Good news and bad news...

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I've been bothered by a couple health problems for a while. One is a bad pain in my left shoulder that makes it difficult to lift my left arm and restricts my movement. That has bothered me for around 4 years. It was diagnosed twice as a torn rotator cuff but I haven't had the time to have it dealt with. Next is a sharp pain in my right wrist that started last year and has gotten worse. I thought both problems would improve while I was out of work, and they weren't being stressed. The shoulder has stayed the same, and the wrist has only gotten much worse. Initial diagnoses and treatment were for a Triangular fibrocartilage injury.

While being out of work I thought this would be a good time to have them taken care of. This doctor ordered an MRI for each (hadn't been done before). It turns out both diagnoses were wrong. (the bad news)

For the good news- My left shoulder is only irritated and should respond to therapy and strength exercises. That sure beats surgery. My wrist has a ganglion cyst in the joint. That can be cleared up with either aspiration or a minor surgery, either of which would be much simpler and faster healing than surgery for a triangular fibrocartilage injury. I haven't seen the orthopedist since the MRIs were done...I found this out from my PT today...but I'm hoping these get cleared up quickly. I look forward to the elimination of pain...especially in my wrist, which makes riding very difficult and very painful!
 

TinyL

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Well, at least it was not the initial diagnosis! Get some rehab and heal up quick...summer will be hear soon!
 

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Just remember - The difference between Major Surgery and Minor Surgery is it is Major when it's ME and Minor when it's YOU! ;-) Sounds like good solutions without major reconstruction - always a plus! I've found that stuff never works quite like the original after it's been 'rearranged' or 'replaced'. But I'm awful thankful they still do repairs on these older models. :D
 

John Anthony

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Sounds like you're moving in the right direction. Given a choice between facing major or minor surgery, I know which I'd prefer to tackle. Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.

John
 
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I've had surgery to remove a ganglion cyst in my wrist as well. This was about 10 years ago. It was amazing to have that pain just disappear. Unfortunately another cyst recently developed in the same spot about six weeks ago. I went the bible approach. I used the thumb on my other hand to press it as hard as I possibly could. Just like that, the cyst disappeared and hasn't come back yet. Good luck to you!
 
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nhdiesel
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I've had surgery to remove a ganglion cyst in my wrist as well. This was about 10 years ago. It was amazing to have that pain just disappear. Unfortunately another cyst recently developed in the same spot about six weeks ago. I went the bible approach. I used the thumb on my other hand to press it as hard as I possibly could. Just like that, the cyst disappeared and hasn't come back yet. Good luck to you!
I have one on the surface of my left hand, and although not really painful at all, its a bit annoying. There is some discomfort if it gets bumped. I'll probably have that one removed some time...maybe at the same time if they will do it. The right one is inside the joint, which is putting pressure on nerves and tendons, so its VERY painful at times. I can't wait for that pain to be gone!
 
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That's exactly where mine was - right on the joint. They took a piece of bone out with it just to try to make sure it didn't grow back. Too bad that didn't work for me.
 
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nhdiesel
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That's exactly where mine was - right on the joint. They took a piece of bone out with it just to try to make sure it didn't grow back. Too bad that didn't work for me.
How was the surgery and recovery? Pain level, time, etc.?
 
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How was the surgery and recovery? Pain level, time, etc.?
Really, there wasn't any pain at all that was out of the ordinary. Very bearable. I just took some Tylenol and gave it a couple of weeks for recovery. My wife took the stitches out a few weeks later and that was that. The doctor who did the surgery was pretty cool in that he made the incision along a wrinkle in my skin so, unless you're looking for the scare, you can't really see it. The scar is only like 3/4" long.
 
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If it makes you feel better, I also had a thyroglossal duct cyst taken out of my neck, right above my adam's apple. That one was a little more awkward, but it healed up pretty quickly as well. Man, I have scars all over the place!
 
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nhdiesel
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Scars aren't a problem...LOL...working with my hands all my life, I have more than I can count. That sounds much better than what I was prepared for when repairing/replacing the cartilage. It will also be much better since I'm trying to start a business right now, and long down time would be a big problem.
 

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I used the thumb on my other hand to press it as hard as I possibly could. Just like that, the cyst disappeared and hasn't come back yet.
Did the same thing with one on my left wrist ... it was gone in a couple of days ... great-grandmas handed down remedy.:rimshot1:
 
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Jim, this sounds like more good news than bad to me! The minor surgery shouldn't be too much of a problem and should heal up pretty quickly. As for your shoulder, do what the PT torturers say and (fingers and toes crossed) that will clear up too!!

BEST of luck. Keep us in the loop.

Patty
 

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Even before my accident in 2008, my right shoulder would send me to my knees if I lifted my right arm above my head.

After my accident, I was going through a sports doctor for the neck pains I was having and he told me because I was on a computer so much and my riding style (leaning forward) was causing my shoulders to bend forward and I was pinching a nerve when I lifted my arm.

So he gave me some instructions (like sit up and not bent over the keyboard and some exercises), and ever since I'm able to lift my right arm with little or no pain. I couldn't believe something like that would come from poor sitting posture! :eek:4:
 
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nhdiesel
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I'm pretty sure mine came from working under a lift. My left arm is what I use to hold objects in place, like exhaust systems, while I do the delicate work (use tools) with my right. That puts a lot of pressure on a joint that was never designed to reach straight up, especially while holding weight. Once this is fixed I need to work smarter- using jacks to hold parts when needed.


Jim, this sounds like more good news than bad to me! The minor surgery shouldn't be too much of a problem and should heal up pretty quickly. As for your shoulder, do what the PT torturers say and (fingers and toes crossed) that will clear up too!!

BEST of luck. Keep us in the loop.

Patty
Thanks! I'm going to see how well I respond to the changes that were just made to my PT, and I will do the maximum of what I'm allowed. I told her yesterday that as long as the pain won't do further damage, I'll do whatever I need to in order to speed the recovery process.

Did the same thing with one on my left wrist ... it was gone in a couple of days ... great-grandmas handed down remedy.
I wish I could access the one in my wrist, but I can't see or feel any sign of it, just pain. The doc cautioned against trying it with the left one since its been there for several years and has gotten very hard.
 
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nhdiesel
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Just caught this, sounds like excellent news! Glad you can get this sorted before you move forward with the latest project.
You got that right! Thanks! Its funny, in my life things either go very, very good...or very, very bad. No middle of the road. Fortunately it looks like I'm in a big up-swing at the moment, and its sure needed!
 
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nhdiesel
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Well the "good" news about the wrist is quickly fading. Just got back from the Dr. and am not happy. He looked at the MRI for the first time while I was sitting there, just a quick glance. Said the cyst was in deep in the wrist, and he couldn't go in with a syringe to empty it. Then turned to me and said "You aren't working anyway, so it doesn't matter" and started to leave. He was apparently going to just send me home! I caught him, said I'm opening a shop in a few weeks, and need use of my hand! He sat back down with an obvious attitude and looked at the scans again. He called in another Dr. and said "This guy comes to me after a year of pain and expects me to deal with it"...ummm...yup, isn't that what you do? I bite my tongue. They both look at the scans and said it didn't look like the cyst was where it should be causing much, if any, pain and that I might have something else going on. Again he got up to leave. I asked him what was next? He shrugged his shoulders and asked what i wanted him to do? I should just learn to live with it. Well, I use my hands for work, and when bad I can't even type or sign my name...how can I work like this? More attitude from him, and it ended with him telling the other Dr. that "Xxxxxx can deal with him" and got me an appt with a hand/wrist specialist out of town.

I think that is the best thing that could have happened, at least having a different Dr. will give me a fighting chance. I hope this doesn't drag out all summer...I'm useless trying to work like this!
 
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I like your attitude, and I agree 100%. A different doctor will have a fresh perspective on how to handle it, especially one that specializes in hand/wrist issues. It's funny how folks can be so arrogant sometimes. I know he sees a lot of people come and go, but he needs to have patience and kindness to help out each individual. When's your appointment with the new doctor?
 
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nhdiesel
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Next Tuesday, so fortunately not a long wait...although it feels long with the pain I'm having.
 
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