How can I correct nerve damage?

Question

I have been to the doctor for this two times, and to the chiropractor three times with some relief, but not completely. 

Three weeks ago I woke up early with severe pain in my left shoulder blade and left arm. During the day the arm pain would come and go, especially bad in the elbow and while sitting. Then along with the pain, my finger tips went numb and I had tingling across my back, just below the shoulder blades. 

Now I don't have the pain, but the tingling across the back remains and so does the numbness in my left index finger tip and thumb tip. I am also experiencing numbness in the toes of both feet.  The doctor did an EKG and that was fine. He gave me pain killers and muscle relaxers, which I took for about one week. Does this sound like nerve damage? Can it be corrected? If it will heal itself, how long does it take?

Yahoo · Accepted Answer

It does sound like a pinched nerve. I have a lot of experience with this. An EKG, or ECG, is only going to tell them if you have a heart problem.

You need a neurological exam. This doesn't require and machinery, He will just check the reflexes for every area of the spinal cord. If he finds a problem he will order an MRI for that region. 

This could be an old injury just now showing up in your health. If the problem is injury related chances are it can be helped by Physical Therapy which is a longer road, but still better than surgery in my opinion.

Right now maybe create a little diary of all the symptoms you can remember having and all of your known injuries. Try to describe the pain as in dull, sharp, stabbing, shooting etc. Record how long the pain last and exactly in what parts of the body. Also record the numbness which sounds like what happens when a nerve is not getting enough oxygen, a nerve pinch. It could also be a protruding or slipped disc. The symptoms are serious though so see a neurologist as soon as you can for a full exam.

If it is nerve damage, it will not heal itself.

Ryan · Answer

Continue with the chiropractic care.  See about going at a higher frequency to properly correct the possible causes.  Spinal disc bulges respond very well to manipulative therapy, and it is worth a therapeutic trial. Keep the care conservative before moving on to surgery.

lyyman · Answer

Go to the doctor again and ask him where you can go for a second opinion if he still doesn't have any other ideas.  Try the following site:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079

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How can I correct nerve damage?

3 Answers