Can someone please steer me in the right direction? Please

Posted by skylee @skylee, Jul 22, 2023

Hi, I am Lori and I am at a loss. On March 7th I had surgery on my elbow. I have had 11 surgeries prior to this and I've never had a problem with anesthesia, and also know that it does burn for a couple seconds where it is inserted.
before my surgery on March 7th I asked the nurse if she would please put the IV in my arm and not in my hand. She ignored me and put it in my hand I just let it go. Then anesthesia, when the female anesthesiologist was putting the anesthesia through my ID it started burning and I was waiting for it to go away. However it did not, it was the worst excruciating burning pain I have ever felt in my life. It burned so bad for my hand up to my shoulder the whole time she put the anesthesia in my IV. I was crying I looked up to her and asked her to please stop, but she just looked at me didn't say a word and kept pushing the syringe. The male anesthesiologist turned on my heart monitor and it was going crazy. So he yelled at me you have to calm down. So I just laid there and cried until I went to sleep. I woke up went home I tried to forget about it. 3 days later my arm started going numb from my hand to my shoulder. this isn't a light tingling this is like when your foot falls asleep and you can't walk on it feeling. Sometimes I feel pain sometimes I feel burning. It is hard for me to grasp something get a good grip on it, and I even dropped a few items since then. This has been going on every day all day since March 10th. My arm is perfectly fine before I went into surgery now this. And that was of neurologist virtually, she said it sounded like I have carpal tunnel or overtime nerve damage and that maybe the anesthesia exasperated it. So on Thursday I had an EMG done to see if I have carpal tunnel or overtime nerve damage. The test was negative no carpal tunnel no overtime nerve damage. so the neurologist message sent me a message online and it just said your EMT was normal that's it. So I had a message back and ask her what do I do now? I like my arm is going on this I'm not faking this there is a problem and I need it identified and corrected so what do I do now? She responded I can get you a referral to neuro muscular that's exactly what she said and that was it. she put it to where I can't respond to her messages now. I am not out to sue anybody or anything I just want to find out the problem and get it fixed but I think that everybody thinks I'm going to sue so they don't want anything to do with me. So what am I supposed to do how am I supposed to prove that my arm is going numb and get it fixed when nobody will even help me? please somebody please if you're if you respond like nobody else does can somebody steer me in the right direction I'm getting frustrated and running out of options. Thank you have a blessed day Lori

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@skylee
I wonder if a second opinion with another anesthesiologist would be of any help?
What does your primary care doctor have to say??
Good luck,
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@skylee
I wonder if a second opinion with another anesthesiologist would be of any help?
What does your primary care doctor have to say??
Good luck,
Jake

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I talked to someone in anesthesia at the place I had this done and he said that anesthesia would not cause numbness and I said it wasn't the anesthesia it was the anesthesiologist the way they administered it I don't think it went up my arm right and then he changed his tune and he just said to let me know what happens after the EMG but I haven't called him back yet. And I haven't contacted my primary position yet either so thank you for the good advice. and thank you for responding and thanks for the good luck cuz I do need it LOL

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@skylee
I wouldn’t contact an anesthesiologist at the same facility that you went to.
I’d be afraid that they’re trying to protect their own. Just a thought.
Take care,
Jake

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@skylee Hi Lori, I would ask your neurologist to test you for small fiber neuropathy (invisible on EMG/NCS) via punch biopsies. Also - I hate to even suggest this - but, CRPS is also a possibility, since it sounds like you had a traumatic surgery experience. I've got both of those, and I had 3 elbow surgeries to repair nerve damage, one of which, ended up being an I & D (incision/drainage) for a septic blood clot (long story). That was 2019 - I still have post-op pain 4 yrs later and a plethora of other menacing problems in both arms / legs. I say all that not to complain, but to say it's possible there's something bigger here going on - hopefully not - and someone has the answers. It took a team of Dr's to be able to diagnose "all the things" for me, and it took many years. I hope you can find solace and relief very soon, I truly do. I hope the pain resides and never comes back. And, I hope more than anything, that someone can look you in the eyes and tell you exactly what's going on and how to proceed. Sending you good vibes from me ... hang in there, you got this.

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If it were me I would use the referral . I would think neuro muscular are the people with the right kind of knowledge to get you some answers . Today’s medicine is pretty specialized and nerve issues can be very confounding .
I know the feeling when it seems the Doctor doesn’t believe what you’re saying when explaining your symptoms . I think it’s because they don’t know how to help . Neuro IMHO should be your next step .
I hope things get better for you and you find peace .

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@yojimbob

If it were me I would use the referral . I would think neuro muscular are the people with the right kind of knowledge to get you some answers . Today’s medicine is pretty specialized and nerve issues can be very confounding .
I know the feeling when it seems the Doctor doesn’t believe what you’re saying when explaining your symptoms . I think it’s because they don’t know how to help . Neuro IMHO should be your next step .
I hope things get better for you and you find peace .

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Previous Message was for @skylee

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You might try contacting the manufacturer of the particular anesthesia used to see if any one else has reported a similar reaction.

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@jakedduck1

@skylee
I wouldn’t contact an anesthesiologist at the same facility that you went to.
I’d be afraid that they’re trying to protect their own. Just a thought.
Take care,
Jake

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Absolutely agree that you should not seek any advice from within the same medical group/hospital.
I had serious issues with two orthopedists (one for foot, other for shoulder) at our medical group. I sought doctors OUTSIDE that group. I wanted no "collaboration" or corroboration by doctors who would not go against what a colleague has said or done. It was the best decision possible because both my foot/ankle and the shoulder/arm injuries were substantial and yet each of the orthopedists at my original medical group staunchly denied that I actually had the traumas that were later substantiated by the doctors from OUTSIDE the original practice. Bottom line: I got the medical attention that my injuries required, and although my foot/ankle still has nerve issues, my shoulder/arm is 98% pain free. Where the original foot orthopedist had REFUSED to order an MRI (claiming that he saw no need, even with the evident swelling, my Pain Level as high as 8, and the nerve conduction studies results), the NEW medical practice went on the record as stating that a year later I STILL had swelling and ordered additional MRIs, which supported his diagnosis of damages to the foot/ankle and nerve damage up the leg and to my shoulder joint and tendons.
Do yourself a favor and seeks recommendations for reputable doctors OUTSIDE your present medical group. Be prepared to possibly just leave that group altogether. That is what I have done, so that only my outstanding primary care physician is in the "old" group. Do what is best for YOU. Of course they are thinking that you will bring a case against them. But you need to get help for your pain first and foremost. And at least consider getting advice (as I did) from a law firm dealing with injuries. No cost if the suit is lost. Lawyers do not favor losing their client's rightful case. In my situation, the suit is against the facility wherein I had a horrific fall against a concrete floor. At this point, I am not doing anything about the original medical practice because I fear they will dismiss me and then I'll lose my outstanding primary. Yes, she is EXCELLENT, and documented EVERYTHING that was resulting from the fall so that my medical records are "evidence."
Best of luck to you. Remember: Think of what YOU need.

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@jakedduck1

@skylee
I wonder if a second opinion with another anesthesiologist would be of any help?
What does your primary care doctor have to say??
Good luck,
Jake

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Thank you so much for the advice I am currently trying to find other anesthesiologists to see what they say. I have not contacted my primary physician I am doing that tomorrow. I will keep everyone updated as I go through this process ..thank you. Take care

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Wow...you really have been through it . Sorry you had to go through all of that. But I am glad you are where you need to be. It is so nice to have someone share their story so it can help me to know what to do next. Thank you so much for sharing and I hope all works out for the best for you! I wish you and yours a lifetime of good health. And happiness

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