MRI on Shoulder

For several years the Physical Therapists, Medical and Alternative Medicine Doctors, Chiropractors, and others I've seen for my pain and nerve symptoms have convinced me that I have bone/disc issues in several areas of my body -  until recently, for the last 5 months out of three years of treatments where I have been focusing on treatments that deal with bulging discs impeding nerves, decompression, traction, bone vitamins and minerals, yoga, and other exercises and bone- related treatments. Of course, none of these have worked even in the slightest way.

First, I found out that I have a labrum tear in my left hip that I have had for many years and just lived with. No amount of going to a Chiropractor has or will help or heal that. According to Spine Team Spokane, the tear and degeneration, although painful, is too small for surgery. Leaving that aside for now, I think I still have to fix or deal with my shoulder issue first, which is getting older, harder to heal, and is very symptomatic. The symptoms of this tear have overlapped with the shoulder/nerve impingement and made them both worse.

I finally had an MRI of my shoulder and found that I have tendinitis and bursitis of my shoulder caused by damage to a couple of areas near the clavicle that have not healed. In some people this area being inflamed, as mine is, causes neck pain - ergo, in part - the persistent misdiagnosis of my having a disc issue in my neck involving the nerves I have been complaining about. Since  the "pulling" injury I have been unable to write, have pain and numbness in my elbow, fingers, arm (mostly my right arm) have all kinds of back spasms, difficulty walking, slurred speech and a stuffed up nose that gets worse when I sit for a while or lay on my back, a hoarse and gravely voice, vertigo really bad and many other nerve issues. 

In a way, it is really good news that I don't have any spine, disc, bone, issues, just (!) soft tissue damage which believe me is symptomatic enough. But I was hoping for a quick fix, like surgery to heal my shoulder and end these symptoms quickly. What I was told was the nerves that go through the shoulder and back up through the neck cannot be seen in this MRI so they can't be treated and I may have to go to a surgeon eventually. 

Bob and I are going to try to heal this through more natural means by anti--inflammatory drugs - natural or prescribed and exercises, massage therapy, maybe water therapy - which was the first treatment plan someone should have suggested a couple of years ago. I'll also be going on a health kick and trying natural medicines first, but I'll be seeing my medical doctor.

Regardless, I am counting my many blessings, and my spirits are good!

So, the good news for you is unless I have a miraculous healing I probably won't do these updates on my health, I'll just be plugging away at it and of course, asking for your prayers and good thoughts!

X O X

Another Update

The MRI of my left hip shows an old tear of, and some degeneration of the labrum around the socket in the hip.  I remember tearing something there many years ago, in a Junior College Gymnastics class, and I've just lived with the stiffness and pain. It's gotten worse over the years and now I have to have surgery to fix the tear and stop the pain. I told the Dr. I want to put the hip surgery on hold until I get info from the soon-to-be-scheduled MRI of my shoulder.  

(MRI now happening this Friday...news next week.)

The shoulder injury is not healing on its own which indicates it also may be a tear requring surgery, the inflammation is constricting a lot of nerves and causing me to have everything from vertigo, to back spasms, slurred speech, shoulder/back pain, fatigue,  etc., so if I can choose to treat one area first - that would be the shoulder area! More news as I get it...

On May 3rd we're having a big barn/yard sale. I'm excited about that! I think that's the date, that Saturday, 8:30 - 3pm. Washer/dryer, clothes - new things, small electronics, books.....good stuff!

XOX

Appointments Appointments!

I've had a Murphy's Law experience with the MRI's I'm supposed to have - I had my hip MRI done last Thursday, with my follow up appointment late today, but I'm still waiting to get insurance approval for the shoulder MRI. 

 I'll keep posting news to this blog.

XOX

Now Waiting...

I had my MR Arthogram or whatever it's called - today, everything went well - the injections, MRI machine, etc. It took a little longer than I expected though. I have an appointment Monday and I hope the results are in by then. The same procedure is to be done on my shoulder but I'm waiting for my insurance to approve it. Finally! One down, and hopefully both shoulders to go. I hope after these MRIs to have some definitive answers!

It's been beautiful - sunny, breezy, but tons of pollen, so we are hoping for some rain to "ground" the pollen!

I've been cross stitching on my Mom's block. Here's a picture.

X O X

Another Update!

Now that it's clear that the treatments aren't curing my shoulder and hip, I am going to be scheduled for 2-3 MR Angiograms. They will be on on my left hip, right shoulder and hopefully, left shoulder, which also hurts. 

These will probably be done in April. If the inflammation we saw in the shoulder is a tear, I may need surgery. So, I'll keep you all posted, and I'm still begging prayers and good thoughts!

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On a more positive note, the wedding plans are taking shape, and the choices Frank and Theresa have made are so fun! Something to look forward to!

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I'm sewing - I've done some work on Mom's AH block, and I've been working, a little at a time, on my sewing room accessories.

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The weather has been warmer, but this is our rainy month and it is rainy off and on! We've had our share of colds/flus, but I think we're on the mend. 

Love the Spring birds and warmth. Enjoy!

XOX

Starting From Square One…Again!

Every time I go into Spine Team Spokane I learn something new about my conditions.  I am lucky enough to have about 5 separate problems with my ligaments, nerves, tendons, etc. They have all 'ganged' up on me and made my life a 'living hell'. 

However, I am acutely aware that things could be worse, and I should 'count my blessings'. And I do - I could probably count my blessings more often though!

Here's the latest laundry list of my conditions, and of course, although none of them can be treated by surgery and require more  work, at least two have been almost eliminated already through splinting and exercises:

Left neck pain/stiffness due to fall 34 years ago - almost gone due to exercises! I went to chiropractors for years because of this pain.

Right shoulder impingement, shoulder bursitis and tendonitis causing lots of nerve symptoms all over, including loss of fine motor hand\arm skills, vertigo, ear pains, stuffed up nose, slurred speech that comes and goes, back large muscle spasms, and on and on. Had a shot to reduce inflammation and help healing, and also to help me do exercises better. So far, pain is greatly reduced but other symptoms are not - yet!

Left  middle finger, 'trigger finger'- look up if you want, but almost all gone. This was very painful.

Right hip causing aching, pain and numb toes of both feet that worsens when standing. This coming Friday they will give my hip a 'numbness diagnostic shot'. I am praying this works. I've had this since before kids were born. Between this condition and the vertigo - caused by that nerve being pinched - I have a hard time walking.

Vertigo caused by a pinched shoulder nerve. I am doing exercises every day for this, but because the nerve is pinched the exercises only help the vertigo for a couple hours. This won't resolve until the shoulder swelling goes down and frees up the nerves.

I'm really happy about the neck pain being gone! Wow, after all of these years. So, I'm still trying to eliminate what's left (!) and in the meantime, I am sewing and decorating - but slowly for me. 

My new cookie mold - thanks to Mom - and in honor of the Little Sheep flock!

XOX

A Glimmer of Hope! An Update.

I have been putting off this post all day, because I'm so cynical and unbelieving when I get good news about my nerves. 

The last news I gave was that I'm now being treated in a clinic in Spokane, called Spine Team Spokane. They specialize in non-surgical therapies for spines, backs, nerves, bones, muscles, etc. They go over your MRIs (I've had 3) and diagnose your symptoms using your MRIs and your input and an exam that includes a lot of physical testing.  They not only have a medical doctor running the clinic, all of the doctors (there are 3) and the Physician Assistant, are Board Certified, and each has many years experience. 

 Their Physical Therapists are 'McKenzie'

certified, and in the case of my PT,  he is a McKenzie Diplomat (highest you can go). McKenzie trained PTs are highly regarded and trained to get results - go to the Spine Team website and you can look up 'Treatment', then 'Physical Therapy': SpineTeamSpokane

Anyway, I was diagnosed by Spine Team with several problems, each will be dealt with separately, but none of them require surgery, and I have no bulging discs, or nerves being pressed by bulging discs, according to them and the Doctor's reports that came with the MRIs - BY THE WAY, which I never saw, (I saw someone else's) or had the reports read to me. In fact, the MRIs I saw after mine were taken, were very different from the MRIs I saw - by accident -  at the other place 5 months later. Since I've stopped the decompressions, tractions and in general the bone treatments, the pain has reduced, and with the new PT and some injections in my shoulders (my upper body diagnosis), I have a 70% reduction in pain. 

In a nut shell, and because I can't remember medical names, I can say basically,  I have been diagnosed with shoulder(s) muscles that are injured and impinging on my nerves which effect my arms and hands, upper legs, ears, mouth, eyes, etc.  This very symptomatic soft tissue injury makes a lot more sense considering my garden accident. 

My lower legs in the hip area have caused symptoms in my lower back, feet (numbness that is worse the longer I stand) and sciatica on both sides for years -  I have finally been told after all these years, that the main nerve does not got through it's proper area and is chronically swollen. No wonder chiropractic never worked on my lower back!

I also have a treatable form of vertigo (ugh!) and Trigger Finger! What a mess I am.

What this means is that I'm still very symptomatic but the shoulder/back related pain is better and some of the symptoms are coming and going, instead of everything getting worse,

 or staying bad.

But today, the really good news that I'm having trouble allowing myself to get excited about, is that when I had my right shoulder injected today (to make the inflammation go down so I could tolerate physical therapy better), it was done - as the left shoulder was done a couple weeks ago - using a sonogram so the injection area  could be better seen and would be more accurate;  this time I saw and the PA could see an inflamed area near the shoulder area that wasn't normal. When he injected the area and dug (!) around - my fingers, elbow, neck, lips - in short, my symptom areas were buzzing and/or had pins and needles. 

I am going to get back to normal, and I'll get a new limo too!

I felt like maybe they were right and I really am not crazy! WELL, I won't go that far… I have exercises and other work to do, but I was so relieved to see that inflammation!

More as I PROGRESS!

xox