rotator cuff tear or not

[christineh]

I was injured at work.  employer had me pic own doc.  this doc said herniated discs at c4-5 and c6-7.  had 2 level ACDF with plates and screws.  also saw DDD at c5-6.  still having neck/shoulder/arm pains and some headaches starting from base of scull going to temples.  will i live with this forever?  also, first doc diagnosed small tear in rotator cuff.  IC(insurance company) docs wanted to put this off till surgery for herniated discs.  now, after surgery, IC sent me to their choice of doc and he said rotator cuff tendonitis. prescribed 3 wks of PT.  therpists noted no improvement after 3 weeks and doc released me without furthur treatment. from time shoulder started to hurt till now, it is "hanging".  most movements hurt/burn.  I requested another doc from IC.  this was an IME and he said it's arthritis.  will arthritis cause your shoulder to hang and constantly be in pain?  can diagnosis go from small tear in rotator cuff, to rotator cuff tendonitis to arthritis?  I have no health insurance of my own.  I don't feel like this is good.  any answers would be helpful.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the internet unfortunately

I would need to see the MRI scans and have more details also, such as what kind of truama and how long ago.
Surgery for herniated discs is mainly done to prevent neurological disability and does not garauntee relief of pain - there may be alot of muscle spasm after surgery also. If persisent of worsneing neurological symptoms develop like loss of use of the arm, spasticity in the legs or difficultyt urinating this needs another evaluation, such as for a retained disc fragment.

Rototor cufftears are a clinical diagnosis, although MRI of the shoulder can also find them. They are usually treated conservatively, so surgery is not necessarily done.

A hanging shoulder after surgery can be due to a nerve injury to the muscle that holds the shoulder up. A neurologist should evaluate this as if a nerve injury is present it may be repaired if diagnosed within a few months.

Good luck

[christineh]

oh, i also had tendonitis of left elbow in 2003.  now have tingling and numbness in pinky and ring finger on that side.  also tendonitis of right elbow in 2005.  some tingling and numbness in right pinky only.  is this a lasting effect?  does tendonitis ever "heal".

[markbos]

You cannot go from a rotator cuff tear to tendonitis and then to arthritis.  It sounds like the insurance company and IME doctor are trying to find a way to deny you proper treatment by making it seem that your problem was not a work related injury.  You must realize that the IME doctor and insurance company doctor get paid from your employer and have a financial self-interest in denying you proper medical treatment.  You need to find an independent orthopedic surgeon, not one associated with your company, for a 2nd opinion.  For what it's worth, I would trust the doctor that you picked out for yourself far more than the doctor from the insurance company.

[mike1105]

i agree with markbos----the IME docs/insurance company are not on your side from a financial perspective and therefore the temptation exists for them not to be on your side medically. use your own doctors exclusively. regarding the elbows, it's most likely ulnar nerve neuropathy---- look it up on the internet.

[childrenrtreasures]

I agree with Mike...it sounds like a problem with the ulnar nerve. I have cubital tunnel syndrome (my cubital tunnel compresses the Ulnar nerve) and it causes numbness and tingling in my ring finger and pinky...it also causes a feeling like
getting my "funny bone" bumped.

I get rotator cuff tendonitis (and tendonitis in other areas too) because of thyroid disease. I really don't know why it causes tendonitis but treatment has helped some. I'm not suggesting that you have thyroid disease...just relating.

Kelly

[deadlytide]

I have found these posts give information very similar to my condition.In short I first got shoulder and neck pain with tingling in thumb and pointer finger.Recieved ultrasound, nerve conduction tests,therapy and two MRIs.MRIs showed herniated disc c4-c5.After 6 months of traction and other stretching activities shoulder and neck pain worsened.The second MRI showed an improvement.Now my upper left arm meets with an enormous amount of resistance when trying to reach or lift.It just wont.My lower arm is fine with the tingling now gone for months.I have a lot of discomfort in my neck and shoulder and havent slept through the night for about six months now.

[NikNac]

I got hurt at work and my pinky finger and the top part of my ring finger has been numb for awhile now..been to PT and nothing has improved but when being sent to a neurologist WC won't approved for me to go there.. What should I do?