Hi, I've been away from the computer for a few days.Thanks, yes I have the C8 /T1 nerve impingement. The Botox has finally set in and I am feeling 75% better! have not taken meds in 5 days! I still have alot of stiffness in all my shoulder muscles, and pinkie numbness when I write or use the computer, but the major pain is gone. I may still go ahead with the trigger points this week. Seeing my pt today after 3 weeks. I will ask her what she thinks.

The question is :is it possible to get better without surgery? I dont want to start seeing surgeons yet unless it becomes neccessary.

The fact that you are responding to botox is a good sign that you can be conservatively managed. I can't say whether or not you'll get 100% better since you may have adhesions and/or fibrous bands which are causing nerve compression that would require surgery to correct. In that case, you still may not return to 100% after surgery.

Is Joyce's therapy approach similar to Dr. Ando? http://www.andoaston.com/staff

Remind me, are you taking any drugs for the nerve pain (Lyrica or Neurontin & Cymbalta or Pamelor)?

A good surgeon will tell you whether or not you're a candidate for surgery. Run far away from anyone who tries to give you a sales pitch or or tells you right off the bat that you're a good candidate. The amount of misinformation I read on this board is astounding.

joyce does alot of osteopathic techiques.she uses ultrasound and tape. she focus on specific muscles each time. today my traps,levater and subclavius are sore. i probably did too much gardening yesterday and over the weekend
because i felt so good. i am going ahead with the trigger point injections and then a deep tissue massage tomorrow.

i am not taking any nerve pain drugs yet. i wil ask dr. j about it, but i think my pain is mostly muscular. the pinky numbness is not that bad. i get it if i type or write with my right hand hence the no-caps as i am typiing with my left.

It sounds like you are in good hands!

I have had several sessions with Joyce as well. I noticed that Ando's page listed "joint mobilization" which Joyce also does. I know because I would always ask her what she was doing each session.

She starts by listening to symptoms and then doing a hands on evaluation of muscle tension, range of motion, rib elevation, etc. from which she then decides what to focus on. At the end of the session, she'll prescribe specific stretches and/or exercises.

Good stuff.

I completed my pre-ops today and surgery is a go for 4/19. Dr. Angle says we will need to re-evaluate at 4-6 weeks after surgery before thinking about doing the right side.

Hi nospam, can you tell me what is included in your pre ops. Is having pre-ops for resections a standard procedure in the States??

Pre-ops are standard before any surgical procedure here, even outpatient. I would assume the same is true down under. They have to make sure you are fit to withstand the procedure.

Standard pre-op tests are chest X-ray, EKG, and blood work.

A family friend was set to undergo surgical treatment for colon cancer and ended up having to have bypass surgery due to a heart condition they discovered.

No, nothing like that at all nospam. The elderly undergo a process depending on the seriousness of their procedure, I take my in-laws for theirs when I have to, but I would expect that from their age. I'm in for my third surgery in two years next week and have not gone through the process at all. I'm not exactly the fittest specimen that I once was.

Best of luck with your upcoming, and I look forward to reading your first few med induced posts afterwards!!