Who Should I see About This Problem?

F

fat_flying_pigs

New member
Hey guys,

I am facing one of my greatest medical challenges, and it's time to get help, at whatever cost. I don't have health insurance, and bascially wasted 110 bucks at my family doc leaving without a definitive diagnosis.

Problems started after I banged the back of my head against a board. Neck became stiff. Got it adjusted at a chiro. Pain went away for several weeks, but it's back now.

The more troubling symptom is numbness in my pinky and ring finger, elbow pain which is trigged when I use a computer. I seem to be getting worse every week. I felt pretty good on Friday until I rubbed the side of my foot and felt strong tingling in the foot. Then both feets, but it went away after a few days.

I thought for sure that I have cubital tunnel syndrome, but the neck pain and tingling elsewhere has me confused and scared. I woke up today with my entire hand numb for a few seconds. I feel weak and shaky, but this could all be from anxiety considering my anxiety level is out the roof right now.

cheapest route for me is to see the chiro again. Can they really treat pinched nerves?


Otherwise, I'm torn between seeing an orthopedist and neurologist. I was tested fully for diabetes last March and came back normal. IS it possible to have nerve problems that quickly if I do have diabetes?
 
I'd head back to the chiropracter. Your neck may be part of the problem as well as your posture when at your desk. I think that's the best and first place to try.
 
I love my chiropractor. My legs would tingle, the back of my head numb, unable to turn my head without pain and my left arm numb. All taken care of by him. I hope he doesn't have plans to retire soon.
 
The numbness in your hand indicates the possibility of a ruptured disk in the cervical spine. It is pressing on one of the nerves exiting the vertebrae around C6, C7. However, the numbness in your feet would indicate the possibility that when it ruptured, it also ruptured towards the spinal cord and may be compressing the cord enough to cause numbness in your feet. This is actually very common. If you come down to the Spinal Cord Disorders board, you'll meet a whole board full of people who have both nerve compression and cord compression from one ruptured disk.

Numbness and weakness are signs of loss of function by the nerves involved. For the spinal cord itself, numbness is a sign of damage but not permanent. Both situations are reversible.

I would skip the chiro. Having a damaged neck manipulated can be very dangerous. You have major arteries to the brain running up either side of the vertebrae from C6 on up so an incorrect move can cause a stroke or paralysis should the disk rupture further. When you have evidence of damage(as you do)see a spine specialist..ortho or neurosurgeon...to advise you on treatment and follow-up. Once you know where you stand then you can make better decisions. I prefer a neurosurgeon but that is personal preference.

Since you don't have insurance, I would suggest you contact the nearest hospital connected to a medical school. They offer great clinics on a sliding fee scale. And with neurosurgery, even a resident has tons of experience. And they are being overseen by the most experienced docs in the hospital(longest residency of any specialty). You should be able to get a good evaluation and follow-up at minimal cost to you.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions, come on down to the sSpinal Cord Disorders board where I usually hand out with a lot of others with neck problems.

Jenny
 
Thanks Jenny. Your post is very helpful. There is a medical school here in Little Rock called UAMS. I think I'll called their neurosurgery. Like a lot of people, it's the not knowing what the hell is wrong that is the worst part.

Only thing that puzzles me is from what I read on cervical disc herniations, it causes sensations down the arm to the fingers. In my case, the arm and legs are fine, it's just the lower extremeties causing problems. Makes no sense to me.
 
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