My injury...

[admin]

Hello, my name is Edward. Im 26 years old and I live in Baltimore, Md. I sustained a injury to my left shoulder/neck area at birth that involved the brachial plexus. I have always been a big guy even at birth weighing in a almost 13 pounds. My mother did not have a "C-section" and because my shoulders where so broad I basically got stuck. To save my life the doctor pulled me with forceps at the shoulder causing a vast ammount of damage. It seperated my shoulder which lead to later problems with bone development. I was in a body cast for the early parts of my life then that changed to a arm support cast untill I was 5 years old. At that time I recieved a shoulder/arm reconstruction surgery. The doctors broke my arm and reconstructed it so that it would grow "normally" and to give me atleast partial use of the arm. They also placed a steele hinge in the shoulder to give me more movement and to allow me to learn how to use this arm. The hinge was removed about a year later. To make a long story a little shorter ill get to the point of why im posting here. Ever since I can remember I have been in pain because of my shoulder. Its only ever gotten worse and recently the pain has spread to my neck which ends up giving me terrible headaches at times. I have had physical therapy several times but it just doesnt seem to do the trick. I have done alot of things on my own to try to help with little or no effect. Over the past few years the pain has gotten so bad that I am very guilty of abusing pain killers which has caused other problems for me. The further my arm is extended the less I turn it over which cause many problems for me at work. I cannot lift my arm very far over my head and when I manage to it only lasts a few seconds because the pain becomes almost overwhelming. I cannot put my behind my back for more than a few seconds. The list of problems I have due to the injury could go on and on. I guess im posting here because I want to see if anyone could give me some advice on what I should do. All the doctors I have spoken to in the recent past seem almost clueless to my condition, or want to do some radical surgery. The pain just gets worse as time goes by and I am honestly afraid of what the future holds. I am getting married in a few months and starting a whole new life. Its become difficult for me work, im a chef and this requires hand dexterity which I have lost much of. I feel so foolish, but I get very upset thinking of a future for my soon to be wife and I where my arm gets bad enough that I cant work. It scares me to death. I actually think I had a panic attack the other day thinking about it to much which is what lead to me look into this on the net. There are so many things I feel like I want to say here just to be able to share them, but this message is long enough. Sorry for the length, and thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.