Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone...

I have not posted here for quite a while...I have chronic nerve pain in my left

arm, hand, & fingers with cold & touch sensitivity after breaking my elbow and

having surgery with 2 pins in July 2008. My pain goes all the way from my bicep

area down to my hand and fingers. The whole left side of my back is very tight

and touching many areas all the way down my back send nerve sensation down my

arm. My muscles are quite tight everywhere as I have very very mild cerebral

palsy, but I am completely ambulatory aside from poor balance & coordination. I

have been seeing a pain specialist in CT, but he is out of options. While I

have some RSD/CRPS symptoms, he and others feel that is not the underlying

problem, but no one knows what is. I have had nerve blocks, massage therapy,

occupational & physical therapy, acupuncture, a tens unit, cold laser therapy,

and a week-long trial of a spinal cord stimulator all with no change in my pain.

I can't tolerate the pain without pain meds, but I can't function on them (I

can't focus and concentrate to work and I can only drive off meds, but can't

tolerate being off for very long) so I'm losing my house & I'm bankrupt. I am

only 37 and I used to love my job as an early childhood special education

teacher.

My pain specialist is out of options and has suggested I go to the Hospital for

Special Surgery in NYC. Has anyone else gone there? He told me he does not

know any of the doctors personally so he didn't make a specific recommendation.

At this point I'm willing to go anywhere and try anything!

Thanks,

Mindy