My TOS

My TOS  : 

My experience started in November 1993 at the age of 39, when I was told I developed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. After about 8 to 10 EMG'S, Carpal Tunnel Surgery, MRI and a Facet Block where a #22 gauge spinal needle was passed thru to the joint in my neck. With all this, the pain was still there and after two more EMG's, I was told I had TOS by two more doctors, and in February 1995, my company's doctors sent me to a specialist. He said I had bilateral TOS with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, greater on the left side. In April 1995 a left rib resection and other resections of bands and adhesions and neurolysis of C7,C8 and T1 nerve roots and brachioplexus,dorsal sympathectomy with T1,T2 and T3 ganglionectomy, injection of Depo-Medrol in areas of neurolysis. After waking up I asked how did the surgery go earlier that day. I then found out the surgery had been performed 3 days earlier. I thought I had been having strange dreams about someone was tring to ge me to eat something and I thought someone was burning my arm, but I did not know that I was out of it for at least 3 days. I was in the hospital for 6 days. When I was fully awakened I found out that my left arm was so painful and burning, you could not touch my SKIN. I could not put my left arm thru a sleeve. The pain was so bad, I cried daily. I tried all kinds of pain pills, my arm could not be touched. I asked them to cut off my left arm or just shoot me and put me out of my misery. They then refered me for psychiatric intervention. I went to pain management instead where they gave me a tens unit, that worked temporarly and more pain meds and in July or August 95',3 to 4 months later, the only thing that stopped my SKIN from hurting and burning was this nerve medicine called Tegretol, used mostly by dentist. The skin pain is gone, but the pain in my fingers,wrist,arm,shoulder and neck is still there. And two of my fingers were left numb after the surgery, along with pain. In February 1996 my doctor, at my request, refered me to a nerve specialist and said he would see me in 6 months to a year. That was the last time I saw my treating physitian. After more treatments and pain pills, the pain is still there. I have tried to see my doctor since April 1996, it is now December 2003. I am still in pain on the left side with minimal use of the left hand and it is so much numbness that I didn't feel it when the SS doctors stuck needles in my hand. I have been receiving Social Security Disability since about August 1996, in which it was determined by the SS doctors that I was disabled. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. It's been 10 years since the first surgery and my pain is worst now than when it was before. I feel the worst thing a person could do about their TOS treatment is to have surgery. I don't know if this worsened pain was caused by my doctor or what. I do know that my doctor would not return my calls for help and I haven't seen him since February 1996. And I do know that after the surgery in April of 1995 my left side is in worse pain and now the left side of my left hand is dead.

Doctor Recommendations  : 

Carl E. Noe MD at Baylor Pain Mgmt.,Dal,Tx