An anatomical problem...

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 15:40

Ok, so the past few months I have been experiencing problems in my left arm. I get a tingling sensation in my shoulder, and then after about 5 minutes, my arm (from the elbow down) goes purple and swells up. It goes numb although it hurts (like I can feel it hurting, but I can stick a pin in it and I won't feel a thing) And this lasts anything from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. I've been to the hospital about it, and they have ruled out quite a few stuff: Fibromyalgia, an *gulp* extra rib in my shoulder of tissue or bone, blood clots, blood problems, heart problems, any congenital problems, tumours, shoulder problems, Raynouds (sp?) Syndrome, stress etc. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong.
It just happens with my left arm, from the elbow down and happens in all kinds of heat and weather. I'm due to go into hospital again sometime soon for more tests as it is getting worse and lasting longer.
I was just wondering if any of you knew what might be the problem? Or have you ever experienced anything like this??

gnomi · 12-08-2008, 16:09

God that sounds terrible! Sorry,i havent got a clue but im glad you are having it investigated-they will eventually work out what is going on,im sure!

Hope you get sorted soon

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 16:14

It's just really annoying me. I hope they find out soon. And on top of that, I have to have a blood test next month because my white blood cells are higher than they really should be. Have been for about 7 months, so I might have to go into hospital for that, too...

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 17:31

Does anyone else have an idea on what it could be? I really need help as it is really starting to aggravate me.

Littlepink · 12-08-2008, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19SazzaLou91

It's just really annoying me. I hope they find out soon. And on top of that, I have to have a blood test next month because my white blood cells are higher than they really should be. Have been for about 7 months, so I might have to go into hospital for that, too...

isn't that a sign of infection somewhere in the body?maybe you have some kind of infection in your arm?

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 18:28

no, they've ruled out any infection in my arm. the infection (according to my dr) is elsewhere in my body. =S i'm a walking mess....

partypants · 12-08-2008, 19:05

Lymphedema or another problem with your arm's ability to drain fluid, the pressure probably compressing the nerves, have them look for valve problems, or collapsing veins that would affect arm's ability to circulate back out.

Good luck.

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by partypants

Lymphedema or another problem with your arm's ability to drain fluid, the pressure probably compressing the nerves, have them look for valve problems, or collapsing veins that would affect arm's ability to circulate back out.

Good luck.

they ruled that out too. they've done: x-rays, blood tests, and ultrasound on all my arm to check for any blockages or venal or arterial failures... nothing...

yan · 12-08-2008, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19SazzaLou91

Ok, so the past few months I have been experiencing problems in my left arm. I get a tingling sensation in my shoulder, and then after about 5 minutes, my arm (from the elbow down) goes purple and swells up. It goes numb although it hurts (like I can feel it hurting, but I can stick a pin in it and I won't feel a thing) And this lasts anything from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. I've been to the hospital about it, and they have ruled out quite a few stuff: Fibromyalgia, an *gulp* extra rib in my shoulder of tissue or bone, blood clots, blood problems, heart problems, any congenital problems, tumours, shoulder problems, Raynouds (sp?) Syndrome, stress etc. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong.
It just happens with my left arm, from the elbow down and happens in all kinds of heat and weather. I'm due to go into hospital again sometime soon for more tests as it is getting worse and lasting longer.
I was just wondering if any of you knew what might be the problem? Or have you ever experienced anything like this??

Hi, my friend had a similar thing, she could take a hot tray out of the oven and not feel it buring her hand, I think it was neuropathy.
Could it be something like a trapped nerve/carpel tunnel syndrome?

partypants · 12-08-2008, 19:49

Probably should have done venography or CT, arteriography. Sonogram rarely gives the full picture in circulatory systems, excluding the heart.

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 19:51

partypants, well, i'll see what happens, hopefully they'll find ou.
yan, they're ruled out trapped nerve and CTS! they also rules out RSI.

partypants · 12-08-2008, 20:08

I don't know what to tell you, honestly. Personally I would say Paget-Schroetter, but I'm not a doctor who has seen/done your tests, and I'm sure the excellent socialist health care system has done some deep digging into rare causes. Hope they find out what it is.

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 20:10

i do too.

i dnt like being a freak! lol. thanks Alice. XX

partypants · 12-08-2008, 20:14

You're not a freak. The human body is complex. It's more normal for it to have something go wrong than exist for 82 years with nary a problem. I'm sure they'll figure it out. If all else fails go dig through the MMM and figure out your symptoms yourself.

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 20:15

might do. im in half a mind to do that anyway... damn the NHS. lol.

whitehorses · 12-08-2008, 20:19

Have you had tests for MS?

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 20:20

no. but they ruled it out by the other symptoms i told them about.
X

Becky B · 12-08-2008, 20:53

If all those tests and and several specialist doctors can't find the cause, I don't think I'll be able to shed any light on it

However... has reflex sympathetic dystrophy been ruled out?

Oh, and just as an aside to partypants, ultrasound can be just as accurate if not more so than angiography - and venograms are very rare these days because of that...

19SazzaLou91 · 12-08-2008, 20:56

becky, yeh RSD's been rules out. like i say, rare and common causes have all been ruled out. the doctors are astounded by it.

partypants · 12-08-2008, 20:58

Not what I've heard, but I HAVE heard it's cheaper and less invasive. Usually why it's the first, and sometimes only thing they do. Meanwhile, 2 days later, an 18 year old dies from DVT that could've been detected with further testing beyond ultrasonography.

EDIT: But again, I'm not a doctor.