i had a similar issue but nothing showed up on xrays. i went to a chiropractor. it worked. it takes time, but it is working and i am going once a week now. i was very surprised, and even while it's working i'm still skeptical (i'm stubborn) but the pain is diminished quite a bit and i'm getting strength back in my left hand and arm. i could not even open a water bottle before going. i don't carry insurance, and i pay cash. in dallas, tx, the cost of one adjustment is $45 dollars. i can afford that. i hope, if you try it, it works for you as it has for me. good luck and best wishes.

Chiro can be helpful but many chiros are too aggressive, especially with the upper neck. There are gentle techniques such as Activator, NUCCA and Atlas Orthogonal.

I have the same issues. Mine were attributed to damage in my neck. (Whiplash is very common in head injuries.)

Did the neuro test your grip strength, check your finger wiggling speed, give you a peg board test to measure dexterity and/or do a nerve conductivity test? When your knees are tapped, do you kick like a chorus girl? You might want to advocate for an MRI of your neck.

In my case, the damage was deemed too dangerous to address surgically, so I just have to live with it. I had occupational therapy and have a lot of useful aides, like oversized pens and cooking utensils. Thanks to therapy, I also regained the ability to button (slowly) a shirt and tie my own shoes. I still can't cross my fingers. That must explain my bum luck.

That said, as the swelling subsided in my neck, the pressure came off the nerves and some things improved. However, I still tingle (pretty much everywhere) and have very little strength and mobility in my hands. I also have moments where my hand will just fly open. It always seems to happen when I'm holding something hot, sure to stain or fragile.

No my neuros test nothing, it is so frustrating! How many years do I need to be like this before they start actually testing me?

I have this too!!!! I did not understand why it was happening. The MRI scan of my neck was normal. I could not use my arms/wrists for few months (could not even lift a fork and had to use a plastic one). I suspected that it was carpal tunnel, although I didn't understand how it could have developed out of the blue, as I was not doing anything due to PCS/TBI. I am slowly gaining back the strength. I look forward to the day when I can play the guitar again.

I have had this too in varying degrees of irritating and mildly weak hands to incredibly painful and useless hands. It was of course blown off or misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel as I have positive nerve conduction tests. My new and amazing physical therapist says it is because of the compression of nerves between the collarbone and the 1st rib. From what I understand it is a very small area for the nerves to pass through and of course with the head injury we have neck and upper body injury. When she works on me she can actually restore my grip for a few days. Anyway hope this helps a bit. It's incredulous how our symptoms are so often blown off. I'm sure if I hadn't had positive nerve tests I would have been diagnosed as anxious even though my hands could not make a fist!

some people get surgery for "thoracic outlet syndrome".

have you tried acupuncture?

I had a similar problem with the joint between the cervical vertebra and so called false cervical ribs, small vestigial ribs that align with the cervical vertebra. This is considered a form of TOS, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. A good set of X-Rays can image these false ribs. They can cause chronic problems, especially as we age and the disc space between vertebra gets smaller. Any trauma to this area from whiplash or a concussion can cause symptoms to manifest. Here is an explanation. http://www.patient.co.uk/health/cerv...utlet-syndrome

I have been seeing my chiro for years, even before my TBI. I am going to talk to him more about this and see if there is anything else he can do.