Hi everyone - I have two questions and the first, I think, will be a cinch for someone out there:
I have had pain from shoulder to elbow for months now. At first the pain was only in the shoulder - I assumed it was bursitis. my mom had this once,
it was very painful and she treated it successfully with a diet. This same diet did not work for me.
Now the pain is worse and as mentioned, runs down the arm towards the elbow. I believe it was caused when I fell and broke my nose -my arm was FLUNG
backwards.
So -my ? is: what type of doctor do I see for this ailment?
Or vacation ends tomorrow....it has been one heck of a ride!
Thanks for posting your travelogue. I enjoyed it. You guys must be looking forward to getting home.
Sorry about the aches and pains. Hope you find a solution.Udo - 8-19-2015 at 07:40 AM
About your shoulder pain, Blanca:
Is the pain in th bone or muscle?EnsenadaDr - 8-19-2015 at 08:13 AM
Hi Blanca sounds like you might have a compressed nerve in the cervical spine area. A dose of ibuprofen or a round of steroids might be in order. An
MRI would be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
As for the bone spur, you would need an xray to see if there are other issues going on, such as an infection or cyst underlying the original bone
spur. An xray would be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Both conditions could be treated by general practitioner but if you need more intervention such as surgery you would see an orthopedic surgeon or a
traumatologo as they call them in Mexico. Good luck and yes sometimes we need a vacation from our vacations!motoged - 8-19-2015 at 10:09 AM
Blanca,
I have been experiencing a very similar condition over the past year....some chiropractic and deep massage has been helpful for some degree of
relief....
It started when (you will all get a laugh outta this.....) I was getting up from laying on the couch....and felt a sharp pain across the front of my
chest.....it seems that I threw an upper rib out (1st/2nd) and the deferred pain is not "in" the shoulder but at the joint's front....it radiates pain
down my triceps-biceps.
I haven't done the MRI route yet....and am managing it with trigger point self-massage, chiro/massage, and Voltarin (topical gel that isn't snake
oil)....
But the real remedy is still out there....my next step will be a more thorough workup with MD.
Try the Voltarin extra strength in the meantime.....I also use Aleve (naproxin) more than ibuprofin these days for muscle/joint aches.
Bueno suerteBajaBlanca - 8-19-2015 at 02:37 PM
motoged -all that from getting up from a couch -ouchhhhhhh
I will indeed try some pain killer to help me sleep at night til I see a doc. I never thought about getting mri -xray- it would have been so
inexpensive in Poland. Oh well. Next time I will write sooner. I knew you guys would give me good info. I guess I will go to santa rosalia and get
one, once we are home.
UDO -muscle
Les has no pain in the foot and we will also get it seen to.He had the xray which showed the bone spur. I guess he will need a new one.
We are really excited to go home - we miss our DOG ...and the house....and Mexican fooooooooooooooooood hahahabajabuddha - 8-19-2015 at 05:00 PM
Blanca;
Get your MRI and x-rays done in the States. I wouldn't take a dog to the Sta. Rosalia hospital. You're playing with serious pieces-parts here, get
it done up north FGS. BajaBlanca - 8-28-2015 at 03:45 PM
So, I went for an x-ray in santa rosalia and you will not believe this but I indeed damaged my tendon and the bones are now out of place. I cant
explain very well but it is very clear in the xray.
The doc said I will need to have the bones reattached with screws. No wonder I had pain. Now to decide where I want to do it.
Les not only has the heel spur but has another one in back of the heel too. Getting old is not for wimps!
Udo - 8-28-2015 at 05:40 PM
Getting old is not for wimps?
That should be my motto also. BajaBlanca - 8-28-2015 at 05:46 PM
liknbaja127 - 8-28-2015 at 08:10 PM
Stay tuff, The older we get the harder it is to bounce back! May take a
little longer, But you guys will get therejimgrms - 8-29-2015 at 06:42 AM
You guys are still young'unsSFandH - 8-29-2015 at 07:08 AM
The doc said I will need to have the bones reattached with screws. No wonder I had pain. Now to decide where I want to do it.
That's a bummer, for sure. I'm curious, where did the doctor say you should go to get it fixed? What are the closest options?
BajaBlanca - 8-29-2015 at 02:06 PM
He never said - we have both options- insurance in the US and in Mexico through my teaching.
I have been talking to folks who did the exact same operation in La Paz and they had to do physical therapy for months to regain hand movement. DianaT - 8-29-2015 at 02:54 PM
I would DEFINITELY get it checked in the US --- get opinions there. The orthopedic doctor in GN did exactly the opposite of what I needed for my
broken nose, and ask Ralph about his son's surgery on his arm in Baja.
La Paz, maybe, but I would sure get more opinions from the other side of the border. Whale-ista - 8-29-2015 at 03:35 PM
Blanca- Check your U2U...SFandH - 8-29-2015 at 04:48 PM
As I'm sure you know, lots of nomads in the San Diego area if you need any info.Skipjack Joe - 8-31-2015 at 08:46 AM
I had the same happen to me in the hospital 3 years ago when I lost consciousness. I was sure I had damaged some tendons in my shoulder. There was
pain deep inside the joint.
Went to a doctor that deals with athletic injury. X-rays proved inconclusive. Dr gave shot of cortisone into the joint which didn't help. Attended a
gym for range of motion exercises which exacerbated the problem. I ended up just having it in a sling for a while and sleeping in the opposite site.
Slowly ever so slowly the pain left. Took 2 years.
Now I can lift barbells fully over my head. The pain extending to your elbow is due to pressure on the nerve that runs down the inside and feels the
pinky and finger next to it.
I would agree about a 2nd opinion from a U.S. Doctor specializing in that type of injury. It may require surgery or it may not. bajacalifornication - 8-31-2015 at 09:15 AM
Hola a todos Los Nomadas. I been using an ice cube at the back of my
Head. Where the neck and the head meet. My wife told me to try it a few months back and it works as a pain control for both of us. I had pain all over
my upper back and down both my arms and my fingers the ice cube took care of it. Something to do with Feng Fu pressure point. Google it. And try it.
You will notice the difference in 2 to 3 days BajaBlanca - 9-26-2015 at 05:17 PM
I just noticed this last piece of advice now - I will try the ice since I only have an appointment with the Mexican doc (traumatologo) next Thursday
and I am in pain with the arm. It is interfering with my BEAUTY SLEEP
I will go to San Diego in October and see an American doc to get the second opinion everyone suggests.
and being the compassionate wife that I am - I also will get an xray this Thursday since I am sure I also have a heel bone spur. Maybe we need to
NOT go on vacations and walk so much????? Actually, I think I should have had better shoes than my flip flops but I love them.
I had a friend who was quite thin and developed the same heel spur or I would think it was related to being overweight.
Has anyone had the bone spur and how did you get rid of it? My friend who had it passed away last June or I would ask her.
Whale-ista - 9-26-2015 at 06:52 PM
I've had small bone spurs, plantar fasciitis and other foot problems. Some were from wearing heels at work, others from various sports.
Some took months to heal, since it's tough to stay off my feet. Ultrasound is another option along with professional physical therapy.
Now I wear the most supportive shoes I can find, roll a tennis and/or golf ball under my feet to break down adhesions, and do various foot
strengthening exercises to prevent future problems.
I agree- All that walking in flip flops, during your euro travels, may have caused these pains.
