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I feel like RoboCop in this damned thing.

Somehow I managed to damage myself pretty well.  About 2 weeks ago, over the course of 3 days I lost nearly all the feeling in my left arm from elbow to fingertips.  Its slowly backed off where Im feeling a 50% loss of feeling in my ring/pinky fingers, but the grip on the rest of the hand is rather weak.

Its like somethings been hitting my funny bone nonstop. Two specialists think its some sort of ulnar nerve compression, which I’m likely to agree with.  However, it doesnt fully explain the tingling I’m feeling in the rest of my hand and the outer forearm.  It also doesn’t explain the similar tingling sensations in the other arm, but fortunately there there is no loss of feeling.

I’ve been fitted with this god-awful brace set at a 30º-40º angle to relieve tension in my elbow where the nerves are.  They think its from cubital tunnel syndrome.  The source could be any one of 5 different things I was able to pinpoint as a cause, ranging from ergonomic changes at work to flat-out stress.

As of right now, my system is being flooded with anti-inflammatories, a strong regimen of heat application, and I’ve been fitting with this contraption to wear during my sleep for the next month or so.  If this doesn’t help, next step looking into nerve conduction studies and seeing if there is a larger overall problem which might explain the tingling I’m feeling in the other arm.

Its not necessary for during the day, but they did say it might help if I was able to use it all the time.  I’m still heading to work, I can still type (although rather clumsily,)  and it doesn’t exactly make me feel the safest while driving.

And to think, I was hoping to leave the doc’s office with just a cortisone shot and an appointment for a follow-up.

Whee.

edit: ooooh.  ouch.  i just got stuff from MVP in the mail today.  Guess what piece of medical equipment wasnt covered in any manner by my insurance.   Ooof.