United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I went for the shoulder and winging scapula today at 11 am today. My PT John, is great. Part owner of the facility and a PT for 15 years, he put me through some basic manauvers to see where my deficits are. Well all was fine until arould 1 pm and went to the office fridge to get my lunch out. I had been feeling a bit stiff, but geez, the walk from the fridge to the counter 4 ft away, was all it took. As I put the stuff on the counter the shoulders, arms, hands and neck went into major spasm and was instantly in agony. So far since that time, I have taken two vicadin and I am still having a lot of pain in the shoulders and neck.

So is this normal for a brachial injury? I feel like I am back at the beginning of my injury when it started to involve my shoulders. I appreciate any insight into this situation. Not sure how I'm going to deal with the PT when it really starts.
Thanks
Wendy

This is normal for starting PT of any kind. Your therapist should have warned you about it. The first few visits of therapy are horrible! Eventually it will get better and you will feel the benefits.

Make sure you tell your PT about how you feel. It is important that he knows your limitations and how you tolerated the session.

Good Luck!

Joy

Thanks for the reply Joy. This wasn't the actual session, just the evaluation. I did talk with him today about it and he's mystified as to why I wound up having this attack of pain. He's not convinced it had everything to do with what we did that morning. I'm not either now that I think about it. I was under a fair bit of stress that morning, and it also reaching into the fridge put me into a position of extending the bad arm out and in front of me which does cause me problems with loss of strength and control of the arm.

I am feeling better today, but still getting that muscle tension across the shoulders. I got a script for Naproxin for just these times so I can couple the painkillers with something that will quickly act on the resulting inflammation when I have these pain attacks. I also go for the special thoracic nerve EMG on Monday and will get this doctor to write out exactly what parts aren't functioning properly for the PT to work from.

Oh, and I knew the first few sessions might be a problem. Today in fact was the first one, although we did just some easy arm work and wall pushups. I am getting some burning in the shoulders now, even with the NSAIDS in me.

Wendy