astrophel2
Member
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 152
Loc: Jo-Ja
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I took a tumble about 3 weeks ago, and I suspect that I was a little too tipsy to break my fall (although I don't particularly remember it). The next day, my shoulder was grotesquely swollen, and my index finger and thumb were numb. I had it x-rayed... it wasn't broken, but the doc thought I had radial nerve damage, and said that if the numbness didn't go away in a few days to have it followed up. Well, it's three weeks later; not only has the numbness persisted, but I get sharp, stabbing pains in my hand when I extend my arm or my fingers. It's very uncomfortable, almost like the way your arm feels after it's been "asleep" for a long time and you've just released whatever pressure was on it. I can barely write; my hand goes numb and I end up dropping things when I extend my arm (e.g. at drive thru windows).
I go to UGA, and decided to go to the health clinic since it's supposed to be "free." After interrogating me, the doc decided that I did have radial nerve damage and wanted to order nerve conduction tests, but after hearing how much it was going to cost, I decided against it. "Take some alleve," he said. He also said that he didn't think it was going to go away on its own anytime soon.
I've since looked up some info about nerve damage, and i've seen pain medications listed as a treatment option. I don't have much faith in alleve for this kind of pain. WOuld medical records indicating nerve damage be sufficient and appropriate records for places like Y.O.D.?
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-Melissa
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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It sounds a lot like the peripheral neuropathy I suffer from. Mine is caused by nerve damage in my feet, which no doctor seems to be able to find a cause for. I think it is certainly sufficient for most OPs to prescribe medication for.
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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voyager
Board Addict
Reged: 04/17/03
Posts: 351
Loc: United States Virgin Islands
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the drug of choice for nerve pain is neurontin titrated upwards over a period of time (with blood tests). It will work far better than hydro but requires that you remain under the care of a supervising neurologist in order to be treated.
Good luck.
Voyager
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Voyager,
I have been on Neurontin for almost seven weeks now. Started at 300 mg 3x a day, now up to 900 mg. 3x a day. I wished and hoped and prayed that it would work so that I could quit using Hydro. Really, really wished. So far, unfortunately, nothing. It does make me very sleepy, but I have seen no improvement in my pain level at all. I realize it takes quite a few weeks to work, but I think at seven weeks, something should have happened by now. I am VERY disappointed.
Sheena
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 790
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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I am really sorry to hear that, Sheena, for selfless and selfish reasons. My pain is expanding and my aunt takes Neurotin but only 100 mg a day; she is thinking it helps; I am already feeling negative toward it from some stuff I've read plus the fact that I wake up at night and have energy problems (read: sleepiness) during the day.
I would be discouraged too after seven weeks- I will do a search and see what I find... 
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"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." -Emilano Zapata
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Absolutely, Pretty. I quit drinking a while back, but after taking Neurontin at night, I feel like a drank a bottle of whiskey the next morning. It takes an hour to lose the grogginess. I've also noticed that I've become very clumsy. I knock my glass over at least once a day. Thank god I have wood floors! I had so much hope for this med. I'm going to see a neurologist on Tuesday and I have a feeling he'll want to up the dosage even more. I don't know what I'll do. I'm so desperate for something that will help. Interestingly, during my last consult with netpain.com, I spoke to a really great doctor. I told him about the Neurontin and he was very concerned about it--first doc who hasn't sung its praises. In fact, he told me it would be a far better idea to take advantage of San Francisco's many Chinese practitioners and suggested the use of magnets. How about that?
I immediately was disappointed when I returned home the first day with the neurontin. I went on the Net right away and did research (curse and blessing). There were so many negative things I found. I tried to put it out of my mind as I so wanted it to work. There's still a glimmer of hope...or maybe not. It's all so frustrating. I would suggest that you give it a try, though. Who knows? Some have been helped by it.
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 905
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Those nerve tests are EXTREMELY painful to undergo. However, if you treat only the pain and don't get it looked into and (hopefully) resolved, the pain and other problems may only get worse.
I understand that it hurts right now and you want relief, but I would doubt the hydro will completely relieve that sort of pain very well. I strongly urge you to get more medical care, if possible!
Here's wishing you relief!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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astrophel2
Member
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 152
Loc: Jo-Ja
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"EXTREMELY painful?" What's the process? I have an appointment with my PCP on Tuesday.
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-Melissa
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 905
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I had this test done in 1993 after sustaining nerve damage from a car accident, so it may be different now. Mine was called an SSEP and needles were placed in different areas while electric current was sent into them. The pain was dang near intolerable on certain nerves, painless on others.
I think they have newer nerve tests now that are supposedly less painful. Ask your doctor which kind you will get.
Maybe others here have had newer testing done?
I found a link to my kind of test after I posted, sorry!
SSEP test
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
Edited by night_shade (11/21/03 12:58 PM)
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astrophel2
Member
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 152
Loc: Jo-Ja
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-Melissa
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sheenafur
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 225
Loc: California
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Oh lord. I go in Tuesday to a neurologist as well. I am soooo scared of doctors and tests in general. Now I'm terrified. I wish we could go together! I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to go through a test like that. Can they sedate you?
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Go easy, step lightly, stay free--J. Strummer
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 624
Loc: Texas!
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I don't know if this is the same situation, but I had an EMG which was to test for carpal tunnel. Numberous needles were placed in my skin up and down my arms and then shocks sent to them. My fingers flickered and jumped around. It was nothing like the other pain I've experienced with my wrists. I had nerve damage from some cortizone injections gone bad in my wrist (my tendons had to be scraped to get rid of the growth). I've heard when it's done right, it doesn't hurt. I couldn't sleep during it, but it wasn't like stubbing your toe or anything.
I hope what you're getting is like mine, it wasn't bad at all, just slightly uncomfortable.
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 905
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I think sedation would negate the whole purpose of the test, but I certainly have no idea how the results are interpreted. The test I had was hooked up to a small computer and you could see lines and V's (like EKG rhythms, sort of) on it. Maybe being sedated would have no effect at all on the results??? Any nerve testers on here???
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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gaby22
Stranger
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 11
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If its a test called an emg dont let them do it after I had mine I wanted to kill the doctor and myself I felt like I had just paid a doctor 800.00 dollars to torture me and all I could think of for months afterwards was why didnt I make him stop It was the most painful thing I have ever gone thru but to me the worse part was that I didnt get up and leave I just laid there and let this doctor torture me for 2 hours and then paid him for it.
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