7 years ago I was diagnosed with carple tunnel, and have since been waering a brace and doing finger exersises to assist with the pain it causes. 

2 years ago, I was told it was bad enough that I neede to have surgery - right as I lost any ability to have health insurance. 

As of Jan 1st, I had health insurance, and quickly scheduled to have a nerve conduction test done. 

Yeserday, I went for my nerve conduction test.... I was so excited. 

Years of pain. Years of dropping things. Years of not being able to grasp or grip things. Years of having other people having to do things for me. YEARS. And soon it would be over with one quick surgery and a little recovery. Soon it would be over.  

The Dr walked in and put out his hand to shake mine, and his face quickly changed. Before he said hi, before he introduced himself, before he asked me my name he told me that I did not have carple tunnel......

We did the test anyway... 

He told me he has done Millions of these tests. and out of all the ones he has done, mine rans in the top ten for most perfect. There wasnothing wring with my carple tunnel nerve. 

He asked me a few quick questions, pointed out a few observations he had, and ask me who diagnosed me. It was 3 drs ago and another city ago. .... 

who ever it was was an idiot, he said. This has nothing to do with carple tunnel and you have all the classic symptoms of a busted C7 vertibre. 

I explained that I had injured my back when I was 18 and developed scoliosis from that... no, he said. Not related. This is your neck...

Then he got serious. 

If caught early, it can be fixed. Revered. made better. Mine had been left go for years. and worse than left go, I had done all of these things to treat my carple tunnel I din't have that actually made this C7 nerve damage worse. 

Likely hood, I would not be a canidate for surgery. I would not be able to be fixed. Best case for me ... years of drugs... steroids, pain killers, injections, and years of physical therapy... 3-4 times a week... for the rest of my life. .... Pain....  for the rest of my life. 

My joys and hopes to feel better and be independant again.... dashed... Pain... for the rest of my life. 

Now I start all over again. I have to get new recomedations from the PCP to see a back specialist to percribe physical therapy.... 

I'm so mad. He's right - all the classic symptoms. I have all of them. Why wasn't it discovered sooner? Why was it let go so long? So much pain... why?

All over again.... square one. 

So, I wallowed in self pitty yesterday - today it is time to move forward. 

:) Susie