Anywhere to find a list of specialist doctors? I'm running out of options to fix my Wrist... :(

[aphex]

I've now been to three doctors in regards to my wrist problem (primary care, and two orthopedic surgeons). Unfortunately, i've yet to get a definitive diagnosis and when the last dr. suggested exploratory surgery, I decided I might want to look elsewhere for another dr. that specialized in wrist problems.

Symptoms - Radiating wrist pain both on top of my wrist and under. Ranges from a slow ache to throbbing pain. Constantly feel the need to stretch my wrist and fingers. Pain radiates from my fingertips up to my elbow, sometimes higher. AFAIK, not caused by anything in my environment (hurts just as much when i'm away from my computer and not using it). Difficult to tell exactly where the pain is located, seems to be deep inside, almost near the center of my wrist.

Previous Diagnosis - Tendinitis, Dequervains, RSI, Occult Ganglion Cyst, Fracture

Tests Performed - Multiple X-Rays, MRI, Various physical tests, Nuclear Bone Scan

Treatments Thus Far - Therapy (6 months), Multiple Cortisone injections, splint

As you can see, this has been ongoing for quite awhile now and i really just want the pain to stop. FYI, Carpel Tunnel has been ruled out a few times as I never get the "primary" symptom of numb/tingling fingers.

Back to my original question, where abouts can i go to find a list of dr's who specialize in a particular area? At this point, i don't even care if the dr. dosent take my insurance, I'm willing to pay for the best if need be...

 

[iliopsoas]

who interpreted your MRI? Consider getting the MRI interpreted by a *musculoskeletal* radiologist. These guys subspecialize in interpreting these dedicated studies.

 

[Mo0o]

Acupuncturist, African Shaman, Chiropractor. In that order.

Good luck with it.

 

[StageLeft]

I understand the frustration, now going through something similar with my knee and nobody can tell me what it is.

In regards to your wrist, what's the longest you've stayed away from the computer? I know I'm not you, but when I had what I thought could potentially end up in crippling wrist pain (it was getting bad for a while, some years back), cutting back on first person shooters, aligning my wrists perfectly at the cop, both of those helped. I imagine you've tried all of that of course.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I understand the frustration, now going through something similar with my knee and nobody can tell me what it is.

In regards to your wrist, what's the longest you've stayed away from the computer? I know I'm not you, but when I had what I thought could potentially end up in crippling wrist pain (it was getting bad for a while, some years back), cutting back on first person shooters, aligning my wrists perfectly at the cop, both of those helped. I imagine you've tried all of that of course.

~ 2.5 weeks.... Still had pain throughout the whole time...

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: iliopsoas
who interpreted your MRI? Consider getting the MRI interpreted by a *musculoskeletal* radiologist. These guys subspecialize in interpreting these dedicated studies.

Not sure... i think the center i had the MRI done at did their own study, then my dr. read what they wrote and did his own... afaik

 

[Kelvrick]

Are you wearing any kind of brace?

I'm of no help, but after my motorcycle accident, some physical therapy and using my mouse with my left instead of right hand helped tremendously.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I understand the frustration, now going through something similar with my knee and nobody can tell me what it is.

In regards to your wrist, what's the longest you've stayed away from the computer? I know I'm not you, but when I had what I thought could potentially end up in crippling wrist pain (it was getting bad for a while, some years back), cutting back on first person shooters, aligning my wrists perfectly at the cop, both of those helped. I imagine you've tried all of that of course.

~ 2.5 weeks.... Still had pain throughout the whole time...

2.5 weeks is pretty hardcore!

Exploratory surgery sucks going that route because it's basically admitting that the doctor has no clue what's going on. Again, same thing here...

After so much PT and so many specalists and scans there comes a point where you're comfortable giving up on the idea of any such conventional approaches, and then you have to decide whether you can live with the pain or go for surgery, but surely a surgeon will not just cut open for the heck of it--he must have at least a guess as to what it could be? If the wrist is like the knee, certain things do not show well or at all on an MRI or clinical, so sometimes a scope is needed, but in my case for instance we both know what we are hoping to find. I hope in your case the doctor at least has a couple of theories.

 

[Looney]

Sounds like the pain may be neuropathic damage. Believe it or not, a psychiatrist or neurologist would probably treat it better.

 

[jagec]

Good as new.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: iliopsoas
who interpreted your MRI? Consider getting the MRI interpreted by a *musculoskeletal* radiologist. These guys subspecialize in interpreting these dedicated studies.

Not sure... i think the center i had the MRI done at did their own study, then my dr. read what they wrote and did his own... afaik

Maybe you do need a musculoskeletal, not sure, but I should think any radiologist has a decent competence at reading an MRI. Not all people see them the same, though, but if the radiologist had an impression and then you have received a similar one from your doc, plus hopefully yet another opinion, then it may be spot-on, but again going back to the knee as an example, the same doctors may interpret the same thing in the same way and all be equally wrong.

 

[dmcowen674]

I didn't catch if right or left wrist.

If right wrist have your left shoulder examined, specifically rotator cuff.

If left, have you right shoulder checked out.

If this is nerve related it can seem like the pain is coming from the wrong side because of the way our brain is split.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Acupuncture. This is the medicine of the gods.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
I didn't catch if right or left wrist.

If right wrist have your left shoulder examined, specifically rotator cuff.

If left, have you right shoulder checked out.

If this is nerve related it can seem like the pain is coming from the wrong side because of the way our brain is split.

very interesting.... its my right wrist...

just came across this; http://www.round-earth.com/Subscapularis.html

 

[adagar121987]

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