Question
Hello I am hoping you can help me. I have been having a pain in the bottom corner of my right shoulderblade for nearly 3 years now. It burns and there tends to be alot of spasming. I take doans and alieve or a regular basis. the pain has got progressively worse and has spread. I have been to see my Dr, a masseuse and 2 chiropractors no one has actually diagnosed me. I have had xrays and even mri's but nothing found. I'm currently without health insurance now, which does complicate matters.
However, the pain I am having is a sharp pain that goes down right arm to my hand. It hurts in my bicep and in my pinky and ring finger. This has been going on for a long time now, but over the past few weeks i am finding that my hand is going cold more often than it used to. It's not that its numb, i have feeling in it. It PHYSICALLY feels ice cold. At times it feels like ice running through my veins.
Could you make any suggestions as to what I can do to relieve this. It's just too long to be in this amount of pain. I'm not sleeping well, I wake up at all hours of the night. I can barely do my job. I am just physically and mentally exhausted.
I need to find a reasonably cheap and accurate way of finding out what it is. I've been suffering this for nearly 3 years now and I need some relief. I would be most grateful for any suggestions about who I should go to or what I can do to give me some relief. Thankyou so much for your help!
Kind Regards,
Micki
AnswerHello Micki,
Sorry to hear of your condition.
To me, this sounds like a 'pinched nerve'. Have you had Xrays, cervical MRI, EMG/ncv testing? Any of your Doctors could have/ should have performed a complete physical upon you, and included Xray to start, MRI and EMG since your complaints continued.
'Pinched Nerves' are tricky things. Nerves originate in our brain and spinal cord, are protected by our spinal column (bone), and travel throughout the body. It has been said that if we took away all of our organs, skin, muscle, bone- but left the nerves and nervous system; we would still be recognizable, almost ghostlike, but recognizable, The nervous system is so widespread throughout our body- we would be recognizable!
Pictures that may interest you:
http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqvoV4R7T2g
Your problem may originate in the neck, and spread out and down- into your shoulder blade, chest, shoulder, arm hand.
I recommend a Doctor of Chiropractic.
You say you are working. Does your job have health insurance?, If so, usually health insurance does cover Chiropractic care. You are working, have you ever hurt yourself at work? If you have been hurt at work- particularly to your neck or upper back, that can explain your pinched nerve, and workers compensation may cover your complaints and treatment.
In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I utilize some informational handouts that you may find helpful:
PAIN
Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.
That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car- -- do you ignore it until the car breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain, pain in your body- -- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller? Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?
NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:
Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;
The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse. These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). VSC- 慡ubluxation??can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as well as other pathology.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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揚inched Nerve?
( Also Known As- neuritis, neuralgia, brachial-neuritis, sciatica )
損inched nerve??is only ?a diagnosis,
WHAT is causing the 憄inch?
Your Doctor of Chiropractic will examine and evaluate you to make sure you are not showing signs of neurological damage or disease, tumors, cancers, severe pathology, perhaps a Herniated Disc, or a Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Sometimes we can wake up with a 憄inched nerve? or a muscle spasm.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a 憄inched nerve? Very often - the true c a u s e of the pinched nerve, painor numbness in the: neck and/ or shoulder and/ or arm and/ or hand; pain in the back and/ or buttock/ hip/ leg/ knee/ foot - is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the neck or back - more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health-
Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms.
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Work Comp INFO for the newly injured
I am NOT a Lawyer, and this is not legal advice, not a legal opinion, this is just general information,
Questions ? - call your attorney.
If you are hurt at work, BY STATE LAW YOU ARE COVERED BY WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE. There is no choice.
If you are hurt at work, your private health insurance IS NOT responsible
to pay for your treatment (whether that may be Chiropractic, Surgery, Medical, Dental, Physical Therapy, Psychological, etc.).
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MISS WORK to be covered by compensation.
Some people have open comp cases for many, many years- 10, 20 years.....
IF YOU ARE HURT AT WORK, BY STATE LAW WORKERS COMPENSATION HAS TO PAY FOR YOUR TREATMENT.... WHETHER
YOU ARE WORKING OR NOT,,, WHETHER YOU MISS ZERO DAYS,
ONE DAY, ONE WEEK, OR ONE YEAR .
If you inform your doctor that you were hurt at work.....
BY STATE LAW THE DOCTOR HAS TO NOTIFY/ GO THRU WORKERS COMPENSATION.
If you inform your doctor that you were NOT hurt at work......
BY STATE LAW THE DOCTOR CANNOT GO THRU/ NOTIFY WORKERS
COMPENSATION.
The above is a brief explanation of WORKERS COMPENSATION. This explanation is not prepared by an attorney or the Workers Comp Board, is not legally binding, but is an attempt at a brief, general explanation of workers comp. For further or more detailed explanation, contact your Work Comp Attorney.
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I think the symptoms you are describing can come from a chronic pinched nerve.
I do not know any 'easy' way to treat this.
I recommend seeing a health professional, I recommend a local Doctor of Chiropractic.
I hope all this information helps answer your questions. Do not hesitate to
recontact me at ALLEXPERTS.com if you have further questions (
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm ).
I wish you Good Luck, and
Good Health Naturally !
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com ____( for email newsletter )
http://www.SIworkcomp.com _____ ( work comp injury info )
