Re: Rt arm, leg, shoulder, foot and left leg & foot pain

[CCF Neurolgy MD - AY]

Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on January 08, 1999 at 06:47:43:

In Reply to: Rt arm, leg, shoulder, foot  and left leg & foot pain posted by Sue H. on January 07, 1999 at 10:36:54:






Two years ago I had a fusion neck surgery at c5-6 for herniation.  They inserted a titanium plate with cadivor bone.  Please excuse spelling.  After surgery I went through therapy which seemed to bring me back to normal for 6 months.  At the present time I have constant pain on my total right side and starting in leg and foot on left side.  If someone were to squeeze an area (example arm) tightly and don't let go, one would start to feel a throbbing constricting type pain as if circulation is being cut off.  This is what I feel constantly on rt hand, arm, leg, foot and starting on left side. I can walk, no tingling, no knumbness.  The pain stays the same except gets more intense if I use my arm for 30 seconds or more or raise it above my head.  At times my hand and arm appears swelled when pain is at it's worst.  I went back to my original doctor and a second opinion which several tests were taken.  Several MRI's, ct scans, a mylogram, blood work and emg.  All turned out normal.  The doctor said possible stenosis and put me on Vicodin pain killers and muscle relaxers.  I was concerned about addiction and he said, Well if it helps the pain, then I wouldn't worry about it.  Another words deal with the pain.  I would like to know what I'm taking a lifetime of pain killers for.  I was hoping that the mylogram would of shown the progress of the cadivor bone underneath the plate, making sure that my body accepted it, but doctor claimed he couldn't see, so he doesn't know.  I have more pain now than I originally had before surgery.  I have a family history of high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis (father's side) and Lupas, diabetis, epilepsy and 3 strokes (mother's side)  I currently take muscle relaxers, vicodin, estratest (hormone therapy).  My cholesteral at weight 117 is 256 which doctor told me to diet.  The next step for me is to go to a doctor who can help me determine why I am having this pain.  Except I have know idea which type of doctor to go to now.  I don't know if this would be vascular, bones, neorology?  I'm 42 and feel I have a lot of years to be active and am tired of doctors just putting me off because I had neck surgery and I'm getting the impression they don't want to deal with another doctors diagnosis or previous surgery.  I don't want to put blame on anyone.  I just want my pain to go away no matter where it's coming from.  My mother was put on pills all her life and I don't want to be in the same position.  I appreciate any advise or avenues I can start with.  Could you suggest which type of doctor I should see next or what these symptoms sound like.Thanks for your time a consideration with this lengthly letter.  Sincerely, Sue H.




Thanks for your questions.  Given the persistence of your pain symptoms, one
should consider a re-evaluation of your surgical site with both neuro-imaging
and electrodiagnostic tests, if those evaluations have not been done in the
last few months.  Amongst the different reasons for the worsening of pain
could be entrapment/compression of neural structures (spinal cord and/or
nerve roots) by scar tissue; instability of the vertebral fusion; continued
irritation of the surrounding soft tissue by the surgical instrumentation, etc.
Therefore, I would recommend a thorough inventigation for possibly reversible
causes of your pain symptoms, before just treating the symptoms with stronger
analgesic agents.  Please discuss these possibilities with your physician.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.