NeuroTalk Support Groups - How were you diagnosed?

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- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/)

- - How were you diagnosed? (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/172799-diagnosed.html)

Andrea - I swear I've seen documentation about problems caused by the positioning of the arm when getting rotator cuff surgery.

Work Comp insurers have no conscience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreaa27 (Post 905673)

I am facing similar issues with workmans comp. Except I had a wc surgery for frozen shoulder, torn labrum, rotator cuff tear, and had my bursa removed to make space. After the surgery, my hand was tingly... for almost a year now. Had emg, shows slow response annd also muscle atrophy in hand. Pain has extended to my arm and shoulder. Shooting pain and numbness down arm. WC says it is not related. Getting treatment through my own insurance but will soon be MMI through comp. I want my case to remain open because the TOS is related, just have not found any documentation showing that this could be from the surgery or pain pump.

Andrea,

I can relate to the torn labrum and obviously TOS. I tore my labrum 4 years ago and developed TOS from that same injury. For me, TOS was suspected right away (within 2 months) due to the significant swelling, coldness, etc. that I was experiencing. You might need to see an experienced TOS surgeon outside the wc system to get the diagnosis and see if they can say it's related. I don't have experience with wc so I can't offer more help with that.

My psysiologist said "you had a pain pump didn't you" and then suspected TOS. I have been monitored for a brachial plexus injury over the past 6 months since surgery. Of course not thru WC because they said it is unrelated. I guess some brachial plexus injuries spotaneously heal... although the numbness/tingling in my thumb and first two fingers has dissapated. I have no strength in my ring or pinky. My arm is tired from everything and feels like it is too heavy. Laundry, driving, writing, typing. Ridiculous. I have private insurance and it is not an issue of getting care. I have worked thru my entire injury except when I was off for surgery. My employer is selfish and allowed me to work when I had a no use of arm restriction. Just more worried if I were to receive more restrictions/time off whatever would I be protected?

Andrea: http://www.pitt.edu/~position/complications.htm

Nerve damage can result if your surgeon didn't position your arms correctly during surgery.

And now I'm wondering if my problems are due to a 2010 rotator cuff/ Slap repair & very aggressive physical therapy. The P/T would put my arm over my head & push hard on the shoulder joint. It was "make me cry" painful.

My therapy was the same. 5x a week for 10 weeks. Before surgery I had a much more normal physical therapy experience. Thanks for the info:) What is your treatment like now?

I was originally told I had a frozen shoulder b/c of the shoulder pain and decreased range of motion. Had all kinds of x-rays, MRIs that were negative. I saw a neurologist because I started having numbness in my hands/arms. Because of my symptoms he was pretty sure I have TOS. My EMG/NCS were negative, but I had a doppler study that shows that my pulse diminishes when I hold my arm in different positions. Not sure how 100% conclusive this is for TOS, but it isn't normal

Quote:

Originally Posted by bean0 (Post 906969)

My mri was negative until I had the dye injected with it (arthrogram I think). My emg shows slowed nerves done 3x (every few moths) and I just had the vascular doppler study showing no pulse in either arm in certain positions. The weakness in my 4th and 5th finger is what my doctor was concerned about. Has not improved. He is supposed to contact me tomorrow to go over doppler study.