Dr. Donahue is a great surgeon. I think they just like to give me a new diagnosis every time I go to the doctor. The nerve pain isn't much different than before surgery as far as level of nerve pain, it has changed location a little bit....really the big thing is that I'm not trying to work 8 hours a day typing like I was before surgery, so it is hard to compare.

The pain in my shoulders is soooo much better, specifically the traps. I had TOS for 12 years before getting surgery, so my nerve pain is more from the brachial plexus being compressed for sooo long. I should had surgery 10 years ago in retrospect, but it is what it is. I really do think Dr. Donahue is an excellent surgeon, I'm a difficult case, but now I can start to heal...regenerate nerve and grow back 12 years of wasted muscles.

Closer to right after my surgeries my nerve pain was a lot worse, the Mematine XR is helping a lot with the nerve pain. My dosages are now:

Mematine XR 28 mg a day
Keppra 2500 mg 4 times a day (this is a crazy high dose)
Tegretol 200 mg 2x a day (had to cut back because it was making my lips and tounge go numb)
Soma - up to 350 mg 4 times a day


Dextromethorphan - up to 60 mg up to twice a day - this is robotussin and OTC, really does help with pain...and makes the clouds so pretty at times, lol.

I'm doing yoga, walking, and the warm water pool for exercise - gotta love the warm water pool.

Also, had a disability hearing last week and was told I would be approved....the TOS ALONG WITH the "cognative impairment" from all of my medications was a deciding factor. I went to a neuropsychologist for a neuropsych eval, they determined my pain and medications made it too difficult for me to work....my processing speed/performance IQ was very low compared to my verbal IQ - a difference of around 30 points, apparently, all of the anti-seizure/neuropathic pain medication slows the mind down....and since I'm on a lot of it, it's really slowing me down. Anyway, I'm happy I was approved for the disability, but it was seriously depressing to hear the government worker testify that there was not any kind of work in the United States I was capable of doing.

I didnt know you had shoulder pain as well. Was it over the traps, and upper traps area?