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Torn rotator cuff long term, untreated question

Posted by susanp7754 @susanp7754, 5 days ago

I tore my rotator cuff 10 months ago lifting a patient. Workers Comp case so they don't do much to help you. Physical therapy for 6 sessions then when I still had a lot of pain I was sent to Ortho. He gave me a shot of cortisone in my shoulder which lasted about 2 weeks after it kicked in about 4 months ago. It helped some. Two months ago I told him about the numbness and throbbing in my arm and hand swelling and he ordered an MRI with contrast but that is yet another month away. Two months ago my leg on the same side started getting the pins and needles feeling that my arm did from the beginning. Oh, yeah, they told me numbness in my hand was normal and would go away as my tear healed. My foot gets numb and my leg throbs just like my arm. Could it be TOS? I read that in rare cases with long term untreated tears this can happen but I don't know if that's true or not. Anybody else have leg involvement with a rotator cuff tear or the like? Any information at all on leg being affected from a tear?

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spillihped | @spillihped | 4 days ago

Hi, Susanp -
You might have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, but since you're now having lower extremity symptoms, TOS wouldn't cause that. It's too bad that your MRI is so far in the future. You definitely need an MRI of your shoulder, but I'd think you'd want to have a cervical MRI as well to rule out a "northern" etiology for your leg symptoms. Push, push, push for this - can't tell you how imp't it is to have a complete work-up. Also, try to see a physiatrist (physical medicine doc) if you can't get any help from those docs you've already seen.
Best and good luck!

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susanp7754 | @susanp7754 | 4 days ago
In reply to @spillihped "Hi, Susanp - You might have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, but since you're now having lower extremity..." + (show)
Profile picture for spillihped @spillihped

Hi, Susanp -
You might have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, but since you're now having lower extremity symptoms, TOS wouldn't cause that. It's too bad that your MRI is so far in the future. You definitely need an MRI of your shoulder, but I'd think you'd want to have a cervical MRI as well to rule out a "northern" etiology for your leg symptoms. Push, push, push for this - can't tell you how imp't it is to have a complete work-up. Also, try to see a physiatrist (physical medicine doc) if you can't get any help from those docs you've already seen.
Best and good luck!

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@spillihped I got an MRI of my cervical spine and an ultrasound of my leg to eliminate a problem with my neck or a clot in my leg. The swelling in my hand and numbness in my arm started shortly after my accident, 10 months ago and my leg started just over 2 months ago on the same side as my tear. I searched the net and found many people who have experienced leg issues like mine after TOS and websites of doctors who had treated the same. That's why I joined the group and several people also had numbness in one or both legs. I'm wondering if having so much inflammation for so long could be causing it.

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spillihped | @spillihped | 3 days ago

I still think it would be good to see a physical medicine doc. They look at the "bigger picture" than orthopedic docs do.

Good luck with this!

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