An Opinion On My Ortho Appointment

[SpcDearman]

Can I get a bit of advice. I had my appointment yesterday for m y shoulders and learned that PT will begin again. I advised my Doctor that I pop my shoulders and it hurts. I was confused that the pain radiates to my pinky fingers. The Doc said this is nerve damage. Could there be impingement? Do i claim this nerve damage or will VA raters and see this since i am currently in the claim process. Since I had to "advise of the numbness" i will be getting a second medical opion. I am due to be set for a nerve test but have no idea of this entails. In addition, I went yesterday and my shoulders are on FIRE!!!!!

[john999]

Get every bit of evidence from VA and private doctors if you want an increase. You always need more evidence with these things. Do use the VA pain clinic? You should.

[SpcDearman]

John u get my daily Kudos. What is the Va pain clinic. this is my first initial claim. I haven't even finished the process due to it being kicked back by the rater constantly.

[stillhere]

See if you can find out which of the test they are going to give you. Been quite a while since I had mine for nerve damage but I think one was a EMT and they shot me with electric shock and tested all over my body.

I had a impringment in my shoulder back about 5 years ago. They kept given me cortzone to ease the pain I eventually got asked about having an operation but I declined. Shoulder seems to be better now. Before I could hardly get my arms up to put my tee shirts on.

I take oxycodone for pain so knocks mine out pretty good.

Of course your doc is going to ask you what you want to do, but my brother had a shoulder worked on and the operation was a breeze but the re hab is brutal.

Anyhow good luck to you. Not sure what a impringment will rate since it can be fixed.

Edited September 24, 2012 by stillhere

[SpcDearman]

Thanks still here but from what i have heard nerve damage cannot be reversed. I was just assuming that it is impinged. Per VA it is not. I would also like to know what a pain clinic is. I do plan on using this moving forward due to my daily pain level being a 4.

[stillhere]

Not sure on the pain clinic I have never been asigned to it. Mostly I just go to PCP and tell her how my pain is and she has been writing my scripts for me. I take percocept 3 times a day and I also take 2 trmadol 4 times a day. Seems to keep me paint tolerable I call it but does not knock out all the aches and pains, but as I said I can tolerate it.

Having some trouble with my hips now on driving trips from sitting so long plan on talking with her next week about that.

My impingment my have not gone a way but I don't feel it any longer so I don't know exaclty what happened. Just really glad I did not need to get cut!

[SpcDearman]

The percocet is whats making youo think that it is gone. I am only on 50mcl Tramadol but they scare me. they are very habit forming. I only take my etodolac and my muscle cream (arctic Heat?) I used to use the cream twice a day but now I am having to use it once an hour. This really sucks. Hopefully PT will start. I know one thing though. i will be enrolling in my medical here next month. I need a second opinion.