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I'm starting to get frustrated, but I'm hanging in. I'm still on "holidays" with no definite return to work date. Maybe December...

I finally got the results from my shoulder MRI at the orthopaedic surgeon's yesterday.

Good news - no tears in the muscle or ligaments = no surgery

Bad news - don't really know what is wrong for sure. But my surgeon agrees with my physio that it is most likely a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is the group of nerves that run from the spine to the hand, controlling all points in between. I also tend to agree with the physio as my pain is intermittent, hard to replicate and can be started with zero activity and burns like a son of a gun! And just as suddenly, it can disappear. My fine motor skills also make it flare up.

The ortho requested 2 more MRIs before I even attempt to go back to work. And while we wait for them and their results I'm going to start "work-hardening" at physio. Basically performing tasks I would do at work. To start with, grip. I have a ball of silly putty which I get to squeeze in a number of hand positions up to 5 times a day, if I can tolerate the pain. I'm working at it.

I'm frustrated that I can't go back to work yet and that I will have to jump through some hoops now to get my long-term disability to kick in. Lots of paperwork (which took like 4 days to fill out!) and visits to my family dr. for copies of my medical records etc. But I know I cannot go back to work until this is better. No point in injuring myself further just to have a full paycheque.

(Heavy sigh)
Thanks to everyone for your continued support.
HUGS!!!!!

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Cassandra

Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.

IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up!

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