Swelling on Left Side
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| Sun, 12-26-2004 - 1:30am |
Hi All,
I have a problem with swelling on the left side of my body. My face, arm and hand, and especially lower leg, ankle (both, but mostly the left)swell for no reason. Sometimes it's hardly noticeable, but it seems to flare up out of the blue, often when it's cold or if i sit or am inactive for a while. I'm hyperthyroid, but was withing normal range about 4 months ago when last tested. High normal actually, not sure of the exact number. I've been tested for arthritis, too. I take atenolol and wonder if that's doing something to my heart and causing this? It's not really noticalbe to anyone but me, except for my face if you look really close, and my ankles. It makes me feel kind of stiff. Anyone have any ideas???The doctor keeps saying my heart and everything is healthy.

If you can find a good chiropractor, he or she can really work wonders with that. There might be some damage to the disc(s) and that's what's causing the swelling, and that "electric" feeling. I know that one well. It has to do with nerves being "squeezed", either by your spinal discs or by muscle pressing into them. I have one of those things that runs from my left shoulder, down through my bicep, around to my tricep, and into my forearm!!! I'm not kidding. I hurt something a long time ago working out and I just kept ignoring it until one day, I couldn't raise my arm!!
I also have some damage between my 5th and 6th discs and they are a source of endless variations of trouble. LOL!! But a good chiropractor will take x-rays, and do a thorough examination. It's really worth it as long as you have some good. I see mine once a week now (for that big shoulder thing) and have been seeing him on and off for 3 years. The longest I've gone in between visits is 6 weeks. I was really worried about going but I had so much pain in the right upper portion on my neck and back that I couldn't take it anymore. It turns out it's a touch of arthritis as well, but it only hurts if I'm not taking enough thyroid meds!! Anyway, you can also try an orthopedic first - he or she will do the same thing, x-rays and thorough exam. It's up to you. But it's worth thinking about.
And the quality of the doctor makes all the difference!! My neighbor is an orthopedic surgeon (sp?) but one day, when I had sprained some muscles in my shoulder, he said I had sprained my clavicle - which is a bone! And my NP, who I see regularly, told me I had a pinched nerve when I really had something much more serious in my other shoulder. And she sent me for x-rays - which can't even see nerves or muscles!!!! But my chiro has gotten it right every time and has been able to treat me for all of it. Anyway, ask around!!! It might really help. Cathy :)
I saw a chiropractor when i was younger, like 18 or so, for back pain. I'm a little afraid of them now because my father died just a few yrs ago at a very young age (47) when he had a stroke on the chiro's table as he was working on his neck. Within a matter of a couple of weeks, he had a series of strokes, went into a coma, and died. He had been completely healthy. I guess this is very unusual, but when it happens so close to you, it's a concern. However, i might consider it, if i can find someone i trust. I also have more joint pains and muscle cramps when i'm taking too much of my antithyroid pills, so that may be aggrivating it, I need to get rechchecked soon though.
Thanks again,
Shellie
Shellie - I'm so sorry about your dad. What a terrible experience for all of you to go through. I'm so sorry!!
I get more pain when I'm not taking enough medication for my hypothyroidism so I guess the thing is that there is the right balance. I know it helps my neck pain disappear when I'm taking what I need to be taking.
Let us know what happens!! Hugs, Cathy