| Last Updated August 03, 2004 |
My TOS :
AFTER 9 LONG MONTHS I WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSIS WITH TOS. I WAS INJURED ON THE JOB. I AM A NURSE, AND INJURY MYSELF WHILE TRANSFERRING A PATIENT. WENT TO 4 DIFFERENT DOCTORS, MANY TESTS, XRAYS, MRI, MYLEOGRAM WITH CT SCAN, AND NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES. ALSO I WENT TO PHYSCIAL THERAPY WHICH PROVIDED LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. I JUST WENT FOR AND IME EVAL REQUESTED BY WORKERS COMP, AND STILL WAITING APPROVAL FOR SURGERY FOR A FIRST RIB RESECTION . MY SYMPTOMS ARE GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. I HAVE PAIN IN MY NECK AND SHOULDER THAT RADIATES DOWN MY RIGHT ARM, DOWN TO MY HAND. MY HAND IS NUMB, BUT MOSTLY THE LAST TWO FINGERS. MY HAND ALSO GETS COLD AT TIMES. THIS IS EFFECTING MY DOMINENT SIDE. I AM WORKING BUT ON RESTRICTIONS, AND HOUSE WORK IS A STRUGGLE WHICH CAUSES ALOT OF PAIN OR NUMBMESS.
Will it is now 4 months after having a 1st rib resectin with a cervical rib resection and scalenectomy done. All went well with the surgery, all my previos symptons are gone, however the sugery was very painful. I had the supraclavicular approach. I had the surgery om Friday and went home on Monday. I went home on percoset, then switched to vicidon. I did not wear a sling, as the doctor felt that it was best to start moving my arm. I was not able to drive for 3 weeks as the incision was distracting to me every time I turned my neck. I started therapy 2 months after surgery and I am still going. I did loose some strenght and range of motion in my arm, my dominant arm no less. I still experience some soreness in my chest and incisional area and sone numbness from the surgery, but in time this will fade. i am returning back to work as a floss nurse but I will not be able to lift anything heavy anymore. I hope others of you out there can get your life back on track like I did. Good luck to you all!
DR KARL ILLIG