I Finally Got My Diagnosis
 

Hello everyone. :hug:
I was busy during the Christmas week, and wasn't able to visit the forum, but I'm pretty sure some of you will remember my earlier posts.

I found this site while trying to get to the bottom of my symptoms, and was very unsure if I had TOS or not. I had an appointment to see Dr. Robert Thompson (from the recommended Doc list) that was supposed to be a month away. Lucky for me, I live less than an hour from his office and amazingly, his very sweet secretary called me just before Christmas and had an unexpected opening for today, Thursday December 27th.

I was happy to get in, but also reserved about my appointment. Before I stopped working (when I first found this forum) the pain was so intense...but I had begun to doubt myself after a round of steroids and time off work significantly decreased my symptoms. They improved so dramatically that I began to feel a little bit silly for making such an issue of it. After all, the pain, numbness in my fingers, tingling arms and aching joints were now only moderate; seriously inconvenient and annoying -- but manageable.

But, nevertheless, today my mother-in-law and I made the one hour trip to the city for my 10:00am appointment. I had already filled out the forms, indicating the level of pain in different areas, current decreased symptoms and provided him with all of the medical records from my previously performed diagnostic treatments (MRI, EMG, NCS, X-Ray, etc). He took some time reviewing those and then met me in the room with a medical assistant and my sweetie's mom there to support & help us both.

I told him all the details:
The level of pain I experience now varies from day to day (or hour to hour), from minor to moderately-severe, as opposed to the intensity of the pain after working those 10 days of 10 hour shifts as a diner waitress.
My hands are numb 100% of the time now, whereas it was only the left hand before and the numbness came and went.
Where, when and how things ache or hurt.

He gave me what I think is the most thorough exam I have ever had from any physician. I got all the typical and appropriate TOS tests, he was very hands-on and detailed. For over an hour he listened, felt and examined my shoulder and arm as he explained the process the whole way through. His bedside manner was professional, friendly and extremely informative about my condition. I could not have been more impressed.

These are the results of the visit:
A quadruple, inter-linked diagnosis. :eek:

1. Neogenic TOS - Recent repetitive motion injury combined with previous injury. He says he was surprised it was caught so early, and he rarely sees TOS at such an early stage. "Prognosis excellent" :D
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Contributed to by the other dx's & compensation
3. Pectoralis Minor Impingement - He didn't use the word impingement, but explained that the tendon was somehow captured by veins/arteries, and need to be divided.
4. Tendinitis in Shoulder & Bicep - Likely caused by poor posture due to overcompensation and repetitive use.

So, due to the early dx, he has prescribed Physical Therapy for the TOS, which should help with the Carpal Tunnel as well as the Tendinitis.

So great news, right? Well, yes...but....

Then he drops the bomb.

The Pec issue needs to be addressed prior to PT. He says if I do the type of TOS specific PT I need, that the pec tendon will just get more and more irritated, and the PT way more difficult (or impossible) to perform. That pec minor needs surgery.

And, friends....he scheduled that surgery for TOMORROW. So I go under the knife in less than 12 hours. Doc says I will be ready for PT as early as next week, potentially "healed" (or back to a semblance of normalcy) within a month! (wow)

I am scared, (of course) yet optimistic. Pray for me if you pray, and I will try to update as soon as I can if your preferred method is to worry ;)

I am so glad you are all here to share this with me, and I owe all of you so much gratitude for supporting me, leading me to Dr. Thompson and being there to listen and understand.

All my thanks,

Dena

oh my gosh Dena. I am so sorry - I think - for all of this going on - it's quite a bit to digest so quickly. Yes, I will pray for you! God keep you safe and hold you close during this journey. Please keep us posted. We do care.

Best of luck Dena, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow for sure
:grouphug:

I' am sure everything went well for you and your surgery. You are on the road to success after a little healing you will be able to do PT and get the tiger by it's tail :) just follow doctors orders.... Have a GREAT NEW YEAR!

OMG fast trac service... best of thoughts and of course prayers go out to you!!!! We are here for you, hoep all turns out the best for you, keep us posted though keep it short... typing and TOS BAD BAD BAD

Mark~n~Goober

tos diagnosis
 

hi, good luck, just wondering what tests did the doctor rely on the most to make the diagnosis.

thanks rich

Wow, Dena! I believe you are in very good hands. I hope everything went well and I look forward to hearing an update soon. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Surgery done
 

and doin pretty well. :)

It's Saturday and I am feeling so much better today (the surgical wound healing and hurting less).

Thanks for all of your prayers. They really made a difference.

Woke this morning with my "less affected side" THROBBING and 100% numb, though. uh oh....

*chuckles* I get the feeling some of you did not appreciate my "book" about symptoms, etc (this initial thread). Writing about it is theraputic for me though...emotionally. The first post to this thread took me over an hour to write due to pain, but was well worth it on an emotional level. Thanks for listening, all.

I'm glad to hear that they got you in for surgery so quickly and that you're doing well! Hope you continue to improve!!!!

Great news. This will be a great start to the new year to start your PT right away. Maybe you can gain some improvement now that the pec-minor surgery is behind you. fingers crossed for you;)