Wanna Play Doctor?

[SJ1001]

Hehehe, here we go... I hurt my shoulder in a car accident a couple years ago, and recently strained it at work. The pain starts in the joint and under my shoulder blade, and is shooting down my arm to my fingertips, which are numb. I don't have a family doctor, and I'm afraid to go ask for painkillers at the walk-in clinic because they all have big signs saying "We do not prescribe narcotics" and I don't want them to think I have an addiction.

I have tried: ibuprofen, tylenol, tylenol with codiene... nothing. got a massage, which was great until about an hour after and then I was back at square one.

so, do I take it easy at work and wait for it to go away, or do i need to see a doctor? if so, any tips for communicating with him, so he doesn't think I'm just looking for a fix?

 

[hunter001]

Go to a doctor. Tell him the problem. There could be complications from the original injury.

Book as soon as you can. You don't want to go through the rest of your life with recurring pain. The worse thing that can happen is the doctor says there is nothing he can do.

 

[Fabulous]

Hehehe, here we go... I hurt my shoulder in a car accident a couple years ago, and recently strained it at work. The pain starts in the joint and under my shoulder blade, and is shooting down my arm to my fingertips, which are numb. I don't have a family doctor, and I'm afraid to go ask for painkillers at the walk-in clinic because they all have big signs saying "We do not prescribe narcotics" and I don't want them to think I have an addiction.

I have tried: ibuprofen, tylenol, tylenol with codiene... nothing. got a massage, which was great until about an hour after and then I was back at square one.

so, do I take it easy at work and wait for it to go away, or do i need to see a doctor? if so, any tips for communicating with him, so he doesn't think I'm just looking for a fix?

re: painkillers
yES I found that out the hardway too. Don't even bother with the walk in clinic, they have a new rule since Dec.1,07 - no nacrcotics. But if you go to emergency crying in pain, you are more likely to get at least tylenol 3 or perks. Just have to tell the doctors it's pretty severe pain and ask for a reference to a specialist because you are concerned about the recurring pain.

Personally I am pretty much off the pain killers now since I found natural ways to relieve my ailment but this recipe wouldn't do you any good since it's for the digestive tract, so in the meantime for muscle pain I'd recommend icing it for 20 minutes off and on and let it rest as much as possible.

 

[SJ1001]

Hunter, I will take your advice. At this point the pain is overcoming the fear of doctors.

I have decided to write down what's bothering me in case the doctor is rushed, or makes me feel nervous and I can't explain it. That was the best I could come up with for communicating.

Fab and Hanna: Thank you... I just saw your posts. I have been sleeping with an electric heating pad for a year now, and it is fantastic for mild back pain, but no help at all with my shoulder. Ditto ice.

I was going to try the walk-in first, but maybe I should skip them and go right to St. Joe's... unfortunately, the only one open is downtown (which makes it more likely that they will think I have a addiction and want a fix) and they don't answer their phone, so I can't ask if they will see me.

 

[Gyaos]

Hunter, I will take your advice. At this point the pain is overcoming the fear of doctors.

Go to an athletic trainer.

Gyaos.

 

[hunter001]

Go to a doctor get X-rays, etc. You want to find out the extent of the problem.

There is no reason to be afraid of doctors they are there to help you. You it owe it to yourself to get a doctor to look at you.

 

[S.C. Joe]

re: painkillers
yES I found that out the hardway too. Don't even bother with the walk in clinic, they have a new rule since Dec.1,07 - no nacrcotics.

What type of dumb ass rule is that. How the heck do they know if anybody does not need any painkillers.

I like some worker come in with a finger cut off from work, he gets nothing for pain either

It must be a BS sign, because too many were always asking for them. If you really need some, I can't believe you don't get any.

 

[papasmerf]

Hehehe, here we go... I hurt my shoulder in a car accident a couple years ago, and recently strained it at work. The pain starts in the joint and under my shoulder blade, and is shooting down my arm to my fingertips, which are numb. I don't have a family doctor, and I'm afraid to go ask for painkillers at the walk-in clinic because they all have big signs saying "We do not prescribe narcotics" and I don't want them to think I have an addiction.

I have tried: ibuprofen, tylenol, tylenol with codiene... nothing. got a massage, which was great until about an hour after and then I was back at square one.

so, do I take it easy at work and wait for it to go away, or do i need to see a doctor? if so, any tips for communicating with him, so he doesn't think I'm just looking for a fix?

Sounds like it is a nerve that is affected. If that is the case pain killers will dull it at best. I would suggest a radiological series and proceed from there.

 

[hunter001]

I like some worker come in with a finger cut off from work, he gets nothing for pain either

If you have a finger cut off from work you wouldn't be going to a walk-in clinic in Canada. You would go to the hospital emergency.

Walk-in clinic in Canada are more of a stop gap if you don't have a regular doctor or it is after hours.

 

[SJ1001]

Took a look at St. Joe's waiting room and decided to take my chances at walk-in. As nice as it would be to take a pain-killer and forget about it, it's better to find out what the problem is. So have anti-spasmodic to help with symptoms, lots of ibuprofen to deal with some of the pain and an appointment for ultrasound. He suggested other tests if the ultrasound doesn't answer any questions. Aside from some raised eyebrows when I answered his questions about work and if there were any repetitive motions that might add to the strain on my shoulder, it was a good visit.

Hunter, I get nervous with doctors because, for ten straight years, I had two male GPs tell me that they know what cramps feel like and they're not that bad. After an ER visit during a particularly painful episode, it turned out to be cysts. So now I am stuck with the mindset that it will take a lot of effort for them to take pain seriously.

 

[hunter001]

I understand you might not like doctors but when you health is concerned if it is a reoccurring problem you have to get it looked at.

I am pretty sure I have another round in skin cancer, for example, I longer I put off getting it taken care of the more of a pain in the ass it will be to have it removed.

The worst thing that can happen is you waste of hours of your time. What you describe doesn't sound like "cramps". (It does sound like a pinched nerve like someone said, but that is why you need a professional opinion.)

 

[SJ1001]

Yes, I was speaking of a seperate problem that inspired my negative attitude about going to the doctor.
I have actually already been to the doctor today, having asked for and received your sound and sage advice.

 

[jillytime]

chinese TEET DA massage.

 

[SJ1001]

chinese TEET DA massage.

What's that?

 

[nautilus]

I'll be over to show you the Teet massage.

 

[landscaper]

from a non doctor point of view I had something similar over the years from sports injuries mine was a pinched nerve very painfull and recurred every so often. See your doctor and probably a physiotherapist afterwords

hope you fell better soon

 

[oleman]

go see a chiro/physio/sports injuries person. They understand bodies and treat them with appropriate therapy. Doctors understand illnesses and treat them with appropriate drugs.
O.
(who has found out the hard way who does what)

 

[papasmerf]

go see a chiro/physio/sports injuries person. They understand bodies and treat them with appropriate therapy. Doctors understand illnesses and treat them with appropriate drugs.
O.
(who has found out the hard way who does what)

that s why I suggested a full X-RAY work up before proceeding. It is likely a nerve. But one needs to consider other problems

 

[great bear]

Might as well chime in here. You might be suffering from a "pressure point". It really is a minature charley horse in one of your back or shoulder muscles. If you know a good massage therapist who does deep tissue work, ask if they can work in the area where the pain is located and see if they can release the pressure point. The tingling down your arm is a good indication of a severe pressure point (charely horse). Good luck.

 

[papasmerf]

Might as well chime in here. You might be suffering from a "pressure point". It really is a minature charley horse in one of your back or shoulder muscles. If you know a good massage therapist who does deep tissue work, ask if they can work in the area where the pain is located and see if they can release the pressure point. The tingling down your arm is a good indication of a severe pressure point (charely horse). Good luck.

I understand that rubbing boiled bear brain on it can help