ONE YEAR LATER, I get a good diagnosis for my crippling arm pain.

[LeftyFingerPop]

Let's see...Lyrica, Vicodan out the wazoo, physical therapy...no certain diagnosis for why the pain should be so bad.

6 months ago...cervical spine MRI, stenosis on the right side, but pain is on the left, and the severity is not consistent with the amount of damage.

Doc decides to do a shoulder MRI a month ago...follow up appointment today.

He walks in and says..."Your shoulder is fucking ripped to shit" (rotator cuff), and your neck problems are contributing".

Tells me I will need surgery, but for now will try a cortisone injection and physical therapy. Got lidocaine and cortisone injections this morning. I can actually move my arm now...but that's probably just a placebo effect because he said it would feel worse for 3 days.

Thank God for MRIs.

[Schema Thing]

1. so what happened to rip your rotator cuff to shit?

glad you're getting some relief.

[LeftyFingerPop]

He said in simple terms...

a bone spur. He also said "impingement".

[Rosie1223]

2. I hope the doctor wrote something a little more technical on your chart

than "fucking ripped to shit" so the surgeon knows what to fix.

Glad you're on the road to recovery!

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. Yes, he actually dictated into his computer while I was there...

didn't understand a bit of it. And thank you.

[TZ]

3. I'm surprised it took them *this* long to do an MRI..

I would have thought that would have been the first thing done..Oh well..at least now that you have a an actual dx, it sounds like you are on the road to recovery...

[LeftyFingerPop]

5. Progression was a follows:

1) Arm xrays
2) Cervical Spine MRI
3) Got fired by my orthopedist because he would not give me pain medications.
4) Got a new orthopedist.
5) He sent me to physical therapy for neck - didn't work.
6) He sent me to a pain doctor who wanted to inject into the spine.
7) I waited on the injection.
6) Saw orthopedist again.
7) He tried a shoulder MRI.
6) Waited a month for today's follow-up visit.

[raccoon]

6. Do you work on a computer a lot, by any chance?

Or as a hairdresser, musician, any job that requires lots of repetitive movements?

Reason I asked is because Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) frequently takes a long time to get a proper diagnosis.

Many medical people just aren't very knowledgeable about them.

[LeftyFingerPop]

7. It is hard to say...

I do a lot of physical work which would involve my shoulder. However, I'm not certain about the repetitive nature of this work.

I do anything from manual sanding, to pounding nails, to digging holes....

[Dystopian]

8. Sounds like what I had....

The doc called it 'frozen shoulder' and I couldn't move my arm...the rotator cuff was part of it....I had it in both shoulders, thankfully not at the same time. I know, the pain is horrific. I was in physical therapy forever, taking Vicodin, etc. Referred to a specialist, I finally broke down and said I'd get the cortisone shot....but walked out after he acted like an ass. What came out of his mouth was unreal. I've lots of good things about the shots...they work differently for everyone, so being able to move your arm is probably not a placebo effect. Of course, that's just my opinion.
I had to have an open MRI....:scared:
I had a great physical therapist....and came way too close to having surgery.
I'm glad you're feeling better....that means you'll be able to post more!:o

:hug:


peace~

[LeftyFingerPop]

9. I'm so very sorry you had to go through that...

The pain is indeed mind numbing and personality changing.

I like my doctor, he is a young guy, smart, and plain spoken.

I'm curious as to what your doctor said to make you turn down the shot?

Mine just asked me if I wanted the shot today...I asked him how bad it would hurt, and he said "a lot", but said to just keep breathing and I would be fine. It actually was not as bad as I thought it would be.

You take care of yourself Dystopian...you are one of my favorite people here.

:grouphug:

[Dystopian]

11. I was scared of the shot!

I had heard from several people that the pain was excruciating, but that it indeed helped them. So prior to scheduling surgery, finally saw him for the shot.

It was what he said...it had nothing to do with why I was there...it was about my smoking!
He told me all usual scary things...like I didn't know. And then he did something I couldn't believe. He started talking about patients he's seen who wouldn't quit, and how they still smoked even after surgery. He mocked and mimicked how they smoked through the hole in their throats. He acted like it was a joke. I was so disgusted, and he was going on so long about it with his ridicule that I had time to get dressed during his disgusting presentation. I walked out of the room, and said something about how unprofessional he was, and that I'd never get a shot from him.....I told him how appalled I was....
As I was walking out he started babbling about how sorry he was that I was offended...

An MD mocking misery....He was the only orthopedic surgeon in the area at the time.
Had he been a good doctor, I would have had the shot and avoided the months of therapy.
Wow...and that's the short version. You asked!:D

And you take care of yourself, too.
You know you're one of my favorites....your posts bring me up whenever I'm down.:hug:


peace~

[LeftyFingerPop]

12. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL ON HIS PART....

I swear, I wonder how half these jerks have what it takes to make it through med school.

I don't blame you a bit for walking out...I would have given the guy an earful.

Now, let me tell you... this is my second cortisone shot, with the first one being in my heel. Also, as you know, I am used to needles from the diabetes.

I know that people have different pain tolerances, but I think that half the things you hear about the agony of these shots are exaggerated. Did it hurt? Sure it did...but not enough to make me moan or wince...just kind of an uncomfortable burning sensation for a few seconds.

Yep....your doc sounds like a real piece of work, and you did the right thing. I would not have let the guy touch me.

Have a beautiful day! :hug:

[Dystopian]

17. Thank you, Sweetie...

I was indeed shocked by his ugly antics. I've had a few experiences with horrible MDs, and also wonder why they chose the profession....prestige and money?

I'm glad you got the shot....it should really help. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. I really think that you're awesome, dealing with it, and yet still able to keep your bizarro sense of humor. As I said, your posts are uplifting...

Here's an example...I was feeling really down one night...in the pits. I clicked on a post, I thought I'd die laughing, and went to sleep still grinning about it. I actually saved it.... I do have a skewed sense of humor, and don't know why, out of all your posts that this one was so hilarious.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8404518

Be well...and you have a beautiful day, too!
Smile....you've been keeping someone sane with your insanity...:hug:


peace~

[siligut]

10. Oh, that hurts!

I am also shocked by the failure to do a shoulder MRI, especially with the symptoms you had described to us. Well, except they are expensive. Rotator cuff repair can be costly; I guess you spoke with your Orthopedist about this. Recovery takes time too. At least now they won’t accuse you of drug seeking behavior. :hug: And sorry for calling you an asshole.

[LeftyFingerPop]

13. So YOU were the one!

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

14. god damn, Lefty!

Bless your heart. :hug: Glad you got a little relief.

[LeftyFingerPop]

15. Thanks Bertha!

:hug:

[vard28]

16. I'm so happy to read this!

I'm really glad you've finally gotten a correct diagnosis! It's nice to hear good news!

:hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

20. thanks very much vard28

:hug:

[rug]

18. Wow. And thank God for the placebo effect.

Whatever will work.

[LeftyFingerPop]

21. Indeed my friend

:pals:

[kaiden]

19. I'm having rotator cuff surgery next week.

Doc says I'll need to sleep in a recliner for about 4 weeks -- and my insurance will purchase a recliner for me -- so, it's all good.

[LeftyFingerPop]

22. I wish you the very best with your surgery

:hug: