March 2009 living my life finally again!! Life is good!!

Hi, I have gotten so many emails. I had no idea how many people are going through what I have been through. I feel for all of you!!! Just take it one day at a time that is all you can do.

My Husband hurt his back at work and its really serious, and he can no longer work until he has surgery that he needs. Labor and industries is of coursing refusing to authorize it I would not expect any less from them. So we are fighting and waiting. What I have been through is really helping us get through this. I never wanted to deal with those people ever again. I never even thought my husband would get hurt. So you never know what will happen, you just have to stay strong and keep hoping for the best.

As for me I am doing okay. I am trying to be more active as much as my body will allow.
I see these soldiers coming back from the war and I have no reason to ever complain. They come back some with no limbs or no arms or just missing one. The therapy they grow through takes years, so I consider myself lucky. I don't dwell on what I cant do anymore but what I can. So I started to get into photography and its something I can have fun with and do on my own time.

Just last week I found my Birth father that I have been looking for for 14 years or more and he has been living only 1 1/2 hours from me for the last 5 years. I have a half brother and sister now. I feel like I am complete now and I am living my life. No time to sit around and mope, you never know whats around the corner!!! I have a good LIfe. I hope you can find your way!!!

DECEMBER 15 UPDATE

I wanted to say thanks for all the emails and I am so glad this blog has helped you. From the surgery I also developed fibromyalgia . the pain from that is mostly in my arms and hands. I still can not walk more then 45 minutes at a time and when I go shopping my arms will start to ache after a while, that has saved me some money. ( LOL) I cant wear heavy jackets so I only were jackets that are vest so I dont have the pressure on my arms. I have to admit sleeping is still the worse, I can only sleep on my back with a pillow under each arm and sometimes I do sleep on my left side with a pillow under my right arm but then my arm and hand usually aches and swells up alitttle. I never let it get to me and I am always positive, I am just grateful that I have arms that I am able to use still!!!

Since I settled with work comp I felt like this horrible cloud above me dissappeared, I had no idea how depressed they had made me feel. I am so much better now and I am just grateful that I had a wonderful family and friends that got me through this, and the wonderful people that I have met with TOS.

TO all my Tos friends hang in there and dont let work comp tear you down!!! stay positive, I know you feel like your world is falling apart. Merry Christmas

update October 6th 2008

I have not been on here a while. I got really depressed with dealing with work comp. I just could not handle wanting to talk or blog to anyone.

good news I finally settled with L&I. I got **,*** not what I wanted my attorney got some too of course. Dr. Brantigan wrote a letter on my behalf to L&I and basically slammed them!!! Dr. Brantigan is Fabulouse!!!!

I decided that I needed to move on and to start feeling better. I started walking 45 minutes maybe twice a week, the pain would start in my arms within 45 minutes so I did have to stop and my Dr. put me on Phentermene because I was unable to work out. I lost 32lbs and I feel better. Its not magic but it did take away my craving and I cut my food portions in half.

of course i still deal with the nerve damage and the pain in my neck and hands on a daily basis, I have learned not to agraviatate my symstoms and I do okay. I still take muscle relaxer and pain meds when needed.

I hope my story can help you!!!

Before you have surgery go to denver!!!!

March 22nd

I have received a lot of emails from a lot of people going through what I have been through. I am glad to hear from you guys out there. You realize that you are not alone with this.

I was really angry for a while at my surgeon for not removing more of the first rib, but now I understand why he did not, but then you usually end up with a poor outcome. The article on my page explains it. I was never told that I could possible have a poor outcome. I am angry at him for that, and for not seeing his patience after 3 months.

If you have no other choice but to have surgery please research your Surgeon. Find other people that have had the surgery from the surgeon. You will learn that every surgeon does it a different way also. Some go under the armpit and others go above the armpit. I was above the armpit and I have learned that way is more risky. So get multiple opinions!!! And always try everything else before surgery.

During this process I also realized that you need to take charge of your health because work comp could care less how you feel. No body will take care of your body like you will.
I would see Dr. s on my own without there permission because I wanted answerer's and I was not willing to sit around and wait for them to tell me that I was find when I new I was not. I used my own insurance and I have really good insurance and they paid for every Dr. visit that I needed I was very lucky in that way because the Dr. bill from my MRI in Denver was 8,000. I walked away with only paying 500.00 well worth it.

You have to take charge of your body! I was the one that drove all over my state to get help. Nobody made me I was the one that wanted to get better and work comp acted like I was not willing to get help. Its sad that a Dr. will say one thing to your face and then in his report write something else, every word they write really matters. I don't know how they sleep at night the ones that do this. I am not saying all Dr.s do this because I have met some of the nicest Dr. that have been honest with me, and they truly understand my situation.

In the last 2 years I can not tell you how much I have cried at night wishing this would all go away. asking myself why me , why did I deserve this. Then I realized that parents that have lost there children or they have cancer ask the same thing why my kid! Why did my kid deserve this.

So I started to read a book, and I have not read a book since the 5th grade. Its called a (new Earth) I am sure some have hear about it, its all over Oprah show.

It has really helped me. I have learned that I need to accept this situation. I may not like it but I need to accept this. here is a quote from the book

( If you are not in the state of acceptance, enjoyment, or ethusiam, look closely and you will find that you are creating suffering for yourself and people around you.)

For me that was so true. I just enjoy everyday no matter how I feel because it could always be worse. I don't wont to waste my life asking why me all the time. you only live once. I am done focusing on what I can no longer do, and I will focus on what I can do. Enjoy my family and kids. They are the best thing in my life. I am not gonna worry about the future. Just today! Take it one day at a time. maybe in the future they will have a new procedure to help me that wont cause more damage.

I hope that with my story it might help others!!

Update!!! March 20th 2008

I had my social security hearing Feb 12th 2008. I did win, my case was very solid exspecially since I went to denver.

I had another IME my March 15th my 5th one. It actally went really well. It was a Thoracic Dr. I told him My story and then he said I know how you feel I also have TOS in my left arm. That was great I finally meet a Dr. that has TOS and he knows how I feel. He stated he will never have surgery because of patience like me.

I did ask him why he thought my surgeon did not remove more of the first rib. He said that when he was performing the surgery it was probably to dangerous to remove anymore because he could damage the motor nerve which would paralize my arm forever.

I wish I was told these things before surgery. I would have reconsidered.

He also stated a second surgery is definilty really risky for me and that I should not go that rout unless I had no other choice. He said that he was gonna write that I was unable to work at this time and that I did have TOS and the surgery failed. and there really was no more options for me accept maybe try botox injection but they were only a temporily fix also. It was really nice having another Dr. understand me and that I did not have to defend myself again.

If anyone would like to email me do do at this email smbairds@yahoo.com

will update soon again

Living with TOS

Here is my story:

I worked at a Hospital cleaning at night. I loved my job but I started to developed pain in my right shoulder. So I applied for a easier cleaning job at least I thought it might be easier on my shoulder.

My job was very repetitive at the time and I had no idea what that could do to you. I went to a Orthopedic Dr in October 2002 and I told him I was having problems with my right arm. I was told that I had tendinitis in my shoulder and that I should learn maybe to clean a different way and that working out might help so I would be stronger and more in shape. I started a program at the gym and within a couple of months I felt so good and with the new position I had taken my shoulder was doing better.

On my job I had to pick up linen bags on a nightly bases and they weighed between 40 and 50lbs each. I would have between 6 and 8 bags a night. two weeks before the actual injury I noticed the pain in my arm had returned. I could no longer lay on my right shoulder but I really did not think anything about it , I thought it would clear up again.

In April 2003 when I was working at night I went to go pick up one of those linen bags and I felt a horrible pain in my right shoulder and Bicep area and I no longer could move my arm without serious pain. I went to the clinic the next day and I was told I had strained by bicep area and tendinitis in my shoulder and that I should be better in a few days. I was sent back to work within a week with some help for two weeks. I still had severe pain in my arm. I was put on anti inflammatory's. Two weeks later I had to go to a different Dr. because the first one did not believe me that I was still hurting. I was given a cortisone shot in the shoulder and I did feel some relief after a few days. since I was not able to use my right arm for a few weeks and the were determined to keep me at work I ended up straining my left arm a month later. Basically to make a very long story short I would continued to see the Dr. on a monthly basis about the pain.

5/16/03 MRI RIGHT SHOULDER
06/06/03 RIGHT SHOULDER CORTISONE INJECTION
07/03/03 BILATERAL SHOULDER X-RAY
11/14/03 RIGHT SHOULDER CORTISONE INJECTION
01/14/04 X-RAYS LEFT SHOULDER
01/29/04 RIGHT SHOULDER CORTISONE INJECTION
03/03/04 RIGHT SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY PROCEDURE

In March 2004 they went in a did a scope of my right shoulder to see what was going on. I was told I had some slight laxity of both shoulders, chronic tendinitis, extrarticular and some subtle laxity of the shoulder, but does not recommend any sort of stabilization. So I continued to work in pain and continued to see the Dr.. In July 2004 I started to notice the pain traveling down my arm and into my hand. My left shoulder had pain in it but never enough to complain to much because my right arm would hurt so much.


By August 2004 my hand started to cramp up when I would clean at night to the point I know longer could use it and I started to experience pain in my neck area and shoulder. Finally they did some test on me and said I could possible Have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I had never heard of that word ever. I went To Seattle in December saw a specialist( Dr. George Thomas) and I was finally diagnosed with Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome with minor degree of vascular component. The intrinsic muscles in my right hand are weak also.

09/07/04 NERVE CONDUCTION EMG showed early carpal tunnel syndrome, and relative change at the thumb, slight slowing of the ulnar sensory study to the ring finger
02/01/05 SCALENE BLOCK, RESULTS: POSITIVE

I was told to try therapeutic message first, if that was not successful that I definitely would need the surgery. I did the message three times and I felt like I had been hit by a truck and I actually went to work after therapy and by that night I could not move my right arm. My Dr. said try the therapy a few times more but I will take you off work and to see if that will help. ( January O5 ). Well the therapy continued to make me worse to the point I could not even handle the pain and I had to stop. I was told I needed surgery asap to prevent more nerve damage. Being on Labor and Industries nothing gets done fast. I was finally approved for surgery in May of 2005. I was so excited because I was told I would be 90% better. I did not do any research before hand because I had no idea what I was doing. That was my biggest mistake ever.

I went in for surgery May 25Th 2005( Dr. Kia Johansen) Right thoracic outlet decompression( by scalenctomy, subtotal first rib resection, pectoralis minor tenotomy). I was sent home the next day in a three hour car ride home without painkillers. This surgery is very painful. Within a week I noticed the pain in my fingers and the numbness was right back. I was still recovering and I had to sleep in a recliner for 7 days on painkillers. I never had any relief in my shoulder.

I started physical therapy in June 05. I was really good about going but I started to experience all the symptoms again and more. I was told to stop therapy a while and get more rest. I saw my Orthopedic Dr. in September told him I was still experiencing pain and I had burning pain in my right arm and hand now. He seemed to ignore me and my vocational counselor was with me and they both agreed I could go back to work on light duty even with the burning pain in my arm and hand. I was told not to lift more than 20lbs, a gallon of milk was heavy enough for me. Of course I could not go back to house keeping, so I was sent to do light office work( the easiest job you can have) 8 hrs a day to start.

I went to work with a very positive attitude hoping that I would do okay. after the first day , I noticed I had a lot of pain in my neck just sitting there all day. I thought I just needed to get my strength back so I never said anything, then I delivered the paper to all the patience with another co-worker and I started to get this aching feeling all over in my shoulders and then down my hands really bad, I did not understand what was going on and I had to sit down to get it to go away. I would go home and could not do anthing its was like I was unable to recover from the day before but I kept going to work. They had me to some light filing for a couple of hours and when I got in my car to drive home the pain set in my hands and both arms so bad I was not even sure I could drive home. I made it home and my husband had cooked dinner and I was unable to feed myself. could not move my arms without severe pain, I was so confused and I did not understand what was going on with me, I was suppose to be better not getting worse. I called my Surgeon told him what happened and he emmdiatly took me off work.

I made appt to see him. He is 3 hours away. October 9Th I saw him, said everything looked good and that I should see a hand surgeon, I was so confused at this point did he not hear or what. Even though he had noticed swelling in my arm and discoloration. However he said that I should not return to work, until we can figure this out.

Hand surgeon said he could not find anything, mostly still coming from the shoulder region. At this point I felt like I was just being pushed to Dr. after Dr. It's like no one wanted to give me answerer's of what was happening. I called my surgeon several times crying begging that he would see me again, his nurse said after three months post-op he no longer sees his patients. I was in shock at this point.

10/25/05 BONE SCAN RIGHT ARM , negative

I myself started to research this syndrome and found out that surgery could make you worse. I drove all over Washington State to see Dr. after Dr. 7 Doctors later. I was also told sometimes you will never know what goes wrong. I could not except that answer. So I continued to research and found a Dr. in Denver.

12/02/05 MRI CERVICAL SPINE
12/12/05 MRA HAND RIGHT & WRIST
12/19/05 EMG
03/08/06 IME DR. CAHN ULTRASOUND RESULTS :POSITIVE, IME WENT WELL SAID
I HAD PERMANENT SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE TO BOTH ARMS, SURGERY FAILED, IMPAIRMENT RATING 40 % right 25% left. Bilateral brachial plexapathy
03/29/06 MRI RIGHT SHOULDER &NECK
07/06/06 INJECTION BLOCK, DID NOT IMPROVE MY SYMPTOMS

I flew to Denver in May of 2007 to get some answerer's. I saw Dr. Charles Brantigan. After the test and the imaging he did on my neck. I was told that I was the second patient that has flown to see him from the same Dr. that did the originally surgery and that was left in severe pain. The originally surgeon only removed a small part of the first rib. Dr. Brantigan said that in the report he says he removed more but the MRI does not show that. Some had already grown back. The CT scanned showed that the lower trunk of the brachial plexus was draped over and attached to the anterior stump of the first rib, thus giving me explanation of my symptoms he said. He said he could redo the surgery , but its significantly more difficult and more dangerous than first time decompression ( his exact words) and that I remain disabled, no chance Of returning to work.

I was extremely upset, I really thought it would not be so difficult and I wanted my life back it was really hard to except this.

I at least new the truth because not knowing was killing me. It's been along road with Labor and industries. I did loose my pay for almost 8 months but I did win it back in May 2007. I have not heard anything from Labor and Industries since may so I have no Idea what they are gonna do. I take muscle relaxers and oxycodone for the pain.

UPDATE: JANUARY 3RD 2008

Today is January 3rd, bad news lost my pay a week before Christmas. I was under surveillance for 5 months last winter. I watched the video and it shows me going to my sons Basketball games and sitting for hours. It also showed me washing my outside windows to my house and I was only out there for 5 minutes and actually paused and took a break. I had to unload some presents to my sister n laws house but my kids also helped me. On the video I never acted like I was hurting. During my sons Basketball games I was sitting that does not cause me much pain in my arms because I am not using them while I am just sitting there. A few times I am sure I felt uncomfortable but I was watching my son play basketball so of course I am gonna look like I am doing find. And during that time my husband had thrown his back out and had two bulging disc so he was in a lot of pain and was unable to help me out like he usually does. Usually if I had to pick anything up I would use my left arm. They had me on there putting my chair away, but that was the rule everybody has to put there chair away and its hard for me to say ( can you help me put my chair away because caring hit a few feet could cause me to have more pain) It's not like I can afford to hire someone to help me where ever I go. Nobody can tell me that they have never done anything that has caused them pain. Sometimes you have to do things, if you don't have the help. When I unloaded some of the presents from my car the boxes looked a little big but they were light, and the reason my sister n law did not help me because she was going through chemo at the time and did not feel good and My husband was also at worked that day. I had a Deposition in 2006, and I never denied that I was unable to go to certain places and drive or wash my windows. I said that I was not able to clean my windows as often as I used to. I also said that when I did go places I was not able to shop for a long time because walking around starts up the throbbing in my arms so when I did my errand I made sure I got it done quickly. Also in the video it showed me going to the mall with my sister n law, and me coming out 1 hour later and my son was caring everything not me and I also did not have a heavy jacket on in the dead of winter here which is very cold.

So now Dr. Cahn was shown the videos the one that had done my IME, and he writes a letter back to L&I saying that after reviewing the videos that I am find that nothing is wrong with me. And he also said that I had washed all the windows around my house what a liar. I only washed two. when you have been in pain this lony you learn to do things lot differently. I don't show it much out in public and usually when I get into a lot of pain I go home and take my medication and lay down, which they cant video you doing that of course. I used to complain a lot and feel bad about everything but then my friends started to talk behind my back and I found out that they were sick of me complaining so much that they did not want to be around me anymore so I stopped complaining and showing when I feel pain. Why would anyone want to fake this, My credit is ruined because I cant pay my bills we have to file bankruptcy. If I could work I would. I would give anything to be normal and have my life back before all this. I cant do a job that I have to keep using my arms or standing for long periods that puts me in so much pain and anyone with TOS knows that. Sometimes I cant even get out of bed because of the headaches are so severe. I am so sick of having to explain myself to these Dr.'s. If they could only live in our shoes for a week they would know how bad the pain can get. The pain gets so bad that you can no longer use your arms without pain medication. I did not ask for this and I cant believe that a Dr. can do this to someone if they only new. I have a 3D image of my neck and the proof is right there but I guess that does not matter and I have a Dr. in Denver that knows I am not lying. I guess when you can not work you are never aloud to leave your house.

They want me to go through another IME in January at the end of the month, I just hope he sees that I am not lying. But everyone knows that IME are always against you. So if I am find someone please tell me why I experience all these symptoms. Ex specially typing this my hands are cramping and are ice cold and numb. I was also told I needed to attend a pain clinic so they can actually see what happens to me and I have nothing to hide so I am more than willing to attend, but my Dr.'s have said that I will re injury myself and just make everything worse like its not bad enough but I really dont have a a choice

symptoms:
tenderness still around the surgery area
cramping in hands when holding objects like a hair brush or blow dryer
Burning pain in right arm
swelling in hand ex specially near the thumb area
Numbness in fingers
pain in both shoulders
Headaches on the right side , feels like I have a ear ache
neck pain
I get a throbbing dull ache feeling in both shoulder when walking have to sit to get it to stop
can not wear a heavy jacket
can't stand the cold
can't sleep on my sides, pillows have to be under both arms to sleep.
I love warm water that helps with the pain
sharp shooting pains sometimes
hands get really cold easily
my hands swells up if i sit a certain way or lay down and I also get a horrible ache in my arm
my hand will cramp up trying to fill out paper work , And when I tend to do things I noticed that the next day when I wake up , its a lot worse like a delayed reaction.

">I will continue to update!