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@franmarz Welcome to Connect. I know it is difficult to be in pain, and sharing knowledge with others can help you get control of your health and advocate for what you need with your doctors. I have had a spine problem with cervical spinal stenosis, thoracic outlet syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome affecting the same arm at the same time. I did have a C5/C6 spinal fusion surgery at Mayo that relieved the spine generated pain and dysfunction.
Questions like these can help your doctors figure out where the issues are. How did your pain come about? Did you have a recent injury or fall? Is this a new pain or something that you've had before? Have you ever had a whiplash?
All the symptoms you mention could be associated to thoracic outlet syndrome, or a spine problem with nerve roots getting pinched, spinal cord compression, or compressed nerves further down the pathway to your arm and hand or any/all of the above. The MRI should show something if it is a spine problem and they are looking at your neck. If it is TOS, often that doesn't show on an MRI. That is a compression of nerves after leaving the spine that happens between the collar bone and rib cage. I have had times when I could not turn my head because of TOS. Has this changed your breathing or your heart rate? Do you also have neck pain?
Do your symptoms get better or worse when you lay down? Does your hand turn bluish and get cold? When did this problem start? Was there an event that started it, and was there any sound associated with that in your neck? Does an ice pack or a heat wrap help the pain?
When you have shooting pain like a burning stabbing electric pain, that often is a sign of a nerve compression. Nerves travel through some pretty small spaces in the body. Does it help to prop up your arm of support your neck and not move? Does change of body or neck position increase or decrease your pain? Does bending your elbow or wrist increase the pain? Do you have headaches, and where? Are there other symptoms that I didn't ask about?
Have you looked up the spine surgeon that you will be seeing?
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Thank you for your reply, this is all very helpful.
Since posting yesterday, I have been able to confirm MRI C1 - T1 on Thurs 1/5/23 morning. It is difficult to type and I had a headache yesterday, so I waited to reply. Concerning questions in your reply:
1. How did your pain come about? While addressing a partial tendon tear near my Rt elbow with PRP, I started to experience tingling throughout my Rt arm. Every day the tingling got stronger until I wasn't able to function due to extreme nerve pain in whole arm and intense ache in all arm joints.
2. Did you have a recent injury or fall? Not recently.
3. Is this a new pain or something that you've had before? Never had this before.
4. Have you ever had a whiplash? Yes, very bad whiplash while in high school 1975-76 (gymnastics fall) that was only treated with collar and Tylenol 3.
5. Has this changed your breathing or your heart rate? Yes, I have times of elevated temperature (hot and cold sweats), with increased heart rate, and labored breathing.
6. Do you also have neck pain? Only when turning my head to the right, looking over my shoulder. I've been applying cold gel packs to my Rt scapular area whenever possible during the day and pretty much every night, that helps me to fall asleep.
7. Do your symptoms get better or worse when you lay down? Cannot lay flat, need to elevate my upper back, neck & head. But laying down does not change the symptoms.
8. Does your hand turn bluish and get cold? I did notice my hand being somewhat bluish, but I've been living with a heating pad wrapped around my arm, elbow to hand, so not sure if it was colder.
9. When did this problem start? Thanksgiving weekend.
10. Was there an event that started it, and was there any sound associated with that in your neck? Not that I recall. It started slow with only tingling.
11. Does an ice pack or a heat wrap help the pain? Ice seems to sooth my back and heat soothes my arm, but pain is still present.
12. Does it help to prop up your arm of support your neck and not move? Yes, I've been resting my arm on a pillow next to me with another supporting my head, and I limit movement.
13. Does change of body or neck position increase or decrease your pain? Both, depending on the movement.
14. Does bending your elbow or wrist increase the pain? It did increase the pain, but now after Medrol Pack, it only increases the tingling...and this morning my last 3 fingers (middle, ring, pinky) have stiffness and locking when typing.
15. Do you have headaches, and where? Yes, around my forehead and the top of my head.
16. Are there other symptoms that I didn't ask about? Yes, just the finger stiffness and locking that started this morning, mentioned in #14. I've also felt nauseous since this all began, more so the last 3 weeks, so I've lost my appetite...and lost 6 pounds.
17. Have you looked up the spine surgeon that you will be seeing? Yes, and I feel good with him but haven't met him yet. I also have a friend who is a spinal pain management physician in the same practice who is tracking with me and will review the surgeon's notes after the 1/10/23 visit. If I can find help/healing without surgery, that's my preference.
Thanks again Jennifer, I truly appreciate your input.