Radial Nerve Entrapment - UPDATE

So I was rear ended in October, hurting my upper back and neck

I began PT immediately and it was helping my pain, etc

About 2 weeks after I began PT, I woke up with severe right arm, elbow pain. I spoke with the PT who thought this may be a radial nerve issue (stemming from my neck from the injury)

Fast forward 3 weeks to the current, I am STILL having severe swelling in my elbow, upper arm and pain

I went to the Ortho who said I have radial nerve entrapment - hopefully am going to get a MRI of neck soon (to see what damage there is)

My arm swelling is getting worse, even after prednisone and anti-inflamatory and now I have partial loss of sensation in my upper arm

WTH is going on, anyone have any experience with this?

TIA

UPDATE - so I had the MRI and met with the Ortho today

he said that there are no major tears in the tendons which is great but there are micro tears in the tendons and alot of inflamation and fluid in my elbow...ouch

he said to keep up with the PT/OT and come see him in 6 weeks. If I am still having swelling / pain, I may need surgery to remove the scar tissue from my elbow

Message edited 12/28/2009 2:44:49 PM.

Re: Radial Nerve Entrapment

i never had what the doc is calling it - BUT...

4 years ago or so - i was out with dave & his nephews.. i put the youngest on my shoulders and that was it. i pinched a nerve and it wound up compressing my spine.

it started as mild neck pain, then traveled down my arm, into my hands, and i eventually lost ALL strength in my right arm. (until the neuro did a strength test, i didn't notice.) the pain was a burning, tingling pain - it was horriffic. I was given pain killers that one does NOT take lightly (not joking - ketamine was one).

i had tried chiropractic, massage and even got an epidural - to try and numb the nerve (they stuck me 15 times)...but they kept missing THAT specific nerve.

once i wound up with the neurosurgeon - i had the scariest experience to date. I've had hundreds of x-rays, mri's, etc. (i'm very accident prone). I know you have it done and wait for them to say they got what they need & leave. I had it done, (an mri) and they came out and said, we got what we needed, but you are not permitted to leave the premises until we speak to your doctor. That's when they found it was compressing my spine. Within a week, i had surgery.

They went in through the front of my neck and i had a spinal fusion. I woke up PAIN FREE and eventually got my strength back in my hand/arm...

The main reason I wrote all of this is to let you know that MOST things are fixable - but make sure you go with your gut. Once i saw the doc who gave me ketamine & another gave me morphine i was like - this is INSANE....i have to find someone that will help me, not throw intense drugs at me!

Re: Radial Nerve Entrapment - UPDATE

bump for MRI update

Re: Radial Nerve Entrapment - UPDATE

you don't need surgery!