Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Neurolysis

[flowerchild]

Hello!
I am new to UBPN. I was so excited to find you. I felt so isolated. 2 years ago I had a orthoscopic shoulder stablization followed by a Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Neurolysis 6 months later. I have now been told that what I need is an Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Neurolysis to relieve my continued symptoms. The surgeon that has done these 2 surgeries on me is considered extremely aggressive. He is also considered very controversial. I have had multiple problems with him personally, not to mention a punctured lung from one of his injections. I am looking for other Docs that perform Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Neurolysis.

I currently have an abnormal MRI, done by Dr Tsuruda, the world renown Brachial Plexus radiologist, abnormal electrodiagnostics, and loss of function in the hand and elbow, with swelling and discoloration. I have a specific spot about 2" below the collar bone that is chronically sore and swollen, and I can reproduce symptoms in my hand and arm when I push on it. At times I have 80% loss of function 50% of the time.

I am a chronic pain patient from all of this and the drugs are tearing my guts apart. This whole issue seems to be extremely controversial. My current surgeon has performed 400 upper (supra) brachial plexus and 23 lower (infra) brachial plexus neurolysis. He is an outstanding surgeon, but I do not feel that I can continue with him because of other problems.

I would appreciate any input from anyone who has had lower brachial plexus work done or anyone who knows of other doctors that do this.

Thank you very much,
Flowerchild

[Dave m]

Hello flowerchild (great name!) and welcome to the madhouse,, ok just speaking for myself there!
it sounds like you've really been through it, i don't know where you are but there's a list of BPI docs under resources section of this board's homesite. obviously not all the world's BPI experts are there but quite a few. my doc has a site http://www.leeds.ac.uk/handsurgery/
he can be emailed from, and knows some good BPI consultants in the states and elsewhere he could recommend. Good luck!