Hi. I am new to this site and I could use some answers. In 1997 I was involved in an MVA. I broke my right femur left ulna cracked my skull bite my tongue in half and apparently damaged my neck. I was treated for everything minus the neck because at the time I had no issues. I would periodically notice numbness in my hands but chalked it up to being a waitress and maybe have carpal tunnel.
In the last few months however things have gone down hill. As I sit here typing this I can't feel the keys on my keyboard. My hands constantly have the sensation of falling asleep. I have pain in both elbows and triceps. The middle finger on my right hand feels as if someone is snapping it at the bottom knuckle.
The pain became severe back in December when I was doing an art piece for my niece. I had to stop every five minutes to rest my hand and try and get the feeling back into it. At first it was only my right but over the last month and a half my left has gotten just as bad.
The latest development is that I now have these shooting pains up through my right and left hands that feel as if I have stuck my fingers in a lite socket. They are unpredictable and there is no specific thing that causes them. I would say they happen more when I am stirring something like cake batter eggs or pancakes but it also happens when I
open a door reach for something or even stir my coffee.
I've experienced auras (vision disturbances) that are followed by a severe migraine sometimes two and three times a day two or three says a week. Also I don't know if it is related to my neck issues but I've been having numbness and pain in my feet and toes as well. I have the similar sharp middle finger pain in the middle toe of my right foot.
I unfortunately do not have insurance. I am a member of a government funded clinic and I am sure you know how helpful they can be. I was being seen by a chiropractor who informed me that I had either a ruptured or herniated disc at C6 C7, possibly even C4 C5. But due to no insurance and the fact that I am a single mom of a diabetic 13 year old who works as a waitress at a family owned restaurant I am unable to continue with my appointments.
A massage therapist friend of mine told me that he thinks it could be worse than even the chiro thought due to the shooting pains and constant numbness. It really does feel like my hands are always asleep.
Ive read a few post on here and have seen people talk about
pain meds and things that can help. People seem worried about
becoming dependant on pain pills. I have one more set back there as well. I am a recovering addict. I have over two years clean time. My addiction started with the accident. I was on so many meds when I had my accident and I was on them for so long. They made me feel good and without them I felt terrible so when the insurance ran out and I had no way to get them I started finding them on the street. This is tough to talk about
but it needs to be said if I want help. I even had trouble with tramadol.
I don't know what to do anymore. The pain and numbness is effecting my life my job and my family. I am going to try and see a neuro-orthopedic but I don't know if the clinic I go to will be able to help. I'm self pay and can't afford much. My sons insulin will always come first. I'm tired of going to bed in pain and waking up in pain and having the pain wake me up.
If anyone here has helpful advice or tips or just some kind of encouragement I could really use it
Thank You in advance
Selah Locke
Post Edited By Moderator (Screaming Eagle) : 3/27/2014 7:52:26 PM (GMT-6)