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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.
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You could have hurt your neck during the altercation. I’d ask the doc for a neck MRI.
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
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.
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
I sounds like a brachial plexus injury. I hope you get to go to the mayo clinic.
Thank you for your response.
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
Hi @vmitz, I wanted to follow up with you on @colleen_young’s question- have you had an MRI?
@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
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.
Thank-you