I think I may have a Brachial Plexus injury

[admin]

Hi everyone! I can't tell you how happy I am that I have stumbled upon this website! I actually don't feel like I am crazy now...or like this pain is all in my head. I was rearended in an automobile accident about 2 months ago now, and the pain in my right should/arm/hand has been excruciating. I do have use of my right arm...however it tires out at a very quick rate. My right shoulder feels like it is on fire most of the time...that is the only way I can describe it. I do also have numbness and tingling in my last two fingers occassionally. I have been seeing a chiropractor and going to PT...they are all stumped as to what is wrong because my cervical MRI came back normal. I have a nerve test coming up this week (an EMG). I am hoping this renders some answers. If anyone could offer any advice or anything what so ever...I am open to it. I just don't want to feel like I am crazy anymore. I know something is wrong...and like I read in here earlier someone wrote "just because they can't see something wrong with you, doctors think that everything is fine". I am starting to get very frustrated that no one seems to know what is wrong! I need some answers. When will this go away?...some days the pain is UNBEARABLE in my shoulder.Any help...I would appreciate....Thank you!

[Francine_Litz]

Nick - welcome to the boards (unfortunately right?)

The best thing you can do right now is to get yourself to a BPI specialist. There is a listing of them on line here off the home page - look for the link in the middle/lower part of the home page labeled Medical Resources Directory.

Also - tell us what state you are from and maybe people that have gone to a specific bpi doctor in your area will see this post and come forward.... If they don't, then type in a new post with something like "Anyone from ------ ?"

I'm sorry to hear that you are in such pain and I hope that you will get some answers soon.

By the way - send your regular address to Nancy Birk at nancy@ubpn.org and she will put you on the mailing list and send you the latest Outreach which has a great article on pain.

Take care and good luck,
francine

[admin]

Nick, I know the feeling of frustration, I feel like there's a knife in my shoulder for over 3 years and there are days I would like to just take a knife and stab it, I was just told a couple months ago that I have brachial plexus haven't had any luck yet, the EMG came back negative, 2 MRI's-nothing wrong, then after 3 years some other Dr. said Brachial plexus, took 2 1/2 months go get in to a Dr. in Phila. (coz there all leaving PA) and was told that sometimes it don't show up on MRI's or nerve tests and yes, they look at me as if I'm not feeling this either, so finally I'm being sent for an MRI on the brachial nerve to see if it does show up coz it has gotten worse. It now tightens up when I sit and as I am writing this too you, it swells up etc. I'm not writing this to discourage you or bum you out, but I'm finally glad that I'm finally not the only one feeling this pain your feeling in my shoulder. I guess because I am still able to lift my arm above my head and all the way around after 3 operations, the Drs. think I'm ok too and not feeling anything. It upsets me, the same as you, coz all the tests came back negative and I still have no real answers, just neurotin and muscle relaxers, which only screw with your head, and don't take the pain away. If you have any luck replay back, and no, your not nuts, I know and have the same pain. I've also tried accupuncture, trigger point and deep muscle massages; physical therapy, which made it worse, even though they said, "I'm not worried, I've seen this before", and 4 months past the last operation, guess what, I'm still in pain the same place I was over 3 years ago. Good luck!