My TOS

My TOS  : 

Gosh, I feel that I know all of you already. I laughed and cried at the same time when I read the "TOS humor". I moved over 3000 miles away to begin a new job (my first "real job") in June 2002 as an audiologist. In September-ish that year was when the neck and throracic spine pain, shoulder pain, and bilateral arm pain (R>L) began its work on me. I worked through the pain, then missed some work, and worked through more pain... trying ice and heat, advil and tylenol, cyclobenzaprine (sp?) and vicoden... while trying to do my work. I had filed for worker's compensation in Feb. 2003, not knowing that perhaps I should have done it sooner. I was laid off from my job on April fool's day 2003. October 2002 I had an x-ray: "muscle spasm and arthritis in the thoracic spine". MRI of cervical spine: "protrusion at C6/C7." Then I was given the muscle relaxer and narcotic. Late April after being laid off, I had a nerve conduction study: "normal." Next, I had to move back home, as I had no money, no job, and more pain than I felt anyone (including myself) could understand. While back in the Mid-West, a neurologist told me that I had "VOLUNTARY musculo-ligamental deconditioning of the upper extremity" (I was told NOT to do things that caused pain by my physical therapist). An MRI was ordered of my brachial plexus: "normal". I spent three months in the Mid-West, frequently crying and wanting to punch something (of course I knew that I also could not as I would only cause more pain). I tried relentlessly to explain what was wrong with my back/arms/neck to my concerned friends and family. To this day I have a difficult time talking to them because I don't think they understand... heck, I barely do, and diagnosis and treatment is constantly changing so that I just don't want to talk about it with them anymore. I applied for a part-time position at another facility in California, was hired, and moved back out to California in August 2003. A couple of months ago, I began seeing a physical therapist who works with Peter Edgelow, as I was referred from another therapist who had been performing active release therapy (during which time an extra cervical rib was suspected) on me. I feel that I am better than I was in the beginning, however, I continue to have constant pain, and I frequently have very deep bouts of depression about what this thing has done to me. I work in pain and live in pain. I have the most loving boyfriend who has known me since the pain had just developed, and he has been there for me through all of this. My hands are usually cold, more on the right than the left side, and I tend to have more weakness and pain on the right as well. My right shoulder bone is pointier, my clavicles seem to be slightly asymmetrical, and my right scapula wings out. The PT's and doc's are still working on a differential diagnosis as to where the culprit lies - if the pain is due to the protruding discs in my cervical spine (an asymptomatic person apparently could have had the same finding), TOS, or both. I am starting neurontin today, as the Alleve, Vicoden, and Motrin haven't been of help. Next week I have a qualified medical examination to determine if I "qualify" for psychological treatment. I am aware that I need to develop some tools to deal with the most difficult days. I am honored to meet all of you, and look forward to hearing your experiences as well. I wish the best of luck to us all.

Doctor Recommendations  : 

Peter Edgelow, Physical Therapist