So, here's the word on where I stand, after my visit with a Pain Management specialist yesterday.
Considering the fact that there are two ruptured discs in my neck and several others bulging throughout my spine, he said everything looked pretty good. I was thinking "Well, everything doesn't FEEL pretty good!"
He wants to do an EMG/NCV test on June 26th. He isn't convinced that there isn't nerve damage along C-8. He wants to see where the nerve damage is, what nerve is being damaged, and determine how bad the damage is. Something is causing my elbow pain.
He also wants to send me to physical therapy. I went through at least 3 different 6-week rounds of P.T. years ago and it was awful. Everything they had me do made me feel worse. The doctor told me that if anything I do makes the pain worse to stop. So at least that left me with some comfort.
Additionally, he prescribed a muscle relaxer for me to take twice a day.
Once he determines what is going on with the nerve in my arm and my elbow, he will know whether or not an epidural block in my neck would be necessary. He was starting to dismiss me and I said "What about my lower back?"
He said "I thought it was just your neck."
I said "No. I can't do daily activities without extreme pain in my lower back. Standing to cook or wash dishes, load the the dishwasher, switch laundry. These are all things that make my back hurt and the more I do them, the worse the pain gets; and the longer it lasts.
Thank God he listened to me. He sent me across the hall and had them x-ray my back and pelvis to see if anything shows up on the x-ray that will explain what is going on with my lower back. He said we'll discuss the results when I go back on the 26th.
He also showed me how my neck should be held at all times, my new posture. It's REALLY hard to hold my neck the right way. It is uncomfortable. But apparently, nothing he does for me will help if I don't learn to hold my head/neck right. I'll just have to keep practicing. I'm seriously considering one of the hard neck braces when I'm at home! Then I'd be forced to hold my neck the right way. At least, that's the theory...
I didn't leave as frustrated as I did last time. But at the same time, I'm skeptical of physical therapy and hate the way it always makes me feel really self-conscious. I guess we'll see.
