Nerve pain?????

[Mb]

Hello all!

I have an odd situation, or at least I think it is.

My husband (two St. Jude valves), started with some odd pains in the last 2-3 days. He has three areas of neveres, one in his neck, one on his arm, and one on a finger, that have caused his significant discomfort when touched/hit/moved, to the point where he "padded" his finger to protect it from getting hurt.

Has anyone oever heard of this?

Marybeth

[geebee]

Marybeth,

Are they all on the same side? It sounds like some kind of "pince" but any pain like that needs to be checked.

[Mary]

Has he had any fever with the pain? If they are all on the same side and he has fever, it might be the start of a shingle attack.

[Nancy]

I was thinking shingles as well, especially if it is all on the same side. You really need to get medical care very fast if it is shingles. There are anti-virals which work only in the initial phase, and they can prevent long term pain.

The couple of very painful conditions Joe has had were shingles and gout, but gout usually happens in the large toe joint. Cellulitis is also painful, but you know about that, and it has a rash connected with it.

[Mb]

Hello:

Well.....I do no THINK it is shingles. One nerve is on the inside of his middle finger, the next is near the back of his elbow, and the third is his neck. The elbow/finger ARE on the same side. I'll check out the neck one though, and let you know if indeed it is on the same side. One more day, and I'll send him off to the Dr.

[Mary]

Hello:

Well.....I do no THINK it is shingles. One nerve is on the inside of his middle finger, the next is near the back of his elbow, and the third is his neck. The elbow/finger ARE on the same side. I'll check out the neck one though, and let you know if indeed it is on the same side. One more day, and I'll send him off to the Dr.

Marybeth,
If your husband never had chicken pox, there is no possibility of shingles. However, if he did, shingles can occur in each place where a chicken pox blister formed. The virus can be dormant for decades, and then due to different situations, can flare up on a nerve pathway.
I really don't think it's shingles, because I don't think many people would have had a chicken pox blister on their finger. However, as Nancy and I both wrote (Joe has had a shingle outbreak), the pain before a breakout is the first sign that an episode is about to occur.
I pray that it isn't shingles.
Mary

[bvdr]

Marybeth, if the pain is a gnawing, burning pain associated with any numbness, tingling, or vibrating sensation then I would think a neuritis would be more likely. If it is more associated with moving or touching it I would think more of a muscular/tendinitis sort of scenario.

[Patrick Haley]

I am 62 years old and had an AVR/MVR/maze procedure performed last November 8th. My doctor believes they may have nicked a nerve in my left wrist while preparing me for my surgery, possible when they put the arterial line in. I have had pain in my left arm, wrist and hand constantly since the surgery. Last weekend I started to feel less discomfort, and I believe I am on the mend. I have been told by my local Neurologist that it may take up to six months to finally heal and get my strength back in my left hand.