[billy027]

After three cts surgeries , I found a new doctor who did first complete emg and found very bad brachial plexus(TOS) and ulnar,median,radial problems along with cts. I finally got approval for the plexus disorder/nerve root problems but still awaiting therapy. My concern is I can no longer raise my arm above my head or reach straight out. If I do reach for something quickly the pain is a 10 excuritating. It fades slowly, has anyone else had the lack of range of motion and this severe pain when using arm. I'm also afraid it will worsen even more. Is this possible? I have some minor pain medicine I will take at times. Even writing this hurts the back of my hand.

[Sea Pines 50]

sorry we had to meet like this my dear fellow!

it sounds like you had better pull up a chair and do some reading. see the stickys up top? loaded with more than you ever wanted to know about thoracic whatlet? syndrome...

hey, i sincerely hope you'll join the site and hang around the TOS forum to learn more and hear others' stories.

i think you've already earned your seat...

it is very hard to find a good, knowledgeable PT who knows how to work with an injury like this one. TOS can be a difficult taskmaster, my friend, to say the least.

what part of the country are you in? maybe we can help you find someone most excellent.

another good person to add to your treatment team would be a bodyworker of some sort. there are several options and a few have national networks, which make the process of finding a master practitioner a bit easier. i am speaking of hellerwork, alexander technique, feldenkrais, muscle activation technique practitioners and the like.

but one step at a time, OK? others will be along shortly to welcome you and to chime in with suggestions and to put up links for you (which i suck at).

i'm sorry this is happening to you but glad you have found us. i think you'll find that you'll be able to get some answers now that you finally have an accurate dx. the floodgates are about to open! look out.

i wish you the best of luck on your journey. pick up a few icepacks if you don't already have some - they're my "woobies" and i don't travel far without them... CVS has a good one on sale right now actually which you can use cold or hot (microwavable). it's made by thermionics, called thermipaq, costs around $15. i ice my brachial plexus, neck, shoulder, forearm, hand, whatever's flaring...

be good to that arm, now, and don't do anything that causes pain or nerve symptoms. but i wouldn't use an immobilizer or a sling, either, as you don't want to end up with a "frozen shoulder." this is a sticky wicket i'm afraid, but there are lots and lots of things for you to try. lurk, read, post as you are comfortable. we are all more than happy to help you. we need you just as much as you need us, so i do hope you'll stay.

you won't be bored here, of that i am pretty sure!

alison

[johannakat]

yes yes and yes?

the longer you have had compression the longer it can take to heal, is the general rule. If you have very severe compression, sometimes it will never get competely better. It is very individual, though. SO I don't think any of us could give you a good answer. TOS surgery success is defined as "50% or greater reduction in symptoms" so one way to look at it is that you will probably always have to be careful, but good PT, or in some cases surgery, can make a big improvement and help you feel a LOT better.

PT and other modalities:
try PT for a while, but look hard for a PT that is qualified to treat TOS. THey are few and far between. Concentrate on some myofascial release, ultrasound, electostimulation, soft tissue mobilization... and be GENTLE GENTLE GENTLE on yourself. pain=you did too much. Now, sometimes, of course, you have to live your life and get through the day, most of us can't make it without doing things that cause us pain, buit do your very best to avoid things like raising your arm quickly. You should be working to get very gently to the end of your range of motion and ever so slightly past it, just to the point of stretch, not pain. DO not let any PT start you on strengthening exercises or other activities that hurt you or make you feel worse!!!

there are hundreds or resources on the stickes and the wonderful people on this forum. and they will chime in as well i am sure.

If PT does not help you, there is the option of TOS surgery, but the success rate is not huge. You really want to try some good PT first for probably at least 6 mo.

Pain Control:
As for pain, is is really important that you give your body a chance once in a while to NOT feel pain. Ask for enough medicine at the very least to sleep comfortably (as this will make EVERYTHING better) and more for during the day if you absolutely have to do things. It is very very difficult to be in pain all the time, and there is no reason for you to have to be that way, in fact it is your RIGHT to have enough pain medicine to not feel miserable!!!!! So stick up for yourself, there.

SOrry you have to find us under these circumstances...but this is a fantastic group of poeple who can help you sort out your TOS questions...a WEALTH of experience and suggestions!!!

Hope I am not scaring you with this. It can be overwhelming to find out that something is never going to go away. I know that finding this board and reading the experiences of the people here was very difficult for me in the beginning. Keep your chin up, and be thrilled that someone has helped you find the correct dx...k?

Johanna

[johannakat]

see, i told you others would chime in..ALison is the welcome wagon

[billy027]

Thank you Allison and Johanna,

Just last night I was playing with the dog and tried to get the toy from him but he didn't let go and my arm flew backwards. The pain was so intense it made my eyes water. Thankfully, it calmed down after a while. But the intensity was unbelievable, I yelled out. Still a bit sore today. I have a generic Daviset that I only take on bad pain days. It helps.

I am in New Jersey? Pennsylvania area and have a good dr. now. The first one had three minute visits. quick to operate and never looked for causes other then cts. Always was mad when cts showed up again on EMG's after surgery.
Was battle to get owcp to accept plexus disorder, but they did after thier dr. agreed with it.

Brachial plexus was 51 mg/s on first thorough emg. about five months ago. Is that really bad? I think 70 is normal.

Thank you again for your quick responses

[Jomar]

Hello,
Have you have xrays or MRI of the cervical spine and thoracic spine?
These help to rule out other issues that can cause arm pain.

I'll post the useful sticky link for you-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=84

If you have even had whiplash, concussion, or any upper body hit, fall or sport injury you might consider getting a evaluation by a expert chiropractor. If a head/neck hit maybe by one that specializes in the C1/C2 cervical adjustment.
sounds scary- but I have had it done and it is very gentle and painless.
the first post in the stickys has a section with chiro info sites.
Take the time to find a very expert and knowledgeable DC - but this applies to most anything anymore.....
My DC does PT type treatments also and is partners with a massage/PT therapist.

[HopeLivesHere]

Hello and welcome,
I've pretty much had the same experiences you describe. But I have never nor would I ever do that with a dog. I hurt just thinking of the tugging
I wish you the best in finding a treatment that works for you and for relief of your pain.
Hope

[Monilynne]

I have the problem on my left shoulder. Haven't been able to properly raise it over my head for about 4 years. Used to have the most beautiful hair and be able to do all kinds of things...but without the arm usage...not anymore. Also had crappy doctors for a while that knew nothing about how to help TOS which made it worse. But its to the point it won't get better..and now my right is starting to do the same thing. Very painful...I use lots of ice and keep them moving as must as I possibly can. Hence the reason I'm waiting for disability to go thru.

[billy027]

Finally got plexus/nerve root disorder approved(Tos) after seeing work doctor. He actually yanked my arm straight up after I said I couldn't raise it. I yelled in pain and it hurt for days. At least he agreed with my doctor but hurt me in the process. From three cts surgeries and also having ulnar, median and radial nerve problems in right arm, I have very little strenght. Its very hard not to use when your right handed.
I had a 51 m/s on plexus emg. Is that really bad?

[Sea Pines 50]

sorry, i'm not a W/C case, but others here are... what state are you in? there is a W/C forum here on neurotalk which you might find helpful.

i CAN tell you that what that doctor did to you is just plain WRONG. i am not an attorney but it sure sounds actionable to me. he had absolutely no right to do that to your arm, and i am sorry that happened to you. i can only imagine the immediate, sheer agony that must have caused you, not to mention the aftermath. what a d-ickhead!

shameless! if i were you, i would seek out the advice of a top W/C attorney, one that is not only well-versed in medical malpractice (for that is what you are describing, if i ever did hear of any examples my friend... that is one! ) but also who knows something about and has handled and prevailed in work-related TOS cases.

i think you said you were near PA, is that right? if so, that is very good news, for reasons which will become clear to you soon enough. but the lawyer should be admitted to the bar in the state in which you filed your W/C case. was that NJ or PA?

also, didn't mean to ignore you on your question re the EMG measurements. i simply don't know the answer. i don't recall that coming up in connection with any EMG or NCV study i've ever had done. here's a good link for you though (and maybe a good doc, if you can get him OK'd - go see dr. fried he's very highly spoken of by other forum members and could go over those EMG results with you, explain them to you better than any of us could, that is for sure!): http://nervepain.com.

i'm glad the pain and other sx did calm down after the doctor pulled your arm straight up like that. did he think you were faking it or something? whatever happened to "first do no harm?"

i'm sorry but i find that behavior unconscionable. was there a nurse in the room? any witnesses? this man could have worsened your original injury, my friend. worse, he is in a position to know that.

get an attorney. there are ways to find out who the best guys are if you are interested. i think your rights and your person have been violated here, or i wouldn't say anything. now that i'm thinking about it, it might even be a separate claim; i don't know. also, FYI, under this type of legal arrangement the attorney usually works for a fee that is paid out of the final award or settlement of your case, so the upfront costs are zero or close to it...

i don't mean to upset you. we are here to help.

alison