Originally Posted by SandyRI

Hi there -

My RSD started in my shoulder - I was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff tear after carrying a heavy workbag. Which likely did happen - I felt a rip in arm when I flung the bag in the back of my truck and they found it on the MRI. But it wasnt a really big one, and lots of people live forever with tears just like the one I had without any pain. Getson thinks the hauling and pulling and heaving of the work bag took a toll on the muscles and nerves in my chest cavity, which were injured but never treated. That's where the RSD started after really aggressive PT and excessive icing on the part of the orto's PT dept.

I don't know a lot yet about the brachial plexus. ASB Pete tells me its the equivalent of TOS. Getson told me to look it up online under Brachial Plexus injury and I'd find a lot of info. I've done some searches but haven't learned as much as I'd like. But I do know that if I use my arms for anything strenuous, expecially where there are vibrations - like raking leaves with a metal rake on a bumpy ground really hard - the next day is pure agony for my head. I can't move from the fetal position for hours, and it usually takes days before my head goes back to baseline (which is a steady state of pain at between 3 and 5).

Lidocaine infusions have chilled me out a bit. Can you aks for PCP to try them while you wait for Dr. S.

Good luck, Sandy