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ksage15

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I am a 22 year old female with no prior health conditions or troubles. On December 1st 2015 I woke up during the middle of the night with the left side of my chest and left arm numb.. Also some mild pain but mostly a very numb uncomfortable feeling. After waking up and moving around the pain went away quickly.. I attributed to sleeping in a bad position. The next night, I woke up with the same problem and it did not go away. I went to the ER and my blood pressure was fine.. Had a CT scan done and found a disc bulge in my neck at C5/6. I was put on a steroid pack for a week. The evening after I went to the ER, I started then experiencing severe pain in my neck and shoulders. I was miserable for a couple days until the steroids kicked in and my symptoms left. However as soon as I finished the week long pack I was back to being in severe pain in my neck and shoulders and numbness in my chest and left arm and hand at this point. I had an appointment with an othropedic surgeon the next day. Had an MRI done of my neck and found the 1-2mm bulge and no problems otherwise. I was placed in physical therapy assuming my symptoms would quickly dissapear with the mild disc bulge. I was also at this time placed on tramadol, lyrica, and an anti inflammatory. Unfortunately my symptoms got progressively worse. My whole body began to hurt. My shoulders neck upper and lower back were in extreme pain. According to my therapist, my range of motion on my left side had been very limited. My therapist also believed I was showing signs of nerve damage with the major numbness in my left arm. Most days it became hard to get out of bed and impossible to sleep. In the mornings I'd head straight to the bath tub and soak for hours to try and work out the pain enough to be able to actually walk. The pain medications I was on helped significantly and my pain intensity varied from day to day.. But every single day I was in pain. I started experiencing severe headaches as well and what I would describe as vertigo.. My mind played tricks on me. I also was having numbness down my left leg. My physical therapist became concerned I had a condition that was beyond the problem of just my disc bulge. I was discharged from therapy until I could be re evaluated. My othropedic Doctor upon returning informed me that my disc bulge was not compressing my spine neither was it on a nerve. He stated that originally he was guessing it was the problem but with the increase in severity and spreading of pain I was told there was no way my neck could be causing all these problems. I had an MRI done on my shoulder and it was fine. My ortho and physical therapist at this point had both mentioned the possibility of fibro. I had an EKG done, checked out fine. I saw a neurologist and had an EMG done, found nothing at all. No nerve problems. I saw a rheumatologist as well and all my bloodwork came back fine other than inflammation was found on one test. My rheumatologist told me she would not be able to pin point the location. She stated I was for sure having fibro but believed it was being caused by another unknown condition with my spine, despite my othropedic surgeon insisting nothing was wrong with my spine. She believed this because she did not believe that fibromyalgia caused numbness and thus I had to have something else as well. She prescribed me more Lyrica and informed me just to continue to see my othro and come back in three months. My othro also stated fibromyalgia shouldn't cause numbness, but I questioned him on this because my own research states otherwise. He did not want to commit to yes or no, but did say he thought it was possible that I had strictly just fibro causing these problems. His bottom line was he thought either fibro, or due to prolonged stress I've been under during the last year, that my immune system was weakened and I was experiencing some sort of immune virus in which my immune system was attacking my body and would stop with time. I went home and continued to take my medications and eventually around 2/3 months later the problems stopped other than mild chest pain/numbness. I went a few weeks with zero issues and stopped all medications, then the chest problems came back after some time. I started lyrica again once daily and the problem again stopped. Now, for the last week, I've again been experiencing this chest pain/numbness and fear for my heart. My doctors seem to be no help with providing a clear diagnosis. They all seem to think my heart is fine but I am very scared and stressed with these chest pains and no answers. I do not know what could be wrong other than fibro with all my tons of bloodwork and various tests being ok, but no doctor wants to tell me I have fibro because of the numbness. As for my immune system attack theory, if this was the case I would imagine the problem would have gone away. I also had some B12 shots done for an immunity boost and take vitamins daily.
 
Also during this time I was hearing non stop popping in my joints all over my body. Several times a day.. Pop pop pop. Which is not normal for me. I also have TMJ but have had TMJ since I was a freshmen in high school and my jaw was dislocated, which I believe had caused the TMJ.
 
I am really sorry to hear about your condition, but I believe you can improve. What have the b12 shots done for you? Have you tried osteopathy?
 
I haven't noticed any differences in myself with the B12 so far. I did not try any osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc.. solutions as I was originally advised against it until I knew exactly what was wrong with me on the chance that I could have an unidentified problem (like my rheumatologist thinks) still that these types of care could make worse if the problem wasn't known.
 
Have you seen a good neurologist? You'd not believe how many troubles a neurological issue can cause in the rest of your body, I know because I was diagnosed with one. I had no idea, I was later told it could progress later to a worse numbness, most likely my right side. I'm not saying you have the same, but when there is numbness it's better to rule out the neurological side.
 
Yes I saw a neurologist and had an EMG done with him and he could not find anything. He said my nerves were "working beautifully".
 
I haven't noticed any differences in myself with the B12 so far. I did not try any osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc.. solutions as I was originally advised against it until I knew exactly what was wrong with me on the chance that I could have an unidentified problem (like my rheumatologist thinks) still that these types of care could make worse if the problem wasn't known.

I believe if you find a good osteopath there is no harm he can do to you. Surely he cannot cure you, but at least he can provide some relief.
 
Hmmm, Texas again! My story is long and I will try to shorten it but I think pertnat for you. We moved to Texas June 2014, within two days of moving into our nice rental home we all had severe allergies (even my husband who NEVER got sick). A few weeks later I became so I'll I couldn't leave my bedroom for days, when I FINEALLY made it to a doctor she blew me off as a "bug" my son had decided he wanted to go back to Tennessee and stay with his grandparents to finish high school (his senior year) the following morning I was again couldn't leave the house a few days later we left for Tennessee, I collapsed for two days and took him to his old doctor for what turned out to be a respitory infection. I spent two weeks their and left felling good within days of returning to Texas I was back to being tied to the bath room and sinus infections. Fast forward to December 1st, I set into vomiting (something that had became normal) but this time it went on and on, gallons, I felt poisoned. FINEALLY I went to the ER, it was a rare heart attack caused by fluid built up compressing my heart. After that I began having pains in my left...chest, neck, shoulder, arm and sometimes fingers and back. Labored breathing and numbness and tingling in my left arm. 7 trips to the ER to rule out heart attack! In April while spring cleaning I discovered the Sheetrock (that had clearly been repaired b4) between the back shower wall and picture window was mushy, I started investigating other obviousness repairs. Holy cow!!! By the time the property management company got a crew out to do the repairs I was living on the back porch and gargle (I was tested for mold allergies years ago) they sent a non English speaking crew that just started tearing walls out... Black skinny mold everywhere! I bagged a few pieces of sheet rock. We where then left with exsposed insulation with veins of mold running through, I could no longer even walk in to the house to go tithe bath room. Fast forward we moved out, in we were in a car wreck and like you my pain became all over ortho, sent me back to pcp, pcp said he didn't c any problems, ortho suggested therapy, it was by the grace of Gid that I already had an apt with a ruemotologist and the day I called to c where I was on the cancelation list the receptionist had just hung up from a last minute new patient cancellation. If I could be there in 15 minutes I could have it!!!
My reumotolgist has reassured me the pain on my left side us from fibro, the numbness and tingling can be from fibro but that being said I was told yesterday these nodules that have formed in my fingers have got to be romoved because they can be cutting of circulation. Yes, we called the ER once and explained my symptoms and that my blood pressure was good and they still had me come in. Since moving out of that house I still have all the problems except the fluid around my heart. In completely clear of that. So now I check my blood pressure and if it's good I don't let it panic me!
I'm sorry this so long but I thought you really needed to hear all of it. I hope it gives you a little relief.
 
Very often one type of Dr. , in your case, a neuro., is enough,unless you are comfortable that he/she is very accurate with the dx. I had a encronologist (sorry for the bad spelling), say migraines didn't have anything to do with thyroid problems. ANY book or site tells you it is. I fired her and went to someone else. I would think, with a copy of your records, a chiropractor would be able to help. I can't get by without mine--and massage.(it's not for fun, but to keep up with the chronic pain). But first find a doc that treats fibro. He/she would be able to recognize it.
 
I wanted to apologize for my above lengthy post, my point was to reassure you that it most likely is not a heart issue and is more likely related to the condition. My cardio has cleared all conditions on my heart since moving from that house and my ruemotologist insist it is a condition of fibro (I don't take that as gold). I was trying to give some hope and and reassurance, not burn your eyes up!
You have a lot going on, try not to get overwhelmed.
Hopes for a pain free day!!!
 
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Huh! This is quite a long and tortuous medical journey. It seems to centre around chronic pain and you have tried many interventions. But the doctors are unwilling or unable to adduce your afflictions to fibro. I would suggest that this is the time to visit a specialist in pain medicine. You can also discuss with your doctor the possibility of using a more powerful drug like tapentadol which is a slow release drug. You can also apply other interventions like the U Comfort pillow for your neck pain. Wishing you the best.
 
Well I would agree with many of the users above in suggesting that you see different specialists, especially a neurologist to explore any neurological issues that you might have, but then again it seems like you have expended many of those options. I would continue to see specialists and get opinions and have tests done, and the more people that you can have on your side the better chances that you will get better.
 
I would also suggest that you talk to your physician about a newer and more powerful drug for fibro called tapentadol. It is a slow release drug but requires medical supervision due to its contraindications. Your prognosis seems to be somewhat related to sciatica and there are also flares of radiating pain. I hope it doesn't intensify at night which is a major problem. I have encountered such at night due to aching teeth. Hope that you recover fast.
 
I think it's worth trying any new drug as long as bring us relieve and make us feel better throughout the day.
 
...some sort of immune virus in which my immune system was attacking my body and would stop with time....As for my immune system attack theory, if this was the case I would imagine the problem would have gone away. I also had some B12 shots done for an immunity boost and take vitamins daily.

What is making your doctor say he/she believes its an immune response. It very well may be. I will assume they did an ANA test, among others. This will indicate that, but what about other tests for lupus, Sjorens, RA. Just bringing all this up because I've tested positive for ANAs for a few months now. And my body is always under attack, always something new, yet all the other tests for the usual suspects come up negative.
 
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