Pinched nerve in neck? Thumb, index finger, & arm tingling. Other updates.

Hi.

I had some tingling in my thumb beginning 2 months ago. Figured I slept funny or too much on the computer or whatever. Not really painful, but fell asleep super quick and fairly often. Then 2-3 weeks ago, the tingling began to go to my index finger, up my arm to about my shoulder. Have had some mild pain in my neck (back left part) same side as the problem arm/thumb.

So, went to primary care doc, who said it was likely a pinched nerve but didn't know where. Said to rest the arm, thumb, and try to relax the neck. Also sent me to ortho to see a hand specialist who gave me a really fun splint to wear for the next 6 weeks. Hopefully it resolves with just rest. Just wondering if this sounds right, I really don't have the capacity for another medical problem. If it gets worse, I will go back and see the doc sooner than the 6 weeks.

Pain is not the issue with this one. My concern is that it is getting worse and I obviously want to prevent any permanent damage. Thoughts/ideas?


I also saw my GI doc Friday, he agreed we need to head toward surgery, but first bunch of tests to determine if any of my colon is worth saving. I will end up w/ an ostomy. Then Tuesday, pain management doc. We're just waiting on insurance now to approve another "test" injection and then RFA/nerve burning procedure for my lower back. After that, the dentist. 2 teeth worked on, then all work came to a halt, and I got news I wasn't quite expecting--my dentist is going to work with a prosthodontist (who did my recent oral surgery & bone graft), to come up with a plan to remove my teeth and do implants over the course of the next few years. I have had horrible dry mouth due to meds for the past 20 years and it has completely ruined my teeth. They are quite literally falling apart. Not ready to deal with that yet! Then psychiatrist appt, which was ok except for recent blood tests. White blood cell count is elevated again, but not sure why. Just praying that the infection that was eating away at my jawbone is gone. Gonna recheck level in 2 weeks and watch for any signs of infection in the meantime. Also, Lithium level is still w/in normal range, but high, higher than doc wants it. Could be problem with kidneys, could just be off b/c of GI problems. Again, repeat test in 2 weeks.

My mind is exhausted. Dealing with so much medical stuff at once. Doing ok so far, just afraid that at some point it will all come crashing down on me. Concentration & memory issues, assuming due to stress. As usual this got way longer than it was supposed to.....

Thanks for listening. Hope everyone is doing ok and able to get out and enjoy some of the nice weather (at least it's nice around here!)


Sunny

Thanks Alcie--

I appreciate the reply. I'm sorry that you too are going thru so much!! Amazing how it just all piles up. I always say if it wasn't happening to me, if someone else were to tell me they had all these unrelated medical things (and there's more!) going on, I'd think they were making things up!!

Thanks for the advice. I am finding (luckily) that I basically never use my left thumb (the start of the problem) when using my laptop. Thank God! Or else I would have a new problem--computer withdrawal. And I can wear the splint while typing. I will still cut down on computer time.

I will contact my doc next week and see what she says about the nerve conduction test. She did mention that if rest did not help or if it gets worse, they would send me for EMG study. Is that the same thing you are talking about?

Thanks again.


Sunny

I was going to make a similar comment, but Susie beat me to it!

I've gone a similar route when I was having shin and foot pain, yet it never occurred to any of my health care providers to consider the source may not be my feet/foot, but my lumbar spine.

Getting referred pain like this can be confusing, so it's a great idea to have your neck, and yes, even your shoulder, scanned and checked. As Alcie pointed out, that pinch could come from the shoulder, just as well as the neck.

Treating the symptom exclusively while not being certain about the cause, can certainly delay the whole process.









M.

I have no experience with wrist/hand injuries, so I'll start off by saying that. It's certainly possible it could be something similar to CT but I'm not familiar with what the symptoms are myself.

The timing of us members seems uncanny at times. A few weeks ago I had cervical XRays and an MRI done of my neck, for neck pain and numbness/tingling in my left hand,-- thumb, index finger, and middle finger. I'm seeing my surgeon next week with the disk to review the results.

So at least in my particular situation, my doc/s felt my sx warranted cervical imaging. And the symptoms sound familiar (which in and of itself doesn't mean we have the same thing/s going on, I understand).

But it does bring up the idea that perhaps you should at least entertain asking your doctor about the possibility, and gently inquire (as opposed to suggest).









M.