chronic pain, redness and swelling in hands and wrist

Question

For the last year and a half I've had moderate to severe pain, redness, warmth and swelling in both hands, I've been to at least 7 dr.s with no diagnosis..except for Chronic pain. Fall of 2007 I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, this started before the surgery and has continued. All tests are negative. I had a stellate nerve block. no help at all...also 2 courses of prednisone were of no help. Currently seeing a pain management Dr.  Does anyone have any thoughts???

ACHILDOFGOD · Answer

I too have undiagnosed chronic pain(different area) and I also had a emg showing no results but the doctor tried me on samples of lyrica anyway just to see what would happen,since thats what they are using for nerve pain. In my case it didn't work but I've talked to alot of people that use it and think it's the new wonder drug for nerve pain. good luck and welcome. this is a great place for info and lots and lots of support. be sure to keep us updated.

SBF · Answer

Hi gal,
I have RSD and if you would like to talk about it I'll be home mid afternoon.   Question, did you notice your symptoms after injury (of any sort), blood draw or medical proceedure?  Has anything in you upper extremeties been immobilized within few months before you niticed pain?
 Best of luck to you, hope isn't RSD but there is a lot of good science now that wasn't there for the friends I have who have been dealing with this 20 years!  SBF

thresa47 · Answer

Thank you for your concern...I saw a different primary care doctor...seems to know what he's talking about. Not just guessing. He says it's one of two things...RSD...which is reflex sympathetic dystrophy  or I have a couple of large discs in my neck...either which could cause my pain...He wants me to try nerve pain med's along with the anti-depressants and see if this helps. Ultimately if it is the rsd, I'll probably have to go with the spinal cord stimulator....If these med's don't help , it most likely is from the discs in my neck and might have to have neck surgery...Either isn't good, but at least I have something to go on now.. I'm trying to learn to cope with this....sometimes I do ok...other times not. I'm glad I found medline...knowing others who are going through the same thing, is really a blessing....Thank you so much and God Bless.....take care yourself....tresa

Toomanyadvil · Answer

Let us know how the appointment goes if you can. I'll be thinking of you and hoping you  get the answers you deserve.

TMA

thresa47 · Answer

Thank you for your reply....it's nice to know someone understands what I am going through. I have another dr appt today...going to press for some kind of answer...my pain management dr. has been very concerned and very caring about how I'm feeling. Treating me now with pain med's and going to start anit-depressants. They can sometimes help..so they say....If this doesn't work it looks like spinal cord stimulatior...this will be the last resort...Thanks again....Tresa

Toomanyadvil · Answer

Hi Tresa.

     I wanted to welcome you to the community. I'm so glad your here!
CP can really effect every aspect of our lives. I know hoe frustrated you must be to have these terrible symptoms and no answeres. 

  You may be having some nereve pain resulting from the carpel tunnel..what I mean by that is,
When our bodies are experiencing pain the receptors in our body send a signal to our spine and then up to our brain which tells us were in pain. After an accident, injury or surgery when our bodies have apparently healed sometimes for a reason unknown to DR's these receptors contuinue to send the message saying were in pain.
It's called Chronic Pain Syndrom and it's a very real condition.
Of course I'm not a DR and dont know if this could even be a possibiliy at all. Just my first thought after you said the DR's have not seen any problem for the pain.

I hope you can get some answeres. If your feeling pain and you know something is wrong, keep talking until someone will listen. Someone out there knows the answere and you deserve it. 

TMA

thresa47 · Answer

Thank you for your reply...nerve tests came back normal...I had emg done before and after...before showed severe bilateral carpal tunnel-afterwards showed nothing....the doctors say it's not related to surgery...thanks for your thoughts...

sandee1818 · Answer

You say you have carpal tunnel does the Dr think this is relative to your pain? 
I see you had the pain before and after surgery so have you had any test for nerve damage? Soft tissue damage can too cause pain. Maybe some of the other members will have some more information for you and I do hope your feeling better soon. 
Good luck