Found this old stuff I had written during my wc acute injury phase -

My problems started with my hands & forearms in 1999, severe bilateral wrist strain/overuse/tendinitis, I had PT and some time off from work and
Modified work for about a year.
Then went back to regular job and was able to regain 85% of prior strength {active assembly work}had minor problems on and off depending on job rotation.
A year later started having shoulder/neck problems, PT again, back to work full duties again
1 yr later same problems, PT again and sent back to same work
2 months later = It ALL started coming back - but moving around, hands, arms. wrists, shoulders, neck, upperback pain - got 2 sets of
PT for all of it.

I was feeling pretty good but 2 wks out of PT { 11/03} then my elbows flared with ulnar nerve sensations of numbness, tingling,
hypersensitivity-these were new to me.
My pecs and armpits and neck were tight again = more PT on those areas & Sharon Butlers stretches {Her TOS program}.

Was feeling better again after upper-body PT. Back to work no restrictions at first- per Doc {don't ask me why- a test -I guess}
ended up in same job - lasted 3 1/2 months at it.
Started to hurt again at times - had restrictions added { 2 hr rotation & no overtime} .
HR dept decided they couldn't support my 2 minor restrictions- but I was
gonna see if I could reduce my hours anyway as I was still hurting and it was increasing.
Took me months to get loosened up and if I just do too much here at home I get a flare up.

So looking back-- famous last words!
If I knew then what I know now--I would have taken a different path to
protect my body and health, or at least been more outspoken for major ergo changes.
I really liked my coworkers, liked my job, was very good at it, and did have a Type A work personality.

NOW-- ( this was mid 2004)
I'm still off and just doing my best to get healed as much as I am able to. I think most of my problem started with the work postures, positions, tools and my slightly competitive speedy nature {at work}. So for me it made sense that if my work postures caused TOS - working to fix my posture and rebalance the weak muscles should reverse it or most of it. The pains have always decreased quickly for me esp. with ultra sound, heat, resting, and triggerpoint when needed.

I credit a lot of this recovery to my chiropractor too- because I was very misaligned {C1 & C2 not centered} and my neck was "hung up" in a couple places and losing the proper curve- plus he was the one to get me out of the severe spasms. (I had no clue what was wrong with me at the time. Just that I was all locked up in my neck & upper back)


Just some of my notes-
When I had PT during ulnar nerve flare up some of the stretches they wanted me do were a bit intense- they said to push it {the stretch} but I had read Sharon Butlers book already so I just did it to a slight tingle sensation stretch and release with slow gentle reps.

If something feels not right for you, just modify it to what you can do, the main ideas for most of these books is to keep the blood circulating and slowly keep or increase range of motion.

I also got a video {from library} of Alexander Technique and it did help with whole body use, Feldenkrais, Hellerwork are similar.

Modified Yoga, Pilates-- do only what you can & change it or make it easier to do until you can increase it. Think Baby steps.

This part was the biggest piece of the puzzle for me so far-
If you happened to read my thread awhile back - about the
"Best PT "
that found my top ribs were stuck in a raised position. Esp. if you have or had spasmed or very tight scalenes and SCM- they attach to the ribs and collar bone.

For me that is what was causing the "choking" feelings as they were pulling up on the ribs and crowding and pulling the collar bone up. That caused more pinching of the nerves and blood vessels that run between the two.
Since that PT was able to mobilize and get those to drop down -I have felt sooo much better, plus with the spine program of PT carefully strengthening of the shoulder girdle.
My pain was very low{ 1} for weeks before starting the program. I've been able to do tons of yard work- digging, moving plants, rolling stepping stones around to make a walkway, stacking firewood...no pain increase.

Just to let you know that sometimes such a simple thing as getting a rib dropped down can make a world of difference, at least mention it so your PT evaluator can check for that. Especially if you have the "choking" feeling like your collar bones are coming up into your throat.
The only PT that caught it was one with a lot of added training and spine specialist. After I mentioned it to the regular PT guy & chiro { left side had popped up} they were both able to get it back down too as needed.