I will try to make my intro to my injury brief...roughly 2 years ago I suffered from a torn labrum as well as managing to have my sternoclavicular joint loosen up to the point where i could make this horrible popping noise. Roughly 3 months after the date of injury I had surgery to clean up the labrum tear and then was sent to therapy. The morning after my first or second session of therapy, I woke up to a swollen arm and could not feel my fingertips. I called my doctor who then told me to go to the ER because my symptoms described a blood clot. After test and an ultrasound the emergency room doc told me that i had a 6 inch long blood clot in my subclavian vein. I was sent to specialists at USC who said that I required surgery to stabilize my SC (reconstruction) joint and relieve pressure in my thoracic cavity. Since my surgery I would def say that my condition has gotten worse (it has now almost been a year since the reconstruction). The specialist has said that now even after the surgery and a year of being on blood thinners, my blood clot is there to stay :/ ...along with pain and the constant numbing of my right arm.


If when determining the advice you would like to give me and you feel like you need more background info I will gladly supply it. Just was trying to avoid the novel.


My current worries consist of the fact that not only did I recently just turn 24 I also have dream of marrying my current boyfriend and having at least 2 children. We have recently been discussing moving out of the country and He has revealed his worries in regards to me giving birth. He knows that the pain will get worse but also that the blood clot will move. The specialist swears that the clot is there to stay and that they cannot do anything for the PSS/TOS. So i am reaching out here in hopes that someone who has gone through living with these conditions and or has given birth can give me some advice.


Thank you Sorry if i rambled and didn't make sense at times!

I don't have much to contribute except to say that you should get 2nd and 3rd opinions if you haven't already.

Thanks for sharing your story. u should never feel like you are rambling, because we are a family on this forum, and we all need to know what's going on. i believe also u should get a 2nd and 3rd opinion. Remember, doctors are doctors. Just because one said something, doesn't mean GOD doesn't have someone else with the wisdom to help your situation. Also, i don't believe u all should leave the country right now. You should try and get your situation resolved, before you all make that decision.
i want to leave you with this. You are a young lady that has so much to live for. You all should not allow any situation stop you for marrying one another. Don't give your situation the power, if you do, you will give in to it. This is the time for you all to stand together, and try to figure this out. it doesn't matter if you are married, u are still going to face obstacles. So u all are facing yours before you make that decision. Remember this, with man,things are impossible, with GOD all things are possible. u all should pray about this, and get direction. There is someone out there who can help u. Keep fighting, keep searching, and believe. Don't settle on what that last doctor said, keep researching and looking. May GOD bless you both. Please keep us updated on your situation.

I'm praying for u both.

Where exactly is the clot located?
I'm surprised they say they can't do anything about it...

I would get more opinions from some top rated vascular surgeons.

Seems they could take out the bad section and replace it with a good section..

If the top rib or some other structure is compressing things , can't it be removed, or reroute the problem section?

Thank you for your prayers, they mean a lot. Even though I am currently seeing the top guys at USC, I do believe that a second and 3rd opinion would be helpful. But who do I see that wont tell me the same things that the experts are saying? This is also all through workers comp, so i am severely limited.

On a personal not, I just hate that my boyfriend and I have to face this so early on. All I want is to be normal but this type of pain is almost one that haunts you. God will guide us in the right direction... I have faith in him.

I attached a picture of my surgery site which is my right SC joint, the clot sits right above the surgery sight.

I have a bad memory, but I am pretty sure that it sits right at the opening and is too risky to go in and operate.

I currently see Dr. Fred Weaver at USC and he is the top vascular guy... so idk what else to do...

I will have to ask about the top rib, I am going back to get an ultrasound and to see weaver at the end of this month.

I am also getting an MRI of my brachial plexus too..

Who knows today is a bad day... couldn't even move my neck all day.

Attached Thumbnails

 

I would def get more opinions .Try Dr. Gelabart at UCLA and Dr. Mckenna at Cedars. Also Dr. Ahn in Westwood. I liked Dr. G the most, did not like Dr. A-but he is supposed to be a good surgeon. These are the 3 vascular dr's in L.A I was told about. i had never heard of Weaver. Best of luck to you!