cheyriver
02-13-2008, 08:40 PM
I am becoming concerned and worried.:( Sorry this is so long!
I had surgery for ulnar nerve compression, left elbow in April 2006. Nerve conduction test prior to surgery showed severe compression. Surgeon decompressed the nerve, has since retired.
Approximately 6-7 months after surgery, symptoms started to come back. I was told to wait it out. I did for awhile, symptoms were bothersome. Eventually I was sent for another NC test showed mild slowing of the nerve.
I had to go three doctors (not specialists) before one finally referred me to a plastic surgeon.
I saw the surgeon and I had surgery on my left elbow in September 2007. I also had a neuroma in my left wrist (thumb side) which was removed at the same time.
After surgery symptoms were not completely gone, but there was an improvement,know it takes time for everything to heal, wasn't worried.
Unfortunately in November 2007 I was injured. Since that injury been nothing but problems. Elbow where I had surgery bore the brunt of the injury, no broken bones, but a lot of bruising.
I experienced and still experiencing to this very day, burning pain in the palm of my hand below little and ring finger, increased numbness in pinky and ring finger.
I did see the surgeon for a follow up in December. She didn't seem sure as to what was happening, wanted to wait it out.
I came back in early January 2008 for another follow up. This time she decided to send me for a nerve conduction test. Mentioned to me she could do another surgery but won't guarantee it will help. Said depending on the test results or if symptoms are still the same, talk about it at next follow up.
NC test done near the end of January.
The NC test came back normal. Neurologist told me results after test- normal. Said maybe nerve is bruised. And yet I have all these symptoms.?? :confused:
So today I received a call from the surgeons main office (they told me it takes three to four weeks to get the results). Receptionist said test results showed normal and something to the effect of the surgeon said it's not what she thought it would be. I don't know the exact words said but couldn't quite understand what receptionist was getting at. Anyways I told her I have a follow up appt at the hospital with surgeon near the beginning of March and receptionist will send results over there.
I am worried. Why? If I don't need surgery that is okay. But because my test results came back normal, I am worried she may say everything is okay, goodbye.
In the past few weeks my hand has become worse. If I grip or bend my fingers, the burning pain in the palm of my hand increases badly.
Now I have pain (not burning) in my elbow incision area. Almost more sore like.
Also new is buzzing sensation in palm of hand below little and ringer finger. Sometimes I can actually see something moving up and down in the palm of my hand below these fingers which is new as well.
And nowthe base of my thumb, palm side, I can also see something moving up and down, pulsating. My wrist surgery was not where you have carpal tunnel surgery. It was the radial nerve area along side the wrist leading up to the thumb.
The pulsating sensations occur off and on. All of this is new within the last few weeks.
I have no symptoms, pain at the neck level or upper arm level.
The physiotherapist (hand therapist) said that NC tests are only a guideline, that most surgeons go by patient symptoms.
This surgeon is newly graduated and seems to go back and forth on things. I know the surgeon is new and still learning. I live in Canada and if I want a second opinion it will be a one year wait to see another plastic surgeon or hand surgeon.
So has anyone ever had normal results and then the surgeon said nothing is wrong, sent you out the door? Or did they come up with some ideas, solutions or do surgery?
Surgeon seems to change mind a lot from one appt to the next in regards to this problem so that is why I am worried may say goodbye with normal test results. Or maybe I am just overworrying.
I had surgery for ulnar nerve compression, left elbow in April 2006. Nerve conduction test prior to surgery showed severe compression. Surgeon decompressed the nerve, has since retired.
Approximately 6-7 months after surgery, symptoms started to come back. I was told to wait it out. I did for awhile, symptoms were bothersome. Eventually I was sent for another NC test showed mild slowing of the nerve.
I had to go three doctors (not specialists) before one finally referred me to a plastic surgeon.
I saw the surgeon and I had surgery on my left elbow in September 2007. I also had a neuroma in my left wrist (thumb side) which was removed at the same time.
After surgery symptoms were not completely gone, but there was an improvement,know it takes time for everything to heal, wasn't worried.
Unfortunately in November 2007 I was injured. Since that injury been nothing but problems. Elbow where I had surgery bore the brunt of the injury, no broken bones, but a lot of bruising.
I experienced and still experiencing to this very day, burning pain in the palm of my hand below little and ring finger, increased numbness in pinky and ring finger.
I did see the surgeon for a follow up in December. She didn't seem sure as to what was happening, wanted to wait it out.
I came back in early January 2008 for another follow up. This time she decided to send me for a nerve conduction test. Mentioned to me she could do another surgery but won't guarantee it will help. Said depending on the test results or if symptoms are still the same, talk about it at next follow up.
NC test done near the end of January.
The NC test came back normal. Neurologist told me results after test- normal. Said maybe nerve is bruised. And yet I have all these symptoms.?? :confused:
So today I received a call from the surgeons main office (they told me it takes three to four weeks to get the results). Receptionist said test results showed normal and something to the effect of the surgeon said it's not what she thought it would be. I don't know the exact words said but couldn't quite understand what receptionist was getting at. Anyways I told her I have a follow up appt at the hospital with surgeon near the beginning of March and receptionist will send results over there.
I am worried. Why? If I don't need surgery that is okay. But because my test results came back normal, I am worried she may say everything is okay, goodbye.
In the past few weeks my hand has become worse. If I grip or bend my fingers, the burning pain in the palm of my hand increases badly.
Now I have pain (not burning) in my elbow incision area. Almost more sore like.
Also new is buzzing sensation in palm of hand below little and ringer finger. Sometimes I can actually see something moving up and down in the palm of my hand below these fingers which is new as well.
And nowthe base of my thumb, palm side, I can also see something moving up and down, pulsating. My wrist surgery was not where you have carpal tunnel surgery. It was the radial nerve area along side the wrist leading up to the thumb.
The pulsating sensations occur off and on. All of this is new within the last few weeks.
I have no symptoms, pain at the neck level or upper arm level.
The physiotherapist (hand therapist) said that NC tests are only a guideline, that most surgeons go by patient symptoms.
This surgeon is newly graduated and seems to go back and forth on things. I know the surgeon is new and still learning. I live in Canada and if I want a second opinion it will be a one year wait to see another plastic surgeon or hand surgeon.
So has anyone ever had normal results and then the surgeon said nothing is wrong, sent you out the door? Or did they come up with some ideas, solutions or do surgery?
Surgeon seems to change mind a lot from one appt to the next in regards to this problem so that is why I am worried may say goodbye with normal test results. Or maybe I am just overworrying.