How do I research problems with pinched nerves? - Fibromyalgia Message Board

Kaetea1 · 10-10-2006, 12:27 PM

I am so frustrated I could scream. I went to my doctor because I have numbness in both of my thumbs with tenderness and pain up my arm. I also have tingling, itchy crawlies over my torso and back and my upper legs. My MD sent me to a Neurologist who I thought was going to do a full work up to find out where the problem originates. Instead he tested for carpel tunnel with both a Nerve Conduction and EMG. It turns out I don't have carpel tunnel. I could have told him and my doctor that. The problems with my hands and arms are just the tip of the ice burg.

How do I research this so I can explain to my MD what is going on, and what I want from him? How do I get the tests I need to diagnose the problem.

I have fibromyagia. As a result I have many muscle spasms and knots in my back. I can't get the knots to release. This condition is chronic. I am seeing a chiropractor and getting a massage three days a week. It is helping, but it doesn't give me the diagnosis I need for work. I spend 7.75 hours keyboarding at about 85 wpm. The stress from my work magnifies the condition and gives no relief to the muscle spasms in my back. I just don't know how to research this. :-(

Aquaticgirl · 10-17-2006, 03:54 PM

Hang in there, okay. It WILL get better. I promise.

KissAmeGal · 10-18-2006, 05:51 PM

hiya!

I also have FM and just recently dx'd. Mine all started with going to my Ortho, as i have cervical spondylitis and pinched nerves in my back. As i gave him an ear ful with everything that i had going on,,,,,he said that ALL that is not from a pinched nerve. So he started referring me to other specialists. first was 1st neuro, who did the NCT.....i also had an EMG done a few years back.....he r/o carpel tunnel, then 2nd neuro.....who r/o MS, just by looking at the clear mri's. then to a rheumy, to see if i had RA......which i don't. but this is when i was d/x'd with FM. which was on my 3rd visit to rheumy. I took it upon myself to go to a neuro surgeon, cause if all this was from my cervical spondylitis.......i was definitely thinking of surgery.

Well.......no surgery needed. and this neuro surgeon referred me to an MS Specialist. as he thinks also, as does my ortho, that i do have MS.
Right now it's in the ruling out phase, since their are alot of other illnesses that mimic MS. I go back to neuro on Nov. 2nd. Still waiting to hear about lab results, she said she would call me if anything came back abnormal. So i'm patiently waiting to hear from her.

It may take some time to figure out was is going on. the waiting is worse than the knowing.

I also had all these similar symptoms about 4 yrs. ago, and saw most of the same doctors. this is also why some are thinking ms. the symptoms were not severe back then........as they are now.

Hang in there!

pjdxxxw · 10-19-2006, 08:35 PM

You have to be blunt with doctors and tell them exactly what you put here. Much of diagnosing has to do with symptoms you experience and when. What comes to my mind (as an RN and someone who also works on the computer for long hours at times) is your posture when you are working. Are you bend over at all? If so, you may need to change your chair for one that will be more able to keep your back upright, for example. I have found that if I slump I have a lot more problem with pain and tightness.
The EMG is a diagnostic tool to tell how the nerves tranfer messages to the muscles, etc. This may be more of a muscle problem from how you work than a nerve disorder. Is is possible to do another job temporarily (away from keyboards or computers) to see if your symptoms improve any? I would think a 2 week transfer to a job that keeps you moderatly busy with a variety of positions (delivering, filing, answering phone) would tell if it is nerve or muscle for sure. Perhaps the doctor will write you a temporary note for you job to try out the muscle vs nerve theory because over tight muscles can indeed put pressure on nerves to cause parasthesia distal to the pressure area. Good luck.