# Is this a neurological problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827 "2022-10-26T15:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/1 "2022-10-26T15:35:17Z")
I just need to know if I should see a doctor and you are not offerring medical advice. The sad fact (as we all know in the US) is that health insurance is worthless for preventative care and despite insurance, doctor visits are expensive even for a diagnose of, “Nah it’s nothing.” Also doctors tend to put everything in a box. I could have covid, stage 4 pancreatic cancer or anorexia and they would all say, “Eat less, Exercise more.” so I feel I need to go in with as much knowledge as possible. I notice that lately when walking, sometimes unconsciously I will have my left lower arm horizontal to the ground across my chest. I have has some issues with my left hand where when moving my fingers, they will occasionally “bind” (hard to explain) but its not a skeletal or joint issue I don’t think. What I’m looking for is if those symptoms (along with brain fog if applicable) leads down a path like - “Hey Cad, you should see if it’s Hansen’s Disease.” or “Did you injure your shoulder? Because if the heisenfram nerve is irritated …” or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/2 "2022-10-26T16:14:39Z")
I really would recommend seeing your doctor. I know you say: > Also doctors tend to put everything in a box. I could have covid, stage 4 pancreatic cancer or anorexia and they would all say, “Eat less, Exercise more.” Its a bit more nuanced than that. Basically your regular primary care doctor has a list of basic stuff they can treat (e.g. high blood pressure == blood pressure medication, diet and exercise) , and anything outside that list they will refer to a specialist (e.g. stage 4 pancreatic cancer, get to a cancer specialist, stat). The issue is that because most of what they see is the basic stuff it can sometimes be hard to convince them that what you have isn’t common or garden _whatever_ that can be treated with (checks chart) _medicine X and exercise_. But based on your description I would definitely think a regular primary care doctor would take you seriously. As for the cost, I know that sucks (but the copay for a primary care physician is always going to be less than treating something that has advanced because you didn’t get it checked out earlier ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/3 "2022-10-26T17:10:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The sad fact (as we all know in the US) is that health insurance is worthless for preventative care The truly sad fact is that so many people ignore effective means of disease prevention (vaccines, cancer detection, smoking cessation, alcohol intake limitation, proper diet, exercise etc. and when they get sick, complain that their doc just wants to give them drugs. And a lot of prevention _is_ covered by health insurance or doesn’t cost anything in the first place. I could add something about those who post vague symptoms for strangers on the Internet to diagnose so they can avoid seeing a physician, but that might be piling on. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/4 "2022-10-26T17:15:13Z")
I’m probably going to see my PCP anyways just as part of an overall consult once I get a complete male panel blood test. So I’m not necessarily taking the advise here as see them or not but rather more of if there is something I should ask them to pursue. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/5 "2022-10-26T17:15:21Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I I have heard of a variety of issues related to stiffening joints and some of them require serious attention. So see a doctor and count yourself lucky if they say you are just getting old. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/6 "2022-10-26T17:26:31Z")
If you have a severe issue or something that bothers you enough to schedule an appointment, and your PCP blows it off, it’s time to find a new PCP. I have found most doctors are extremely busy, and if they can’t diagnose a problem within 10 minutes, they will send you home and see if it goes away or send you to a specialist. Sometimes it can take months/years and multiple visits to specialists to properly nail down a rare condition. Don’t give up until you get satisfaction one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/7 "2022-10-26T17:37:16Z")
I suspect it’s just as likely psychological as neurological. An arm (or arms) across the chest is classic defensive body language. I’ve found myself doing the same after a fall. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/8 "2022-10-26T17:46:03Z")
Caveat: I’m totally a lay person when it comes to medicine, but I do know questions that I as a doctor would ask and you as a patient should be ready to answer. When did you notice this condition and how long have you had it? Has it gotten worse/better over time? Did you have a sickness or a physical injury of any kind that might have triggered this condition? Do you have any pain? Have you suffered any loss of feeling in your left arm (or anywhere else)? Have you suffered any loss of strength in your arm? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/9 "2022-10-26T18:11:42Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I have has some issues with my left hand where when moving my fingers, they will occasionally “bind” (hard to explain) but its not a skeletal or joint issue I don’t think. If you have [trigger finger](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trigger-finger/symptoms-causes/syc-20365100), it’s not a big deal. I am not a doctor and don’t even play one on tv. But I do have trigger finger and a cortisone shot was super helpful. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/10 "2022-10-26T18:24:11Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Have you suffered any loss of feeling in your left arm (or anywhere else)? Have you suffered any loss of strength in your arm? This is one you may not even know about. When I went to the doctor about a sciatic flare-up, I didn’t even know that I had partial paralysis in my leg until he asked me to try to stand on my toes, and I couldn’t, not on that leg, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/11 "2022-10-26T18:51:17Z")
Well, good luck with this. Please, update this thread because I am very curious about how this is going to go for you. Hopefully, it will go very well! ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/12 "2022-10-26T19:06:48Z")
[Aside] This har nothing to do with US health care and cost but seem to be universal: Person A: I have this weird bulge on my elbow Person B: You should probably see a doctor Person A (horrified):No, no, what if they find something FFS - you have a responsibility for your own health. If the _do_ find something, it might actually be a good thing, especially if it’s serious. The earlier you get treatment, the better your chances are for almost everything I can think of. Don’t wait till blood runs out of every orifice. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-neurological-problem/973827/13 "2022-10-27T06:25:51Z")
You mean, kind of like you’re saying the Pledge of Allegiance but with the wrong arm? I’d recommend that you see a doctor.