Soft tissue injury - whole left side

I've been through a battery of test, and asked questions in other forums. No one has been able to shed some light on my problems. I'm a 31y/o male who is in very good physical condition. I work out 5 times a week, eat well, and all of my physicals are good.

First - the injury: I believe I have some sort of repetitve strain type of injury. Prior to my problems I was regulary lifting wieghts, playing double bass (stand-up bass), and performing remodeling work on my home.

Symptoms started in December and include: extreme tightness in back (from upper down to rib area), muscle twitching, pinching feeling in shoulder, numbness in hand/forearm, shooting pain in bicep, shoulder stiffness and popping, various aches in pains up and down the whole arm, back spasms. To sum it up, every joint/muscle above my waste on the left side has some sort of pain, stiffness, or spasm.

I was referred to a nuerologist who has run lots of tests. MRI's, EMG/NCV, and blood work to rule out inflammitory disease have all come back clean. He has stated that he believes that it is all soft tissue damage. My family doctor said the same thing.

They have told me to rest, and take motrin all day. Also put my on muscle relaxers for my back a couple of days ago. This has been going on for months now, and I feel like I'm not healing.

No one seems to be able to say anything other than rest and take drugs. I can't get a time frame on healing out of anyone. This is very debilitating.

Is soft tissue just a diagnosis used when doctors really don't know what the problem is? Four months ago I was as active as can be. The more I rest, the worse I feel.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Without any pathology it is difficult to diagnose and what I can see is that your present treatment is based more on symptomatic relief.

Your symptoms point towards some problem with your cervical spine which may give related symptoms to your upper limbs or it can be due to local muscle, bone, nerve or tendon involvement in your upper limbs that is the reason your neurologist put you on all those tests.

I would suggest you to rule out muscular sclerosis, motor neuron disease, brachial plexus injury, chronic fatigue syndrome etc. As you do not have these problems since child birth you can rule out muscular dystrophy. I would suggest you to further probe by following up for other auto immune disorders or endocrine disorders for a diagnosis of your symptoms.

Take care!

[achilles2]

Have you had any physical therapy? Another think to possible investigate is complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). I hope you do not have this, but I know when you are searching you just want answers.

Good luck,

achilles2

[Jayson650]

Muscular sclerosis, motor neuron disease, brachial plexus injury have all been ruled out. The nuero also thinks the fascilations are benign. I doubt that I have any sort of chronic fatigue because I'm still going to the gym to do cardio workouts 5 days a week. My legs, heart, and lungs feel fine.

I went on one of those low carb diets back in january, but quit it when I began having the serious symptoms listed above. I'm back to eating a very healthy balanced diet, and have actually gained weight. Could this have anything to do with it? Is it possible to "burn out" your muscles?

It's just really hard for me to understand what is going on with body. I'm taking muscle relaxers all day, and yet I still get muscle twitches.

[achilles2]

If you have not had any relief yet I would find a good chiropractor. Mine has helped both me and my sister with our nerve issues and such.

good luck,

achilles2