Dangling Right Arm Post ACDF Surgery
 

Hello All,
My name is Curt and Just joined this site in hopes to find someone that can relate to my emotional & physical pain after a botched(My Opinion) level 2 ACDF surgery back in Jan 2014. Surgeon replaced my herniated disk in C6/C7 & a bulging disk in C5/C6. That portion went fine for the most part until I awoke from surgery. I had no use of my right shoulder and my entire arm was numb. Mentioned this to the PACU nurse (twice) as my arm fell off the arm of the chair and dangled straight down. I had tried to find it using my left arm by feeling around. I had a collar on so looking down was not an option. Both times the nurse just put my arm back on the arm of the chair and said "Sometimes this happens after surgery and it should get better. Shortly thereafter they discharged me about 4 hours after the surgery with a drain tube in my neck. (had a lot of bleeding during surgery according to notes). There was a pending snow event happening later that day and they were in a rush to get me/them out of the office before so. The next day at home my right shoulder was still useless but I could move my fingers and bend at the elbow a bit. My right bicep/tricep area was all blue like a lot of blood had pooled under the skin. I went back to Dr. next day to remove drain tube and showed him my arm bruise. He seemed shocked and had no idea what it was, No further talking about that. Fast forward, after 9 months of twice a week therapy to strengthen the atrophy in my arm/shoulder muscles, I still can't lift my arm to the side very much or towards the back at all. According to two (time spaced) Nerve conduction study & EMG tests, My C5 and C6 nerves are showing Severe Acute Denervation, caused by either a hematoma or damage done during surgery were "his" words. The problem is there was no "work" performed in that area of the cervical spine according the operating Surgeon, and he doesn't know what happened...He diagnosed me with Horner's syndrome & Parsonage-Turner syndrome. First Nerve Conduction Study & EMG ruled out Parsonage-Turner syndrome.

After doing much research into my issue and reading my surgery notes, it's my belief that the Dr/staff applied excessive traction to my shoulder in a downward motion in order to get a better Fluoroscopy real-time image of needle placement into the affected disk. The notes state that "the patient has quite large shoulders and on first x-ray the needle placement showed we were at the C4-C5 level. This means that they had lower my shoulders more in order to obtain a radio image further down. This type of trauma caused the Brachial Plexus nerve bundle to become stretched. This accounts for all the nerve damage/pain, VERY little deltoid use and as well as Horner's syndrome.

I've been on 15mg Oxycodone HCL for pain and 10mg diazepam for muscle spasms for 9 months now too. Since the injury is not on the outside for people(family) to see, I don't get much support for what I'm going through. I've applied for SSDI because I cannot work and of course was denied the first go around. Now working on appeal with a lawyer. I feel sorry for folks who are going through any type of severe nerve damage as it makes life not very much fun right now. Finally talked the Surgeon to schedule and MRI of my Brachial Plexus to investigate further. Shopping around for a Malpractice attorney at this time who will take my case.

Geographic Location
 

I'm currently living in the Greensboro, NC area.

[Finally talked the Surgeon to schedule and MRI of my Brachial Plexus to investigate further. ]

Same surgeon??
I'd go to a totally independent one..

It might be wise to look into a expert TOS surgeon, they may have experience with this kind of thing also.
Drs & PTS sticky thread -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread135.html

Surgeon Time Change
 

Jo*Mar,

You make a very valid point. My wife and I were just discussing getting a different Dr. I'll focus my research on a good "TOS" specialist, thanks for the advice. This can be an overwhelming process once it happens to you.

Many Thanks,

Curt

Curt

check on your post that you did on the spinal site as I responded to that post....I too had the Horner's syndrome after surgery.

chloecasey

Hello
 

JoMar is correct. Go to another neurologist outside that current group. Not someone associated with your doctor for another opinion. You can also find out if your surgeon had any other law suits against him with investigation. Finding a lawyer is difficult, but I would in your case too. He didn't really investigate the problem to try and help you. Do you have a copy of what happened in surgery, surgery notes and all? ginnie

Do you have any function of your arm now? I had Erb's Palsy at birth, and as a result I had similar damage from stretching the brachial plexus. My mom did range of motion exercises with me, and it healed by age 3 months.

Get a really good attorney.

Surgery Documentation
 

Ginnie,

I have the surgical notes from the surgery center. That has shed a little light into what may have led to my problem. I'm in process of trying to get the surgeons surgery dictation notes. He's been holding those kinda tight to the chest. Hmmm. Thanks for the advice and the time you took to read/respond to my post. :)

Eight,

After 9 months of religious PT, I have made some muscle mass improvements in my arm/shoulder, but no where near pre-op. I can lift my arm extended forward in the up/down position slowly with limited repetitions before I have to stop due to pain. Side (lateral) movement is about 35-40 degrees but with a good deal of pain. The shoulder deltoids are severely degraded. As far as backwards movement, I can get into my back pocket with some effort but that's the extent of movement in that direction. Constant burning, stabbing pains, under skin itching & spasms are common place still, along with numbness & oversensitivity on the top half of my hand/arm/shoulder. 1st 3 1/2 finger tips are still numb making using a remote control interesting. I'm so glad you had recovery, are you 100% or do you have any lingering issues? I have 3 malpractice attorneys currently reviewing my case.

Brachial Plexus MRI Completed today (9 months post surgery)
 

Well, I spent an hour+ in my favorite machine today. They performed the MRI with & without contrast. We'll see how long it takes for my inattentive surgeon to get back to me with the results. Either way I'll have a copy for my records to take to another Dr. Still doing research on finding a different surgeon that specializes in "TOS". I would assume that the area I live in would have one specialist between Wake Forrest, UNC or Duke medical. I'll keep all posted about the results when I get them.