Severe arm injury resulting in numerous symptoms and no relief
I had an injury where my arm was caught under a 100 lb struggling dog. My arm was repeatedly pulled away from my body. I developed numerous symptoms that my doctors seem unable to diagnose, I’m hoping someone can offer some insight. My symptoms include facial numbness and also numbness down my arm into pointer finger and thumb. I also have pain and pins/needles feelings in neck and shoulder. I suffer from severe headaches and developed dizzy spells. Healthy up until this injury. My clavicle luxated and now grinds and pops. I did have a work-up for MS, all negative. I also have tried physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, hypnosis, to no avail. Anyone have any recommendations for me? I have had MRI’s that show shoulder tear posterior and some increased signal near the divisions of my brachial plexus, doctors don’t feel these account for my injury.
Colleen Young, Connect Director
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Good suggestion @leh09.
@vmitz have you had an MRI? It must be so frustrating to not have answers with such an array of symptoms.
@cheriroberts and @lal2 had similar situations of related symptoms and no diagnosis. Perhaps you’d be interested in reading these threads
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-have-had-a-batch-of-seemingly-unrelated-symptoms-for-a-few/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/are-my-symptoms-early-signs-of-multiple-sclerosis/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/trigeminal-neuritisneuralgia-treatment/
I am sorry if this is late, and not any good; but am wondering when you say “Drs”, does that mean you have seen a Good Orthopaedic surgeon, as if there has been damaged Rotor Cuff/Tendon Damage, these will need assistance in healing………….the fact that you are saying “numbness/tingling etc”, means there is a good chance of nerve impingement………………..good luck
Liked by Colleen Young, Connect Director
Definitely could be cervical spine related. Or enough of a shoulder/arm injury to affect nerves and other areas surrounding the site of injury. There are tests, such as EMG, that can help narrow down where nerve related symptoms are coming from.
susanacj
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It sounds like a nerve injury maybe brachial plexus. These injuries need to be treated right away to have a better chance of recovery. The mayo clinic has a brachial plexus department. I hope you get better soon
Liked by Ali Skahan
susanacj
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I sounds like a brachial plexus injury. I hope you get to go to the mayo clinic.
vmitz
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@susanacj It sounds like a nerve injury maybe brachial plexus. These injuries need to be treated right away to have a better chance of recovery. The mayo clinic has a brachial plexus department. I hope you get better soon
Thank you for your response.
vmitz
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@susanacj I sounds like a brachial plexus injury. I hope you get to go to the mayo clinic.
Thank you. This is what I thought as well but the neurologists and orthopedic doctors I have seen state that all my symptoms don’t tie to just a bracial plexus injury
Ali Skahan
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Hi @vmitz, I wanted to follow up with you on @colleen_young’s question- have you had an MRI?
Colleen Young, Connect Director
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@vmitz, Should you wish to get a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, you’ll find the contact information at this link http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
Liked by Ali Skahan
vmitz
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@aliskahan Hi @vmitz, I wanted to follow up with you on @colleen_young’s question- have you had an MRI?
Yes I have on both my shoulder , neck and brachial plexus. I have been to Orthopedics, neurologists, and various doctors who state my symptoms don’t make sense. Thank-you for your response.
vmitz
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@colleenyoung @vmitz, Should you wish to get a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, you’ll find the contact information at this link http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
Thank-you
Hi I am wondering how you made out? I am looking for treatment for my son and they are saying they have never seen anything like it. What did you end up doing?
vmitz
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@cillamac Hi I am wondering how you made out? I am looking for treatment for my son and they are saying they have never seen anything like it. What did you end up doing?
I’m sorry to hear about your son’s health issues. Unfortunately my symptoms still exist. Doctors are very reluctant to delve into the brachial plexus in my region as post surgery scar tissue seems be a problem later and possibly more complications can develop where my lesion is located. I did have a shoulder labrum and capsule tear that had terrible adhesions everywhere that’s was all cleaned up and hence functions better but my entire left side still doesn’t function well. I have had extensive physical therapy to no avail. I do see a neurologist who specializes in headaches only that is helping me somewhat in that area. I wish I could provide more useful information for your son. Don’t give up. Medicine continues to evolve.
@cillamac Hi I am wondering how you made out? I am looking for treatment for my son and they are saying they have never seen anything like it. What did you end up doing?
Thanks so much for replying so quickly! I’m very sorry to hear of your struggles. I understand the time issue, as we are in the magic window, and time is running short now for a diagnosis with a good prognosis. I had never heard of anything like this, until it happened to my son. I know and believe someone, some where can help us. I believe in miracles and I have faith that this too shall end for the good. You might look into a physiatrist. They are in Rehab medicines and Botox injections have bought him a period of time without spasms. May God Bless you and I hope you can find rest and peace if even for the night.
@leh09
You could have hurt your neck during the altercation. I’d ask the doc for a neck MRI.