[law76]

That's Right....work Comp Is Bs!!! Now Denying My Meds As My Adjsuter Indicated That My Pain Meds Would Not Be Denied...she's A Lying *****

[Jomar]

1999 - Bilateral repetitive strain = fingers, hands, forearms
2001 - R- neck/shoulder strain - due to work
2002/2003 - another neck/shoulder strain R- {slight tear??} - due to work
Barely recovered from that and {MCO} Dr. returned me to full work {again??}
2003 - all of the above returned and increased in symptoms over time

Eventually spred to include some short term ulnar nerve pain and L shoulder pain, with some hypersensitivity remaining in elbows and forearms for over a year.
03/04 started seeing links and info about TOS and then found BT1.

Most of my symptoms are mild now, as long as I pay attention to overuse and posture issues.
I think I do have a chronic C/T spine strain along with TOS & RSI

If I lift or carry something heavy with arms out I get a very weird pulling pain right in the T spine/C spine junction. Even reaching out over the couch to slide the window shut is a pain.

[trix]

1991-rear ended minor whiplash
1993-rear ended minor whiplash
1994-I rearended someone minor whiplash
2005-rear ended
march 2006 diagnosed with bi-lateral TOS
June 2006 put on surgery wait list
I did 6 months of physio and and continue to do chiro1 or 2x per week.
I am remodeling my basement and deck, and I run a daycare from my home. My pain levels are growing week by week.
My lawyer is on leave for cancer treatment, and my husband works 50 hours per week.
With any luck at all, the surgery will come soon, and hopefuly I will get better, get retraining and be able to go back to work.

Injured 11/02-Bilateral TOS

11/05- (YES 3 YEARS LATER!!) supraclavicular decompression surgery -removed 1st rib and 2 scalene muscles on the left side, my dominant side
mild disc tear in c5, c6,

recovering- still unalble to shop, cook, clean, drive...... in other words no life...

post op. experience - less pain on left, less swelling of arm and hand, no more discoloration unless I over do, some relief in numbness and pins and needles, still have a numb pinkie finger

post op complications- new stabbing pain in my shoulder blade, weaker neck (duh ! 2 muscles gone ! ) twitch in L eye lid almost constant. L eye, dialates less then R, some difficulty with breathing, voice changed,(not for the better ) TMJ symptoms worsened.

I still would do the surgery again, the pain relief was worth it!!!
Believe it or not I am optomistic I will get better and be a self sufficient individual again, maybe slightly different, but I will have a life again!!

Gromlily~

[tonia]

Hi ALL!!!...
I am a long-time sufferer of dodgy arms (especially elbows), rotten neck and lower back...
I had heart surgery in April '06 to remove Aneurysm and replace Aortic-valve...
Connective Tissue Disorders suk!

[Donna7]

Thanks, Tracy, for posting the link to this on the MSN Groups TOS message board.

I'm Donna, in Colorado...
Had an MVA 5/02 with a drunk driver; had a lot of shoulder injuries including a SLAP lesion and torn middle glenohumeral ligament; arthroscopic repair to these and other problems in joint in 9/03. Still continued having problems with clavicular instability, numbness in left hand/shoulder and face, pain in shoulder, shoulder blade, neck, head, arm, clavicle. Also had a whiplash with bulging discs at C5-7.

Like everyone, had numerous MRIs, lots of doc visits, almost all of whom have diagnosed TOS, with some differences as to recommended treatments. Since I live near Denver, I was able to see Dr. Sanders for a consult and have Dr. Centeno for a PM doc, and an excellent neurosurgeon at Pres/St. Luke's.

I am now 6 weeks post op from an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion at C5-7, which my neurosurgeon was hoping would help with some of the numbness and pain in my arm/neck/head. So far, neck spasms are better, headaches gone, but left arm hasn't improved. I just got the collar off a couple of days ago, and that seems to have flared up the shoulder some, as well as some swallowing problems (I've lost about 20 pounds, though...one benefit!)

I'm very thankful to have good doctors and a supportive family. My husband has been so patient and kind... I also have a very good attorney who is helping with all insurance issues (we just maxed out the auto insurance and have to switch to our private insurance) and working on a settlement.

It's nice to "see" you all again! Anybody know how Sea Pines (Alison) is doing?

Donna

[astern]

haha... TOS humor.

I'm F/44, had bi-lateral cervical ribs and an extra left scalene muscle that decided to start giving me sx at age 35. Diagnosed in 2001, had cervie and first rib resections in 2004 in Denver. (I won't mention the first FAILED attempt at a resection in Florida: mangled a nerve in my arm so bad it had to be removed ) Sx persisted, so had bi-lateral Pec-minor disinsertion April 2005. Overall only 10% improvement... but a 10% I accept happily.

Applied for SSD/SSI in 2003... still awaiting court date, another year out for GA. Divorced in 2005. Going to try a letter writing campaign to plea for help. Living with family until I win my case. Surviving on State supplied medical care (minimal and poor) and food stamps.

I'm super-glad that we are coming back together!!!
Anne

[gibbrn]

Hi all not sure if you remember me has been a while since I posted.... couldnt find braintalk, but glad to be here now!

I had work injury nov1 2002 lifted a patient up from a toilet and injured neck and back .....tos dx by three diff doc's after getting out of the wsib system. was initially allowed wsib then dec 15 2003 they denied me once tos dx. I have since won the appeal and am now approved again wsib. it is more paperwork and fighting.....the usual you all know....

Had scalenectomy and 1st rib resection in July 2005. symptoms all went away until doing physio started in Oct 2006. They increased what I was doing and all symptoms came back....was off all my meds now back on many new ones....Lyrica, amitriptyline, diazepam, flexaril, axert.......tramacet for pain relief....yeah right.....lol

went to see surgeon this week and he said not tos my surgery would have fixed it if it was.....hmmmm guess he hasn't read the failure rate of TOS surgery. Still have vascular symptoms as well as neurogenic......is tos.....he is sending me to orthopedic and neurologist to see if other pathology....hello already done veinogram pre op dx is tos.....getting pi%$#E off any how long story short.......still fighting like hell for pain relief...oh and he said I have chronic pain syndorme!!!!!!!!!

Victoria rn

[Jomar]

Victoria,
of course we remember you!!

so sorry your sx are coming back and surg, won't acknowledge it.

I keep wondering how some of the other long time MIA members are doing, someday I hope we hear from them too.
Jo

[gibbrn]

oh and I am F/32 in sunny Ontario....lol not for long.....snow is soon to come!!!!