESI he is scheduling and tries to get me in earlier for that.
I have had these shots before, they have never worked for me. I have always had a nasty reaction almost requiring hospitalization from them. I NEVER had problems with either hand being numb until after my surgery when they redid the broken c5-6 and took out the herniated c6-7. I have never had another doctor interested in the rotator cuff, they have all agreed it has come from my cervical injury. I haven't had the best experience with doctors but this guy makes me feel on edge and I feel like he is pushing these shots.
The other major point I wanted to make was they only did calf down readings for the EMG and my chief complaint is from the hip to the knee, or the femoral nerve. The MRI clearly shows herniations at L3,4,5 WITH central stenosis and bilateral lateral recess stenosis and foraminal stenosis, yet he says the readings were "good, nerves are great". Am I over reading into this or should they have tested the femoral nerve as well? The rotator cuff is a possibility I won't rule that out myself, I would even guess torn Laborum...but Carpel Tunnel?????
What do you guys/gals think about this? Long story I know lol Also would neuropathy show on an EMG? I am also diabetic.....

They didn't even TOUCH you below the waist, did they? They had the MRI for the lumbar, right? Or at least the report? Did they poke needles in your legs? Did they do ANYTHING below the waist?

I would think that they'd test the femoral. That only makes sense!! How long did this guy spend with you -- 2-4 minutes? It sounds like you didn't get enough time spent with you to even ask questions! These so-called "specialists" are a pain in the wazoo, and give me a headache. They're in and out in the flash, and you're left there more confused than you were when you walked in!

I wish I knew what to tell you, but I've been in your shoes more than once with these jerks. I just wish they were the patient sometime and got treated the same as we're treated. Might humble them a bit. God bless & take care my friend. Hugs, Lee

They did below the waist, they did my foot, left one only.....and that was a tech the doc came in and stuck me at least 20 times leaving it in no longer than 2 seconds in each spot was out in about 4 minutes after I spent 3.5 hrs in the office!

Hey Gator---Please update me how the shoulder turns out ...Im in the same proccess as u now. Thats the next on the list I assume a shoulder MRI for me. I do feel for you with these stupid Florida laws on the drugs ...just insane.

I am not sure I wouldn't look for a new doctor at this point. If you are not comfortable with your doc. go elsewhere, and don't give up. ginnie

Well I ave to give this doctor props after all. I have a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon and a near full thick tear of the subscapularis tendon. Arthritis has also set in. My left shoulder hurts worse at the joint than the right.....after 6 years this is the first time it has ever even been considered. I am still hurting pretty badly between the right shoulder blade and the spine and this doc seems to think this is where it is coming from.

I just got the MRI results and EMG impressions today. I didn't get the actual EMG test's as I like to see those as well as they are completely subjective. However he states there is carpel tunnel in each hand left worse than right. I have weakness and numbness in the right that follows the path of the impinged nerve that I had prior to the surgery. I never had any problems or symptoms of carpel tunnel prior to the surgery and it all correlates with C6-7. It could possibly be due to the shoulder problems as well, who knows lol. There was no mention of the leg tests and I had the left leg done so.......

Clinically I am able to do everything you are not supposed to do with the arm in that condition. Frankly the pain isn't there that I have read about, it is more towards my neck and doesn't react to arm movement but neck movement. I am sure surgery is next for this as it does mention retraction so I will keep ya'll updated!

Wow ....Im sorry about the shoulder ...that really sucks. You already been thru so much. Please keep us updated --as always wishing u the best!!