Pain in the Arm
So you may or may not know that since April I have been having problems with my right arm. It started out as just being sore. It was the kinda sore that comes when you do something and over use it or stress it out. Then as time went on and I ignored it, it got to the point where my whole arm would just ache. I was losing strength in my arm, not able to open or hold things like before. And working on the computer would really make it hurt.
I went to the doctor went it felt like my elbow exploded. The urgent care doctor said I had tendonitis and to rest it. Well it didn’t help. I went to my primary care doctor who gave me some cortisone shots and other meds and told me I had tendonitis and carpal tunnel. I followed her advice but it never got better. Not even 2 weeks after the cortisone shot I was back in pain and it was getting worse.
I finally went to my ortho doctor and he promptly sent me off for nerve tests. I had an electromyogram or EMG and a nerve conduction study or NCS. The test themselves were quite a trip. Nothing like being poked and shocked.
The results of those tests were given to me yesterday at 3:30 by the doctor. The tests showed positive results for a pinched nerve in both arms, but nerve damage in my right. My ulnar nerve was trapped/pinched by my elbow. This is called cubital tunnel syndrome or ulnar nerve entrapment.
So what does all that mean. It means that I will have surgery to move the nerve and provide it more space. This will reduce the pressure on it and should take care of the pain, numbness, and such.
Currently I do not know the exact date of the surgery. The doctor wants to do it one week from today on 8/5. He said that I would be able to return to work on Monday. Thankfully I have enough vacation time to be able to take off 2 days. Until the surgery I am not supposed to lift anything more than a cup and to take it easy. I am taking Advil and pain medicine to help me deal.
Surgery and all this pain and trouble was not the route I was hoping to go, but as bad as my arm has hurt – I was willing to cut it off with a plastic butter knife. I will let everyone know when the date, time, and place is for the surgery.
I would love to have your prayers. Things are a bit rough currently and this is just another hurdle.