I don't remember the last time this thread went a week w/o a post....
Today I - took my car BACK to the shop. I picked it up yesterday after they replaced the fuel pump that they said was bad. - ouch. I can't figure out why, but i'm sore as crap. I need to be more ergonomically aware at work... Anyways- I hope that everyone is doing well.

saw my surgeon and got the results from my last round of tests. I have "exuberant" growth of scar tissue. This has resulted in a worsening of symptoms. The Dr. says he will not operate again, as anything he tries to do now would only make me worse. He says the scar tissue is too entwined.
Lovely!
He is going to send me for a series of diagnostic blocks to see which has the better chances of helping control the pain. He is also sending me to see his favorite pain specialist. He feels that I will likely be like this for the rest of my life.

To bad they can't laser out or dissolve that darn scar tissue.
Maybe some day they will come up with something for it...

I've been enjoying the spring weather, we had a mini heat wave last week.
I got most of my garden in & things are sprouting already

Dr Jordan and Dr Ahn do Amalayse (sp?) blocks.

I know allison had one once...sent her into a massive flare to have it, and not sure if it helped after or not.

Botox could probably still be helpful...? And/or BP blocks liek the one cyn just had.

(Cyn, your description of the BP block sounded very much like what i feel like after botox...)

I LOVED Botox - they injected little injections (not painful) all over my neck, back and upper arms even. They tried one side first - it was great and my so-called normal side clearly showed symptoms. Later they did the other. Finally they did both so I could benefit fully.

I am going to ask with the new doc if they can do that again. I NEVER realized until then how much my muscles were spasming.

And since I'd had Botox in my forehead a few times, I wasn't allergic, etc. BUT, you MUST make sure you doc is reputable and the brand of Botox isn't a cheap imitation.

Ih

I Have to agree with Tam on this though theamount of time it hd take to work was about 21/2-3 weeks thanit worked for appx. 8 week any releif is worth it!!!!

Today I would like to wish a healthy pain free day.... Mark<Goober<Eric

I find a little massage light therapy a ~day after the injections helps them kick in faster.




cheers and low pain to all

Johanna

Hi guys,

Back to Super Joyce the PT for me. Last 6 weeks or so I have been having trouble with my left arm and raising it up. The right is where I had my scalenectomy. BUt for some reason the left is becoming weak. I can raise the right straight up but the left maybe 3/4 and I look like I am hailing Hitler.

ON another note, the spine guy did find some interesting stuff. I have a subluxed C6 disc. Its a 3mm retrolithesis meaning unstable and the degree of angulation or something he said was 30% higher than it should be. It is what flares by spinal root nerves.

He said its livable and teo keep going until it really bothers me. It is waht is contributing to my left arm weakness. He said they fix it with an ACDF...spinal fusion.

Otherwise the rest of me is fairly under control... it is me we are talking about

Happy Memorial weekend everyone.

Just want to say How grateful I am to have found this forum and know that I am not alone in my battle with TOS.

Neverending

Happy Memorial Day to all....

Shelley - i'm sorry to hear about your back ... try to keep it under control (like stop stealing people's seats or poking them )

Jkat is right - a massage a day or 2 after botox injections seems to help dramtically with the soreness. i think it also helps "work it into" the area. even if it took 3-4 weeks to kick in, its worth it i think for 8 weeks of relief.