I've been suffering from TOC with scalene involvement since Oct 2000. I was rear-ended by a non-emergency ambulance driver at a red light. I was stopped; he couldn't. I also have cervical and lumbar herniations and bulges, plus muscle spams 24/7. Pick a spot. I'm exhausted. Will I ever get a good full night's sleep again? I've been in therapy long enough for one therapist to get divorced, remarry, have a child - refer me to anothe facility. New therapist has gotten divoced, remarried. Therapy is keeping me working. I have been diagnosed, misdiagnosed, used and abused during my quest for healing. I've found new techniques - Kinesio Tape - Botox - pills - Myofascial release, yoga, water, TheraCane, oversized tennis balls, stretches, thoracolumbar spine board for restoring my alignment to my spine. Another thing that gave my arms great relief was light therapy. ultraviolet light treatment. It's FDA approved but no NDC code, thus hardly no health insurance will pay $1,500 for it. I can buy one, but I really don't feel it's worth $1,500. $500 at the most. It did give me relief, though, and I often think I should just bite the bullet on that and let them gouge me. Oooo$1,500oouch. I'm certiainly not up to Pilotes, but I've bought it. Blankets for my arms has been the most helpful - keeping them fleece warm, despite the sunny summer hot days and hot nights. My arms were so numb and desensitized I didn't know they were cold, but I knew the heating pad was a great relief at 04:00 am in the morning. In 2005 I had cervical epidurals X3 for my herniations that gave me some improvement with neck and back pain and my arms also. I had multiple painful symptoms and conditions. After my epidurals gave me lots of relief from the radiculopathy, pain, numbness and tingling symptoms, I could descern that my arms were cold of the mornings, and sometimes during the day. hummm. imagine that. I have bilateral TOC, so both arms were affected. Both arms were pain wrecked and numb. I had two clubs on my hands. It is a neverending battle for me but I'm not giving up or giving in. I have been examined by some of the best - Dr. Erdogan Atasoy in Louisville, Ky, in March or 2003; he has recommended surgery with scalenectomy - and some of the worst - Dr. James S. Powell, Ashland, Ky, and everything in between. I was very confused - How could four doctors have four absolutely different plans of care for me? I have come to know myself very well. I grade things as positives or negatives for improvement of my conditions. I do not regress gracefully. I'm trying to find an acceptable balance. (things I can do that don't whack me out for 2 or 3 days) The quest is winding down. Not many conservative options left. I'm still not able to drive over 45 minutes without getting into trouble. I've gained lots of strenght and have gotten some sustainable pain relief. I do sympathize with you all but I don't have the right answer for you or myself. No magic, either.

Later,
(Broken Wings)
P.S. This is much longer than I intended.