[djchandler]

We actually live in the Kansas City area, but on the Kansas side of the state line in an older suburban community. We love it here, because it feels more like a small town to us. And Toto's Coffee Shop is just down the street. My wife grew up in a small town in western PA, so she should know. I hope to find support here. I am having some neurological difficulties, either related to TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) or multiple auto-immune diseases. I am seeing the pre-eminent expert on TOS in our area in about two weeks at Kansas University Medical Center. He happens to be an orthopedic guy, but another orthopedic surgeon and a rheumatologist both wanted me to see him. We'll soon see if I have multiple auto-immune diseases, or TOS along with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

This site was found by googling "auto-immune nerves tendons" so I think I may have found a supportive communiity based on what I've read so far. What's going on with me isn't temporary, so I'll be here to help somebody else someday. I don't think what I have is fatal so far either, so I hope I'll be here a long time. The only thing mentioned so far in that area is amyloidosis, but so far there's been no indicator necessarily of that. My doc says she wants a nerve biopsy before she'll say anything more about that. That sounds a little drastic to me.

The reason I googled nerves and tendons along with the auto-immune parameter is that tendons in my hands are shortening, causing "trigger finger" in my middle finger on both hands. I also have carpal tunnel, both hands, and a tendency to both kinds of tendinitis in both elbows, the right side being more troublesome, especially in the right shoulder. There's been one carpal tunnel release on the right side, but I'm still having the trigger finger problem, but dexterity has improved somewhat. There's been multiple cortisone injections in the neck and right shoulder with minor improvement. I've been offered two more minor surgeries to deal with some of these problems, but I want to hear what the TOS outcome is first. Also my internist is giving me Lyrica, 150 mg twice a day, with is calming the pain radiating from the right shoulder into the collarbone and up the right side of my neck. She says the goiter with 6 nodules on the right side of my thyroid has nothing to do with the pain. The Lyrica has been effective, along with the other meds I'm taking.

I'm kind of a geek, and you can send me messages easily through my profile. The email address I gave is the one I use on my Ubuntu Linux box, which is in the living room connected to our wide screen 27" LCD tv.

I hope I didn't complain too much in my "hello", but I'm hoping somebody in a similar situation can help me deal with this so I don't need to lean on my wife so heavily. She's a very good woman, but she lost her mother within the past year, and there's only so much a person should have to bear. I'm way more optimistic about this than she is, but I've really crashed quickly physically, even though I've had the undiagnosed autoimmune disease for a long time. I've gone from being a long haul truck driver, doing about 3000 miles a week, to not being able to work at all since last November. The meds I'm currently on make the job I love impossible. I can't pass a DOT physical in this condition, so I'm working on some other things. My little sister is trying to help me by outsourcing some of the work in her office to me. Even though it's physically easy, I'm still adjusting to not being able to be outside. I'm more than capable of doing the work, but I don't seem to be getting the right mindset to work indoors again. Maybe I need to move my computer(s) out of the basement.

Once again, hello to you all out there, and I hope you have a good day and evening, wherever you may be.

Regards,
D. J. Chandler

[dorrie]

Toto I get the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!!! Nope DJ, you are in the Neurotalk Communities......a wonderful place full of special, caring and supportive people and I am sure you will like it here! Welcome aboard!!

[djchandler]

Even remote TLC helps. Thanks again!
DJ

[Darlene]

D. J.,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. There a great number of people here to assist in any way they possiblity can. Looking forward to seeing in the forums.

Darlene

[AfterMyNap]

Hi, D.J., Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Jump in anywhere, the water's warm!

[DM]

Hi DJ!!! Welcome to NT..

[Abbie]

Hi DJ and WELCOME


You will find lots of WONDERFUL people here who hold lots of great knowledge from their own experiences.

Feel free to roam around, ask questions when needed and help others where you can. You can even rant, rave, complain, or cry if you need to... we'll all be here to listen and help. I haven't found a judging person in the whole bunch.


If you need anything.. just hollar... someone will be around shortly to help you out.


Abbie

[Doody]

Hi DJ. Welcome to NeuroTalk. Everyone here is just wonderful.

I had carpal tunnel surgery and they did my trigger finger at the same time. I guess they can do trigger fingers in the office under local anesthetic, but since I had the carpal tunnel surgery he did that at the same time. Those trigger fingers can be really painful, can't they!?

You sound like a very nice person caring so much so as to not bother your wife. I think after awhile we start to feel a little guilty 'complaining' to our family and need to give them a break. Everyone here has some kind of problem so you've come to the right place.

And I love Kansas City. One of my favorite places to visit for a long weekend.

Again welcome. I hope you find a lot of support.