The future of my bowling is uncertain

[Phonetek]

As you guys know I've had many issues with my hand. I have gone to a specialist, they did the x-ray and the MRI. Results are not promising at all. The specialist says that it's not something that can be surgically fixed. He maintains that it is not arthritis and assures me I have no signs of it. He is referring me to a Rheumatologist now because there is nothing the specialist can do. He says the soft tissue tumors will go away on their own with topical treatment so that's okay. The fact that my pinky bone is mostly detached from my hand can't be fixed, I have to deal with that so no so okay.

I explained that I struggle simply opening a mere bottle at work let alone the purple streaks on my fingers and numbness while bowling and he's at a loss. Any specialist that does two tests and throws in the towel doesn't seem too damn special. I can't get an appointment with the rheumatologist until July 29th. I'm going for a second opinion in the meantime. The first guy wasn't worth my 1,700 bucks that's for sure. I really don't want this to end with a diagnosis that nothing can be done. I always thought a rheumatologist was someone who treats arthritis? If I have none I'm not sure why I am getting sent to one?

In the meantime, I haven't tried to bowl since the purple streaks appeared which has been about a month give or take. I did put my fingers in my ball at work today just to see, right away without even swinging it I felt pain shoot through my fingers. I handed it back to my son to put back in my locker. I'm not even going to attempt to bowl again until something if anything gets done. I'm thinking of just wrapping up my hand so I don't use it for a while and seeing if giving it a rest helps. I'm not sure what else to do. At this point I'll try anything if it gets me back on the lanes. It's pure torture looking out over those lanes day after day at work knowing I can't use them.

[GrumpyCatFace]

Wow. Do the streaks extend up your arm? Sounds like an infection, actually.

[Phonetek]

Nope, just the fingers and the top of my hand. It goes away when it dies down.

[boatman37]

That sucks. Hope they figure it out soon.

On the other hand (literally) you could always bowl lefty! We need a few more in our ranks.

[djp1080]

Doesn't sound very good from what you're describing nor what this specialist says either. Didn't he tell you why he is referring you to a Rheumatologist? Isn't there some other way to go?
Was this specialist you met with an orthopedic surgeon?
Best of luck my friend!

[Amyers]

I hate to hear that man. Keep looking one doctor isn't everything. hopefully they'll figure out what causing it.

[RobLV1]

There is a big difference between Osteoarthritis (a bone disease) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (an auto immune disease). There have been some major advancements made in medications to treat RA. Hang in there. The Rheumatologist may be able to help.

[Outerlimits]

Hopefully they can isolate what is causing the discomfort. It sounds almost like you stretched or sprained something in your hand. A doctor probably would have diagnosed that pretty easy though. Good Luck. Hang in there.

[Phonetek]

Doesn't sound very good from what you're describing nor what this specialist says either. Didn't he tell you why he is referring you to a Rheumatologist? Isn't there some other way to go?
Was this specialist you met with an orthopedic surgeon?
Best of luck my friend!

I didn't get into all the details before but this is how it went down. He is a "Hand Specialist" by title and he does orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery. He didn't actually tell me anything after the first appointment. He read the x-ray which I had just prior to the appointment, gave me a shot in hand more toward my wrist (which isn't where it hurt) then he sent me for the MRI. After the MRI a week later I called and the nurse gave me the results. I tried telling them that the circumstances with my hand had changed since the first visit as well as additional symptoms causing worse issues. The nurse then gave me the referral and said no follow up appointment was required. Again I said that I had additional symptoms since the initial visit. She repeated that there was no reason for a follow up. I said "Additional symptoms aren't a reason?" Needless to say, I didn't get a follow up appointment.

So, bottom line is I pretty much got jerked around. I think a found a guy who is more involved in improving his golf game instead of his job performance. As far as having another way to go besides a rheumatologist I have no idea. I've never had to deal with issues like this before. I only went to this guy because this is where my doctor sent me. I stressed that this impacts bowling but I don't think to them it means much, perhaps if I was a pro it would? I figured it would mean something to them that it impacts my work as well but since the end of July is the soonest I can get in, that don't mean much to them either. It's extremely frustrating. I really wanted this fixed so I could be at the top of my game by fall. However, it is partially my fault because I put off the MRI so that's on me. Then again it was put off because of my job. My interview was the same day and I obviously made the right choice. I'm open to suggestions on where to go next.

[TCJ]

Could it be nerve damage? Believe it or not, I know someone who had nerve damage in his hand so that he had difficulty using his thumb. A chiropractor fixed it.

[fordman1]

Become a lefty.

[Florida Bowler]

I had to do that for a while before I stopped bowling. I had some kind of shoulder issue that was very painful and I couldn't raise it. I bowled lefty (just open bowling, no leagues) and I averaged about 120. The footwork was the hardest part for me. Funny thing about the shoulder was that it cleared up when I had some steroid treatment for a different issue. Now I'm bowling righty again.

[fordman1]

How are you at poker?

[chip82901]

I had some neck/shoulder issues going on toward the end of the season (january is when they started). I lasted all the way through when I bowled state at the end of April and then decided it was time to take a break and figure out what is going on. I had been seeing a chiropractor as well as getting massages on a regular and nothing seemed to be helping the shooting pain any time I'd turn my head (pain all the way to the finger tips on my left hand). My chiropractor also does acupuncture and suggested maybe try that, as the root cause of the issue was a bulged disc between my C5 and C6. I am now 4 sessions in and I've never felt better. He said sometimes, when all else seems like its not working, sometimes jabbing a needle in it does the trick lol. I still haven't thrown a ball yet as I have 1 more session and then a re-evaluation. Being that it is summer and I'm a pretty busy guy (full time job and announce dirt track races at 2 separate tracks), I usually stop in about april and pick it up again in july. So, we will see how things go next week for my last appointment and re-evaluation and then try to strengthen everything back up. When this all happened back in January, I lost a full mph on my ball speed.

[HowDoIHookAgain]

Maybe carpal tunnel? I've got no idea man, but I have varicose veins and my veins pop out on my hands, arms, legs, everywhere. Never had them hurt though. If you have diabetes it could be diabetic nerve pain, so that might be something to look into.

[classygranny]

Look into a good acupuncturist or better yet, an Eastern medicine doctor - they do acupuncture and herbal treatment. This could be due to stagnant blood flow and a few treatments may be all you need. Worth a try while you wait for your July appointment.

[Phonetek]

Wow so many replies since I've been around. Definitely a lot of good ideas. I don't really have any updates except it's gotten worse. I'm having trouble bending my fingers now, their range of motion is about half compared to my left hand. I can't make a fist. I'm trying to not use my hand but unfortunately with all that's going on it's hard not to. As far as doctors go, I still have the appointment in July. I also have one Tuesday with the original guy, apparently my complaint to my insurance company made the doctor have second thoughts and now he wants to see me. I've logged all my symptoms, maybe knowing what's all went on he may come up with something. It's worth a shot.

[Amyers]

good luck bud hope they come up with a solution