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-Mike

 

What you are clicking on is the "quote" button. That means the person's entire post is quoted.

Glad you found us! We are indeed one big family!

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oops!
Lymetutu
 

My pain was caused by inflammation of the muscles, resulting in the muscles tightening tremendously. It's not completely gone, but I've got it under control. I am constantly on a muscle relaxer and went through months of hands on physical therapy (relaxing the muscles not strengthening) and worked slowly towards strengthening exercises .

It can also be caused by athrtitis/joint inflammation, tendon inflammation (tendinitis), something like a spur or a compressed nerve. I sometimes think physical therapists are best at figuring this out, because they know much more about how bodies work than the doctors. But it needs to be a good therapist.
 

At times it is tingling, then buzzing, then this BIZARRE (as if the first two werent) boring pain like there is a radialogical tumor in there, but there isnt.

We thought I had Thoracic Outlet Syndome (tos)for months. Where the nerves of the neck and chest (brachial plexus)send crazy signals to the rest of your arm that freakin hurt even though it is NOT JOINT PAIN. Thought it was caused from too much swimming.

No other joints seem affected.

Been treating lyme for 15 yrs. Off and on.
have had years of no symptoms. Possibly this flare is due to steroid shot I got in the shoulder in December. or untreated Babs.

I teach elementary art so I know what you mean. I had to be put in a sling-like thing for while this winter and although I could barely teach, it was at least a VISUAL sign to others that i was suffering.

I hear your pain. Do you have summer break soon?

Best,
trails

PS. I had a nerve conduction study that did come back as having nerve root damage in cervical spine. The roots of your nerves in your neck can cause WHACKED OUT SH** to happen in your shoulder and arm. Lyme can get in the nerve roots and cause this to happen. Peripheral neuropathy.
 

I've thought about the sling...for both reasons....the visual clue...and pain relief. Seems like when I hold it still it just throbs which I can deal with. It's the very sharp pains with movement that put me over the edge. Trying to get in for a massage to see if that will help. Thanks for "hearing" my pain
Cher

 

I get right shoulder pain that spreads up into my neck , jaw and then subsequently my ear. Everything swells and I cant turn my neck without feeling the tightness.

It actually gets SO TIGHT that when I do turn my neck, my lip pulls down to one side.

You betcha, lyme can cause this. BUT DO get it looked into to find out WHAT went wrong.

I am now discovering that my shoulder pain has driven me postal and depressed and I really need pain relief from it.

Make sure ya get some.

I didnt use a sling, it was actually a thing for people with broken collar bones...you know, keeps your arm from moving and sort of stable?

As far as meds for the shoulder pain...the ONLY thing that worked for me was Valium. And heavy drinking. NOT COMBINED. and not a joke. I am NOT a drinker, but I swore by a few beers calming down the pain. Ibuprofen 800mg did NOTHING. All others barely touched the pain. Even steroid shot, which you SHOULD NOT have if you are a lymie, did not work more than 3 days.

DONT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TREATING LYME! For real, it will whack out your tum and apparently lyme loves alcohol.

Also, I started taking Elavil 10mg at night and that helped with the sleeping and some of the pain. It is an anti-depressant, but is used for nerve pain in low doses. I liked it, and I think it helped. It helped with sleeping for SURE. Had to stop because of low sodium. Ask your doc about it?

Yeah, end of june is too far away. We only have two weeks left here. But we start the first week of August.

keep in touch!
Trails
 

If it is only Lyme causing your problem, I will suggest trying Prolotherapy, ( www.google.com ) and use the keyword, Prolotherapy. Many of us posters here have had that done by our LLMD's and it works wonderfully. Two sessions and my carpel tunnel in my wrist were gone...that was about 1.5 years ago and it hasn't come back.

as for my bone spur and torn rotator cuff, it is now fine after surgery and 4, count 'em, 4 months of physical therapy, the shoulder is fine. I'll never play tennis again, but, oh well, right?

Good luck and good day,

Rosemary
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Cher44:
He wanted to give me a steriod shot but from what I've read on many of the postings here that's a no no for lyme....correct?

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I wouldn't do it. Like trailsgrl said, the relief will be very temporary and could really make the Lyme issue worse.

I've had tons of prolotherapy, and even though it's painful, it was NOTHING compared to the pain I was in already. [plus they drug you up pretty good! ]

My worst pain was sciatic nerve pain, and it worked for that very well....also had him do my knees, shoulders, hands, feet, hips, neck and back.

I don't think we left any stones unturned! But of course, this was done over MANY sessions!

You might want an orthopedic dr see if it's a bone spur or rotator cuff problem. My left shoulder still gives me trouble.

Here are some links:
http://www.drcharlescrist.com http://www.prolodoc.com/faber4.htm http://www.prolodoc.com/zale.htm http://www.prolotherapy.com/ http://www.prolodoc.com/
Hear success stories: http://www.prolotherapy.com/proloaudio.htm

Rate prolotherapy: http://www.remedyfind.com/rm-715-Prolotherapy.asp

How do other treatments rate? http://www.remedyfind.com/hc-Osteoarthritis.asp

Articles on prolotherapy:
http://www.prolotherapy.com/documents.htm
http://www.prolotherapy.com/articles/banks.htm http://www.getprolo.com/
http://www.docbridges.com/prolo.htm

A great book on the topic:
Prolo Your Pain Away, by Dr. Ross Hauser

Cher....what do you teach?

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oops!
Lymetutu

[This message has been edited by Lymetoo (edited 19 May 2005).]
 

Teach? Seems like not much lately. Just kidding my students are wonderful and I am educating them on lyme to the best of my ability. They know when I'm having a bad day and are pretty compassionate. Once I tell you what grade I teach you might find that hard to believe but they help to keep me going. I teach 7th and 8th grade science and math. They're a wonderful crew!
I thing the orthepedic doc might be a good idea as well. I've emailed my LD to correpond with my MD maybe that will help.
Cher