Posted by Larry Hoover on March 25, 2007, at 10:47:53
In reply to Re: Anyone have ulnar nerve problems before? » Larry Hoover, posted by thuso on March 25, 2007, at 9:34:30
> > I have it. I have had significant symptoms for greater than two years. Mine evolved from a simple ulnar neuropathy to become the more systemic neuropathy called complex regional pain syndrome.
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> How interesting. My pain and then numbness/tingling only started in December. We tried waiting it out, splinting, and PT. Since nothing is working, we are opting for surgery. After reading some about recovery, I thought it was better to get it done sooner than later because I don't want my nerve to get scar tissue or get to a point that even surgery won't help anymore.I'll never know what impact prompt surgical intervention might have had.
> > Our paths diverge already, as I did not have the surgery. Long story why not.
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> > In my case, the nerve was thought to be too agitated? excited? whatever the term ought to be, to further aggravate it by moving it. It just never settled down enough that we could proceed with surgery.
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> > I think I understand something of what you're going through. Happy to talk about it, here, or via babblemail.
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> hmmm...what does agitated or excited really mean? It's never been brought up to me, so I guess I don't have that problem. So does this mean that your nerve will never get better and you just have to live with the pain?I was struggling to describe a raw nerve. It didn't occur to me to just say that. It's like a toothache in my arm. Like ramming my 'funny bone' really hard, only all the time. I've just gone through some rather intensive psychotherapy to help me to come to some kind of acceptance, that maybe this will be with me for a very long time. Prognosis is totally uncertain, and I remain very vulnerable to triggering severe pain flares. My most recent pain questionnaire ranked me at the 92nd percentile, constant debilitating pain, extreme.
> I totally thought this was a long shot, but it is really nice to know other people have had the same thing.You'll note that Nicky had the surgery, and I didn't, and we both progessed to complex regional pain syndrome. That's merely our experience. Your information that most people go on to have a full recovery is correct. However, some people prove to be the exceptions.
I think your prognosis remains excellent, and I'd go ahead with the surgery. Promptness of intervention is a major factor in outcome. Bureaucratic delay delayed things months at a time, for me, at multiple points. So....I may serve as the "don't let this happen to you" exemplar.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:743519
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20070227/msgs/744107.html