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Illusive Diagnosis, Pain Increasing
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Oct 6 1:44am | Replies (43)Comment receiving replies
Jeannie, you’re very welcome! I do think they help me, maybe I should try wearing them during the day too! What is crazy is that I’ve read that exercising my hands/wrists also helps so that would seem the total opposite!🙄 I do both, and keep my fingers crossed (for exercise!) P.S. I was diagnosed with idiopathic SFN 3 yrs. ago and still wonder if my feet/hand issues are not a spine issue since I have degeneration/stenosis/scoliosis; my EMG’s were fine and no biopsy because my neuro felt she would treat me the same. (gabapentin) Since I would not consider any surgery and do P/T and exercise I’m ok with that for now. Helen
Replies to "Jeannie, you’re very welcome! I do think they help me, maybe I should try wearing them..."
Years ago I had carpal tunnel in my wrist from overuse due to my job. My orthopedic dr. Prescribed Celebrex but it tore up my stomach so I asked for an alternative. He sent me to PT and prescribed a wrist brace to wear at night and during the day too, if needed. It held my wrist in the correct position. The PT was just simple exercises, but helped So Much!
As for the neuropathy, I also had the emg testing that showed nothing wrong, so my pinched nerves were the cause of mine. I think the remaining issues both in my feet and in my hands are more pinched nerves, I wish we could go in there with a rotor rooter and clean out all the bone Spurs!
Just another opinion, when testing doesn’t give any answers, don’t think you’re a hypochondriac or crazy. There’s just more searching needed. I had 4 different opinions before finding a doctor who actually listened. One doctor here in my area who is highly regarded, told me not to talk, he was going to be like judge Judy and ask the questions! Btw, he did not show me the MRI report when he met with me, just gave his opinion said it was my SI joints most likely. I’m going on and on but just can’t believe how arrogant some doctors are.
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I have ankle exercises I do throughout the day and when in the pool to try and keep up range of motion. There may be more in the future. Since we don't know 100% what we are dealing with, my docs are holding off on a treatment plan for now. You may have read above that my 1st set of EMGs were considered normal or negative. The EMG at Mayo was much more extensive. It was painful, though. And it didn't dictate much in the way of treatment planning but rather gave me another piece to the puzzle. I have nothing to back this up and am not a physical health professional but I suspect there is a type of inflammation that happens in the spine and/or surrounding tissue that they have yet to identify in current blood work and imagining. But, as your doctor said, I don't know that would equal a solution. I am kind of okay with that, though. I have told my doctors that I am not interested in a bunch of drugs if I can avoid it. It really is just helpful for me to have "pockets" and vocabulary for what is happening in my body. It helps me in setting expectations, etc. Glad to hear the PT and exercise are working so well for you! (I love my PT guy!)