Some medical advice, please

[elcondor]

Evening all, I was wondering if anyone here could help me. For about a year now my upper left arm has been almost constantly numb (from the elbow to the shoulder). It has gotten worse ever since I had my wisdom teeth out last summer and the nurse blew a vein in my left arm. Now it's not just numb all the time--if anyone even slightly squeezes my left arm, I get a throbbing pain there for about 15 minutes. The other day, I dropped something I was holding in my left hand when I didn't want to.

In the interest of full disclosure: I get migraines bad enough to need medication, but I have yet to start taking my prescription yet. I have poor circulation in my feet also and am 19. I have never even tried drugs or alcohol.

I have talked to my doctor twice over the course of 6 months about this. He has been my doctor for years and I have no reason to mistrust him, but it's really starting to worry me. My doctor says that it's "transient numbness" (?!) and that my arms are equal in strength and reflexes. But he also said that that truthfully he doesn't know what it is, but he's not worried about it.

I have done online research at webmd.com but have yielded nothing. I have world-class medical facilities less than an hour away if I need them--but I don't want to spend my parents' money (I'm still a dependent) on tests and stuff if I don't need to. I have told my parents about it, but they want me to decide if I want to get an MRI or anything like that.

Is this something I should worry about? Has anyone here had experience with this before? Thanks in advance. I'll check back in the morning and answer any questions.

Please keep this kicked--I'm getting kind of scared, LOL!

[TXvote]

1. I am not a doctor, but

I have had some personal experience with something similar. And yes, it is scary.

My doc reassured me by having me hold my arm over my head while taking my pulse. After it went numb, there was no change in my pulse. That indicated it was not a blocked or pinched vein/ artery. (FYI: you cannot do this test on yourself. It's just physically impossible to take your pulse accurately and hold one arm over your head.) What a relief. Meanwhile, I got some care from a doc that does Vitalistic Chiropractic, a wonderfully gentle alignment technique (not pounding and painful cracking like some chiropractic techniques). One day, suddenly, it just "let go". Never had the symptom again.

Hope that helps.

Peace,
Teresa
www.votervirgin.com

[elcondor]

3. Thanks that does help!

My dad's picking me up for Thanksgiving Break tomorrow--I can have him take my pulse. If my pulse is normal--that will be a big relief! (And I can go to my doctor and tell him what's what! :-) )

[Sting]

2. I don't know about the symptoms you have...

but I would go to another doctor to ask for a second opinion. I'd like to know what the hell is going on. Don't worry about money. It's better to find out what's wrong now instead of it (possibly) being serious somewhere down the road. Hope everything works out well.

[elcondor]

4. I'd like to know what's going on too!

I agree it's better to find out now what's wrong, but I want to be sure it's something to fret about in the first place, you know? Thanks for the advice, though. I appreciate it.

[gmoney]

5. How's your weight?

The poor circulation in the feet could be a sign of Type II diabetes (the kind that people get from sedentary lifestyle and poor diet). It can effect your circulation, and starts in the limbs.

If you're seriously overweight and physically inactive, I'd have them do a blood test to rule out diabetes.

Fuel to the fire, I know. On the other hand, could just be a pinched nerve, or some sort of ergonomic-related thing. (Did you change your computer workspace in the weeks before the numbness started to appear?)

Good luck!

[REP]

15. You're Wrong About Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes strikes thin, active people as well. Yes, some overweight people become diabetics, but researchis showing that the tendancy for diabetes leads to increased weight. A person can do everything right and still end up diabetic.

Even if he had Type 2 diabetes, it would take years of poor control for neuropathy to develop. A blood test wouldn't be out of line, but diabetes doesn't sound likely.

[pasadenaboy]

6. ask him for a referal to a specialist

I wouldn't let this go unknown.

[Wwagsthedog]

8. If you do see a specialist, you might ask for a neurologist

What you described comes close to what I've been told is neuropathy which is a nerve disruption of some kind. Mine developed (allegedly) as a result of chemotherapy but according to the neurologist, there could be other causes too. While you might have full (maybe not as strong) use of your limb(s), your reflexes may have degenerated some, giving a fuzzy type of feeling is s limb or limbs. I posted this as background from which you can as key questions of a knowledgable physician. Hope it helped.

[FloridaJudy]

9. I agree

That sounds a lot more like a pinched nerve than some sort of circulation problem.

[Misinformed01]

7. Just out of curiousity,

what side do you normally sleep on? (not the side of the bed, either! Or the side closest to the bathroom....)

[elcondor]

13. I sleep on my stomach

Yeah, I'm one of the weirdos that sleep on their stomach! :-)

[SOteric]

10. It could be nothing,

a pinched nerve, a mild case of curviture of the spine, stress, a wealth of possibilities come to mind. It also mirrors exactly the difficulties a young man I work with was having a few months before he was diagnosed with relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis. For the sake of your peace of mind, please see a second doctor and ask for an MRI.

DU'ers are a caring and knowledgeable bunch but we're no substitute for the valid research of medical professionals.

Take care of yourself. :pals:

[Sacajawea]

11. LISTEN UP, elcondor. ... HAVE I GOTTEN YOUR ATTENTION?

I'm an RN (registered nurse), not a doctor. And I only have a couple of years of experience (and that mostly in a well-baby newborn nursery.) But I have worked on medical/surgical floors of hospitals taking care of adults for short periods of time and here is the advice I have for you:

1) I believe you need to see a NEUROLOGIST as soon as possible. You say this has been going on for over a year now. This is hardly normal. You mention you've seen your doctor several times and that you've known him for years and that he's admitted that he doesn't know what the problem is. I'll go out on a limb and take a guess that this doctor is either a "general practitioner" or a "family practice" physician. Well....IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. YOU NEED TO SEE A SPECIALIST, and a neurologist is probably the place to start. But it could also very well be a problem whose origin is orthopedic in nature (bones and stuff), so you may also need to see an orthopedist (or possibly even an orthopedic surgeon). In any case, you'll probably need an MRI at the very least (and probably other tests too) to GET SOME CONCRETE INFORMATION. A problem such as the one you describe is not likely to just "go away of its own accord." Also, the fact that you unintentionally dropped something out of your hand is worrisome. I don't want to frighten you, but they may want you to have an MRI (or other test) of the brain also. And probably x-rays of the cervical spine (the neck area) as well as x-rays of the arm/shoulder.

2) If you have migraines bad enough to have been given prescription medication, an MRI of the brain may also be warranted.

3) What is also quite troubling is this "poor circulation" you describe in your feet. You are 19 years old. Does this sound normal to you? You probably need to see a VASCULAR specialist who may want some more tests (usually an ultrasound-type test - messy with the goo they put on you, but painless). MRIs, I should mention, are also painless (except for having to hold perfectly still for a while).

4) You don't mention if your "doctor" has has all the routine blood work done. This, of course, should be done as a matter of course to give a first indication of some type of problem.

You didn't mention if your parents have health insurance coverage or not. If they DO, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for you not to pursue these issues (ASAP) at these nearby "world class medical facilities."

If your parents do NOT have health insurance, then you'll need to do whatever you have to do (see someone at the Dept. of Social Services or possibly a clinic). You MOST DEFINITELY need to get a second opinion about your arm and the issues about your migraines and poor circulation also need to be addressed.

Get moving NOW!

Ronni (a cranky nurse)

[FloridaJudy]

12. If his parents don't have insurance

There's a possibility he could be be covered by "Children's Medical Services"; they'll sometimes take people up to the age of twenty-one. And I agree: this person needs a neurologist!

Another cranky RN.

[elcondor]

14. Thank you Ronni

Please check your PM inbox.

[bmbmd]

16. I hate to agree with a cranky nurse

but this time I do. A cephalic vein thrombus is another likely possibility with your history of venous trauma. A doppler could confirm this. Best wishes.

[geniph]

21. What Ronni said!

Get thee to a neurologist, stat!

[4323Lopez]

17. see a doctor

this ain't webmd.com

[elcondor]

18. I understand that

But after checking with my doctor and a credible medical site and returning empty handed, I figured I would tap into the 35,000 people here and see if anyone had any advice. From the sounds of it, this is something potentially serious enough to warrent getting a second opinion from another doctor at least.

I know that the internet should never take the place of a doctor or anyone like that--but I was getting worried and wondered if I was being paranoid.

[Enraged_Ape]

19. Physical therapist here

There are many things that could produce these symptoms, from relatively benign issues that are dealt with easily to more serious ones. But these are not normal symptoms you describe.

Please add me to the chorus of voices that are imploring you to see a NEUROLOGIST instead of an internist, family practitioner, etc.

[proud patriot]

20. Please see a Doctor n/t

[Sacajawea]

22. Check your PM, elcondor......

Another long-winded missive from the cranky nurse. :D