Need advice on pinched nerve...

[RagAss]

In mid-December I pinched a nerve while exercising. Numbness in right hand pinky and ring finger. Weakness in right hand and right triceps. Saw an ortho a few weeks later..said the mri showed I had stenosis(something I was born with) and this was the cause. Wants to operate immediately. The thing is, both my hand and triceps are showing a gradual improvement since the injury(physical therapy exercises I got from some web sites).........my question is..am I being rushed into a surgery without giving enough time to consider if I can regain more strength back and recover....??...would really like to avoid this surgery if there is a chance it is not critical...... I know the nerve was pinched...one side only and I have no other symptoms of cervical stenosis....ortho claims the stenosis is behind the injury and I need to get the surgery to prevent future damage even though it will not help me with the pinched nerve....just doesn't make sense to me.....also..after my mri at his office I sat and waited 3 weeks to see him...if the finding was that remarkable, shouldn't I have been called to the office immediately?????...

[MercutioATC]

1. Is this doctor a specialist?

Whether he is or not, you may want a second opinion (something only a doctor should do).

[uppityperson]

2. If you are improving, keep doing what you are doing

That's my advice. Get a second opinion is the best advice. Have you seen a (decent) chiropractor or had massage also? How about physical therapy to stretch and strengthen associated muscles?

[RagAss]

13. that's my next move a nuerologist/chiropractor and thanks...

[baby_bear]

3. question

In your ring finger, is the numbness limited to one side of the finger? If so, which?

b_b

[RagAss]

10. side closest to the pinky....thanks

[baby_bear]

20. information about your ulnar nerve problem

http://neurosurgery.ucla.edu/Diagnoses/PeripheralNerve/PeripheralNerveDis_6.html

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=143&topcategory=Arm

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/t/thoracic_outlet_syndrome/intro.htm

Surgery doesn't seem unreasonable, but non-surgical options would seem to be prudent
to try first, depending upon the degree of disability this is causing you.

I don't know where you live, but in major cities there are hand specialists who
would be able to advise you and give a seoond opinion.

Surgery is scary and risky. Take good cautions, but this is a quality of life issue
for you, so keep that in mind too.

Good luck to you.

b_b

[RagAss]

23. Thanks a billion

[jlayson]

4. Chiropractor

that's the ticket brother

[RagAss]

11. thanks...actually my next appt. is with a Nurologist/Chiro.....

[Straight Shooter]

5. We're not supposed to give advice, but ...

... my advice is get a second opinion. (And listen to your gut.)

Good luck.

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. I stay away from the butchers

Research it on your own, but everything I've seen tonight recommends surgery as a final option, when pain doesn't resolve on its own. One day, you may need relief ... it is a progressive disease.

[RagAss]

14. good to hear...I'm a progressive too...hahhaa...thanks for caring...

I appreciate the advice Fredda.....

[AtomicKitten]

7. I am in the medical field.

The problem with a "pinched nerve" is that without decompression, the nerve will become attenuated and the symptoms may become permanent although improved with physical therapy.

However, I would definitely seek a second opinion perhaps with a neurosurgeon who sometimes work in tandem with orthopedic surgeons in spine cases.

Best of luck.

[RagAss]

16. Thanks...I appreciate it...

[JanusAscending]

22. Let me tell you what happened to me.

Then you decide for yourself. For some unknown reason I developed what my hand Specialist called "trigger thumb" It would "click" and lock every time I moved it (at the first knuckle) The tendons were inflamed and I had a lot of pain at the base of the thumb..in the "meaty" part near the palm. They did all kinds of nerve tests, and decided to try direct cortisone injections into the base of the thumb. I will tell you that this hurt like a son of a bitch, but after two injections the pain went away. I had been scheduled for surgery, but I canceled it. It has been alright ever since and that was over ten years ago. Every once in a while I'm getting the same sensations on the thumb of the other hand, but they don't last. If it happens again, I will take the same course of action. I've known many people who have had Carpel tunnel surgery that helped for a while, but symptoms returned.

[RagAss]

24. That's what I've been hearing..... repetitive surgery...

it will only be my last resort.....thank you for the advice....

[AtomicKitten]

28. trigger thumb is a ligamentous problem.

however, carpal tunnel can have a similar outcome as I described above if not treated. Often people wait too long and by then there is so much damage to the nerve, the surgery at that time really is just palliative.

Definitely seek a second opinion.

[Dr.Phool]

8. Definitely get a second opinion.

They diagnosed my father with stenosis, and tried to talk him into surgery for 10 years. After he moved and got a different doctor, turns out he didn't have stenosis. Had arthritis.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. I don't know much about "cervical stenosis"...

but do believe that surgery should be a last resort (please get a second opinion!). I had a pinched nerve in my neck and did a combination of massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture. At home I did heat/ice, stretches, glucosamine chondroitin, and 800 mg Motrin. I'm not suggesting this "regimen" would work for you; I'm merely suggesting that there might be alternatives before surgery. Good luck! :-)

[RagAss]

12. how long until your recovery,,???

[WorseBeforeBetter]

21. Well, I occasionally have mild discomfort...

like today, because I've been painting (ceilings are killers...). But generally, I'm pain-free and just have to watch it. I'm still not clear on what brought on the pinched nerve; think it's a combination of getting older and disk degeneration in my neck, sitting incorrectly at a computer for well over a year (trying for privacy in cubesville), too thick a pillow, and a mattress falling on my head when flipping it (don't laugh, I heard a scrunch...LOL). One thing my massage therapist stressed is heat/ice/stretching and while I'm not as good about it as I should be, it definitely provided relief.

I just Googled "cervical stenosis" and surgery seems to be the recurring theme, so please don't think I'm suggesting having needles stuck in to you with New Age music piped in the background as the answer. It probably would provide relief though, unless you're needle-phobic. :-) Please get a second (or even third?) opinion.

P.S. I know what you mean re the "urgency." It took my HMO a year to determine what was wrong after finally ordering an MRI. It's easier to write Xanax prescriptions than pony up for an MRI--my doc actually thought the pain was because of anxiety! After the MRI, I was bombarded with referrals and spent SO much time going to PT, massage, and acupuncture. It was crazy, but mmm, did it feel good.

[RagAss]

25. ....I'm an computer programer .... 20 years..

I am not needle phobic and would prefer it to surgery any day.....thanks

[WorseBeforeBetter]

29. On computers all day at work...

then for hours and hours at home. They're killing us. LOL I'm pulling the plug and going to bed - goodnight! :-)

[AtomicKitten]

30. cervical stenosis is bony encroachment upon the spinal nerves

that often requires decompressive surgery for relief.

[dweller]

15. Acupunture

my recommendation. Chiropractors use it also.

dp

[RagAss]

17. I've heard great things about it......definately an option thanks

[bostonbabs]

18. read Dr.John Sarno on healing back pain

...they tried to say I would have drop foot forever...it was scary ..my left foot slapped as I walked ...I could not feel it.....I let my body heal itself.I have been pain free for 4 years....do Yogaaaaaa 2 times a week . I am more flexible than I have been in my entire life. I used lots of ice and motrin and stretching exercises to start...and very deep breathing...I learned that I was a "shallow breather" and have a marked difference in my breathing pattern.....it oxogenates the body...you may not think it now but you can with diligence be better than you ever have been....Good Luck to you.

[RagAss]

26. Thanks bostonbabs.....Sarno.... I'll pick it up

[rumpel]

19. They wanted to fuse my neck 12 years ago, I refused and I am glad.

4 weeks of physical therapy, oh I loved that warm pad on my neck and back...not so much the weight to pull my neck. I was told it will come back. Sure enough years later it did, but a good chiropractor, a little bit of exercise once in a while does the trick for me. With me it was the 5th & 6th disks, my whole left arm was numb.

[RagAss]

27. you give me hope........ thanks

[Autumn Colors]

31. Find a hand specialist

Get a second opinion from a hand specialist. As someone mentioned above, with any type of nerve injury, there's a risk of it becoming permanent (and there's a window of time involved - which is why they may have been rushing you since some time has already passed). If you happen to live in Connecticut - I know chances are slim, but if you do, send me a message. I used to do transcription for a hand surgeon that I would recommend highly.

[RagAss]

32. thanks Autumn..... I will look into that... actually I was born and

raised in Stamford, but have been living in Florida for 10 years now....

[mvd]

33. Locking

DUers are not qualified to give the medical advice you need. Either consult your doctor, or other medical professionals. Sending good vibes your way.