United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I'm in terrible pain in my neck and back, it's starting to pull on my good side as well. I get alot if headaches from straining my neck all the time trying to carry the weight of this arm around.
It's been about 4 1/2 yrs since my fusion.
I recently fell on my bad arm and broke that hand and slightly winged my shoulder which has just added to the pain.
Pain meds help a little but it's not long and they want to increase my doses because it doesn't work anymore.
Can anyone with the same issues send me any advise to help this. Or at least tell me it's not just me having these problems.

Teresa,
I'm sorry to read about your suffering despite having your shoulder fused. I thought having it fused would help relieve the pulling & pressure of a "dead" shoulder. I do know of a man that had his fused, and although he claimed it was the worst surgery to recoup from, he also said it was the best thing he ever did.

I've been contemplating having it done for the last two years. With the idea that it would enable me to have more freedom of movement with the rest of my body. As it is now, I can't make any abrupt or sudden movements (jumping, dancing, tumbling) because of the extreme shoulder instability. My body (and spirit more importantly) feels like it being held hostage by the damaged limb that's attached to it, like a ball and chain.

Do you regret having the surgery done? And do you have any use at all of your injured arm or hand? Do you know how the shoulder was fused (eg. "L" shaped bracket screwed into the humerus (biceps bone) and clavicle (collar bone))? And where did you have it done?

As far as I know the man that I know that had his shoulder fused only had a problem when he slipped on some ice and fell on his elbow. He thought he snapped his collar bone off, but it turned out okay. He's a working lumber jack in Vermont and uses his injured arm all day long while cutting timber and carrying equipment. He also told me that his pain dwindled down to nothing after five years (which I pray happens to me), except for the normal pains his work gives anyone, soar back everyday etc.

I wish you the best and hope you find some resolve.

Be Well,
Christopher

I had my shoulder fused in 1991. As of this last year I have had 17 surgeries on that same shoulder. I wish I would have never had it fused! Now not only do I have a useless shoulder and arm I have chronic pain and depression. I too have the headaches that you have and my neck hurts and I am wearing out my good arm and shoulder from having to over use it. I take 7 different pain meds and anti depresants and they don't work as well as I wish they would.I have even asked my doctors to cut my arm off at the shoulder to make it stop hurting. But they won't because they can't garantee that that would stop the pain.(phantom pain is possible after amputation) I am sorry but I don't have any good news for you. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS IT"S NOT JUST YOU!!! I myself am looking for help. If I should find some I will send it your way. I hope that you would do the same for me. good luck and hang in there..

i also had my shoulder fused at the age of 30, and wish, i would have never done it.. the pain in my neck and the wing of my shoulder blade are always in so much pain, the headaches are severe,,, if anyone is thinking of doing this,, please think hard,, im now raising 3 toddlers with this