Very upset, any advice please

Hello,

Went to see a neurosurgeon today at the request of my new Dr, he was beyond awful, so pompous!!

I have pain/numbness/tingling in my neck, shoulder, left arm, lower back and left leg/foot/big toe....he looked at my MRI's, said I have a lot going on and all the symptoms point to pinched nerves, the one in my neck at C7 has all the symptoms I'm describing he said, my middle finger feels broken and so painful, forearm too but....nope, can't see this on the MRI's, did say one disc in my lumbar is SOOOO close to a nerve but not quite touching it.

Another Dr said it sounds like pinched nerves but why are they not showing on the MRI's?? it's driving me crazy.

Neurosurgeon said he doesn't know and just stared at me, I questioned something and he was so rude, it was a horrible experience.

All these symptoms are from a car accident early last year and I've been in so much pain, my foot and big toe/the next toe are so bad at times every step is painful and the pain has never ever gone from all the other areas.

Did have a cervical epidural which finally took away probably 70% of the pain in neck/armbut no day is average, some days are awful, others are a little under the surface, you just never know.

After I asked what to do next, the neuro did say I should get an EMG?? would this show anything more?

Maybe the pain in my left shoulder and arm is coming from a nerve at the side of my neck?

It all points to pinched nerves I keep hearing and I just want to find out, I feel so upset tonight. Dr's look at me like what's the problem...well, I tell them what's going on and it's always the same answer, except must say the Dr who gave me the epidural shot said yes, it's the C7 nerve, MRI shows herniated disc at C7-T1.

Right now having light massages and a chiropractor is just using heat on my neck and back as he doesn't want to touch my neck or back, PT made it all worse as did traction.

Any advice? thank you, hope everyone is okay. PS. just wanted to add everything is worse sitting, standing or walking, lying down relieves most things except sometimes this darn big toe wakes me up throbbing.

Post Edited (Thundercloud) : 7/10/2014 1:36:59 AM (GMT-6)

Hi straydog and thank you so much for your reply.

It is 1:45 am and I am up worrying and feeling upset, just want to definitely know what's going on :(

Yes, only had one epidural shot, it actually made me quite sick and my left leg started getting numb and painful that very night which makes no sense to any Dr as they say that cannot be coming from the neck, I do have problems in lower back though but it was just weird it started hurting.

One Dr I saw was quite needle happy and ready to put shots in my neck again, shoulder and lower back and that turned me off considering the problems I'd had with just one.

I'll talk to my Dr about getting a 2nd opinion but looking at the MRI's it's always the same thing, they don't actually see something actually hitting a nerve so it cannot be that.....ggrrrr!!!!

When I asked the neurosurgeon how reliable the MRI's are, he shot me down in flames saying they are not wrong.

Thanks again for your advice, must try to get some sleep....

I'm only familiar with abdominal MRIs but maybe a change of contrast could help in this case? Not to say your surgeon isn't a bit egotistical but he really does need to see the "actual" insult to effect a solution. He's the guy actually opening you up to play will your delicate bits so I guess I'd want him knowing clearly what's in front of him. So again, maybe a new way of imaging is in order here? Just an option.

I'm surprised no one has suggested an EMG before now. A Neurologist is the one that does the EMG. A MRI may indicated possible nerve damage. But, the EMG rules it out or comfirms it along with the severity.

Maybe see a pain clinic anesthesiologist too. That's the only one I would let mess with my neck unless I needed surgery. Your chiro was right to not mess with the neck. He could kill you. It's not unheard of. PT didn't help me either.

The EMG we would normally expect to show peripheral nerve damage, but it can also show a problem coming from the neck. Mine does.

If you had pretty bad damage the pain can be from the nerve messages coming up from below the level are getting scrambled and the brain is interpreting everything as pain. I feel pain from even a gentle breeze on my legs. I have pain radiating into my shoulders and down my arms from the neck. You may have other levels involved causing leg pain - unless it's central pain syndrome, like I have.

The anesthesiologist pain doc can give you a facet joint injection, similar to epidural, but it's a test to see if nerve ablation will work. I got 3 nerves ablated yesterday in my neck and today I feel soooo much better. There are some caveats though. Read my post about my unusual reaction on this page. Your nausea is a possible symptom of that kind of problem. Talk to a doctor to rule it out.

It's entirely possible the surgeon just didn't want to be involved in a case of a car accident. They act funny about that stuff.

Thunder, my heart is breaking for you. I understand your frustration. I was told that I had multiple sclerosis for the last 20 years! I gave up. One morning I awoke to the worst pain and I went to urgent care expecting to hear it was a flare up. I met a physican who actually listened. He referred me to an orthopedic specialist. After all the tests, all the doctors visits, I was shocked because no one had ever even thought of this as an option. I am 4 weeks after cervical spine surgery and so grateful. It took 20 years and me giving up but now I have a new outlook on life. My thoughts are with you. I believe postive thinking works. My friends and family were my positive thinkers. Now I will place you in my postive thoughts. I live in GA but if you would like a second opinion doctor...I saw an orthopedic spine surgeon and not a neurological surgeon...I saw too many of them in the past...keep up your posts and know there are others out there to support you...I forgot to say...this all started from a car accident for me too....

Post Edited (afreshstart) : 7/14/2014 1:56:51 PM (GMT-6)

hey there, i can relate. of all spine surgeons i would say 15-20% are good with few very good. some are jerks. screw him. i thing the EMG is a good idea, MRIs are not conclusive 100% and you may have facet joint arthrosis(opathy), discogenic pain, also a medial branch block test or a facet joint block test may reveal the pain generator. i would just find my own doctor or ask your pain doc for another, they may be friends so hold back on bashing him. i know the blank stare. i cannot stand it. but if the the pain can be controlled without going to ultra high dose meds maybe it is best to not have the ice pick needles inserted through your spinal muscles just to come to one of two outcomes: surgery or a injection of steroids or a radio-frequency nerve ablation that would not be a cure but a pallative treatment? any of the options i would just go to another spine doc. God bless and i will pray for you in this matter. Nick

It's not silly. I'm also one of those very active (and slightly hyper-active type) people who got completely taken out of the game with CP and spine and joint (and other) issues.

When it's in our blood, that love never leaves. I do understand your love for the outdoors and climbing. I miss climbing as well!
M.