a zebra's vindication...finally

I have been saying that there is something wrong with my arm and shoulder. I have endured idiots, a mountain of paperwork, months of pt, numerous shots, braces, exams, mris, emg/ncv and so much more. I have spent the last 9 months in constant pain having to defend my symptoms and functional limitations. When I explain what's going on they are always confused. Today the confusion came to a head. I did the MUA, knowing my shoulder wasn't frozen. Knowing this wouldn't do squat to help. Working through the swelling and pain, doing everything they told me to do....no matter how stupid. no matter how painful. I followed directions. I complied.

Well today I quit being a good patient and challenged the dr. He was threatening a treatment plan that I was just not going to do. I let him know point blank that I am not a test result. I questioned the accuracy of those machines, tests, and the folks who read them. I challenged him to use his experience instead of relying on machines.

He had to sit in the room and listen to me go over all of the weird things that are happening from fingertips to forehead. Guess what? I said things that made him to rethink this situation. Should have seen his face when he had to actually touch my neck. Stunned is a good word. The SCM is rock hard and there are lumps below the collarbone. He believes we are dealing with is neural TOS. Something he considered months ago but dropped because I didn't "present exactly right." The fact that the scalene block for the mua alleviated all of my symptoms is a 'major factor' in TOS diagnosis. I am finally getting a referral to a thoracic doc...as well as continuing my PT.

He also determined that the superficial branch of the radial nerve is aggravated and causing two fingers and thumb to tingle and go numb. He saw the muscle wasting in my hand. That cant be fixed but can be stopped at least.

He got to see first hand the spasms in my arm and hand. He nearly dislocated my shoulder when he moved it over my head....that really hurt. That seems a bit unstable....you think??? Yes, my shoulder is subluxing every time I raise my arm higher than shoulder level. The muscles are weak and wont hold it in place. So all of the exercises you have had me doing are only reinjuring....wonderful. The magic mri which showed nothing is still confusing. He admits that he does not have total faith in that as it is soooooo different than today's exam, pt reports and the first mri. This is now documented.

We discussed the chronic tendonitis in the elbow. I should have an ulnar transposition but was told that due to what is going on in my neck it isn't advisable at this time. The deltoid is pulled from the greater tuberosity...again needs to be fixed but not a priority.

I feel like I am finally on the right path. I have spent a long time feeling like I was crazy. So many weird things were going on. I have been told repeatedly that this couldn't be doing that or feeling this. Even though I knew what I felt and could/couldn't do the drs kept saying they didn't know. I wasn't fitting into the box. I was a zebra.

Today the zebra was vindicated....am in lots of pain but that would have been anyhow. I am just so happy that this didn't go longer than it has. I have been reading horror stories of folks going years without proper care.