I have had c5-c7 fusion in 2003. But I wasn't having severe stabbing pain like I am now in my right scapula. That began in 2004 or 2005. The only thing that gave me relief is when I had lidocaine poured inside my chest during the removal of a chest tumor in 2006 & it only lasted 4 or 5 days. I have seen many doctors thinking its a disc at c7-t1 that was causing the pain. Many MRI showed a problem there but no surgeon saw anything they could fix. I have given my life to pain, all my pleasures are gone because I can't use my right arm/hand long enough to complete even simple task. I did have the c7-t1 fusion last Jan2012 & with the bed rest & no use of my arm or is it the neck I felt much less pain. But the very first time I was up doing a task with my arm abducted it was not any better!!!!! I have a pain pump & do have quiet a complex spine history. I don't like taking pain med's & the pump (misunderstood) by most delivers much less than pills by mouth. I am totally wiped out...I don't know how I will be able to live in constant pain forever!!! Please help me find out how I can find out what is wrong with my scapula!! MRI (shoulder) Distal supraspinatus tendinopathy/&/or partial tear without a definite full thickness tear. AC hypertrophy with mild impingement. Subcoracoid bursa fluid. Degenerative cystic change in the humeral head. I also have a Thoracic MRI, shows Multilevel degenerative disc disease, Annular bulge/osteophyte impingement on the thecal sac anteriorly at several levels the most pronounced are T7-8, T8-9, T9-10. Advise if this looks like TOS???

Usually nothing shows up on MRIs in relation to TOS , unless there is bony anomalies or extra cervical rib.

Some of the spinal things that you have going on can be causing muscle problems, have you had any PT evaluations or sessions for pain reliving muscle therapies? IF stim, Ultrasound,massage, low level laser etc?

C7-T1 issues can be TOS and often mistaken for cervical radiculopathy.

YES, I did have PT for 3 mths prior to last fusion. PT was hands on type...massages, manever's to get my posture corrected...they felt I wasn't using all my ribs to breath, and my sternum wasn't seated correctly somehow. They had staff assist to get my shoulder forced correctly in proper position and then it was taped to force proper position. NO Ultrasound equipment was usted but I did try using Tens unit's including the RS-4i Sequential Stimulator which has 8 leads with a vest. Would you explain more about low level laster? HOW CAN I find out if I have TOS? i live in close to New Orleans but I traveled to St. Louis, MO...WHAT CAN DO NEXT???




[/U] for neck surg & they plan a back surg in St. Louis, MO first week of Nov.[/I][/I][/U] [/U][/U][/U][/U]I was taping my shoulder position.[/I]

The thread below might have some good info for you-
Might be worth a call & consult, you have a complicated set of issues and it will take a top TOS dr to help sort out any possible TOS from the spinal issues.

TOS Dr in St Louis MO -
Dr. Robert Thompson St Louis
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread170803.html


low level laser is a light therapy - really nice for helping with sore spots and healing tissues.

The only thing that gave me relief is when I had lidocaine poured inside my chest during the removal of a chest tumor in 2006 & it only lasted 4 or 5 days.

what do you mean, exactly, about lidocaine being poured INSIDE chest?

i went a saw a bone and joint doctor because my shoulder hurt all the time and i couldnt sleep and i thought it might be a complication from being thrown out of my car. he did an xray and told me that i had partially torn my labrum and sent me to therapy,which helped for a while til the pain came back so i went back to see him again and he said he was very sorry about the misdiagnosis and and that he believed i had TOS. he sent me to have a doppler done(they put 3 blood pressure cuffs on your arm and measure the blood flow for this type of doppler) and the results came back and said i have a pinched blood vessel in my arm. my doctor recommended i try to deal with it because i am so young( in only 22) but that if it got worse to go see a vascular doctor a have an angiogram done to see if surgery is even worth it...i have read alot of people saying that the surgery was a huge mistake because it only made it worse in the end.
all i am saying is that maybe seeing a doctor for an angiogram might give you answers... if though you might not like them!!!!