Parsonage turner syndrome

[kmdevo]

I had microdisectomy surgery 2 months ago and 1 week into my recovery started to experience severe left arm pain (elbow down). While in the hospital my IV was in my left arm and when they sent me home my arm was significantly swollen. My back surgeon had me get a cervical spine (neck) MRI that was clean then referred me to a doctor who conducted a nerve function test. My test results were sent to an upper extremity specialist who reviewed the results and sent me for an MRI of my arm.  After the upper extremity specialist reviewed my arm MRI results he said there was nothing he could do (no blockage to operate on). He referred me to a neurologist and hand therapist (to have a brace made and to do physical therapy).  In the meantime I've suffered significant pain snd missed 2 months from work due to the pain meds.  I've also been taking Gabepentin for nerve pain and my neurologist upped my dosage to try and get me off the narcotics. My questions are: 1) has anyone else had a similar injury and 2) could the IV (and all the fluids and medicines they gave me) be the root of my problem? I'm very depressed and upset over my condition (pain and lack of motor skills).

[kmdevo]

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry for not being clear on my initial posting. I had a microdisectomy of the L5 disc so there is no correlation to my current condition. I did have an MRI of my cervical spine when my initial symptoms arose. Results showed no disc buldging. I am interested in your comment re: thrombophlebitis of the arm vein following extravasation of one of the  various irritant intravenous drugs given at the time of surgery could be a cause. My belief is that the excess fluids/drugs put through my IV damaged my radial nerve.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there .I can well understand your predicament at the moment.  It is distressing to experience so much pain with no headways to the cause coming. I understand that a thrombophlebitis of the arm vein following extravasation of one of the  various irritant intravenous drugs given at the time of surgery could be a cause. This could have caused some damage to the ulnar and median nerves I nthe vicinity due to extravasation. Also if you underwent a cervical microdiscectomy, there may have been an inadvertent damage to the cervical and upper thoracic nerve roots following instrumentation and retraction.
Since you have already approach so many specialists, may be a pain physician, who is a trained anesthesiologist, could offer some solution.
Take care.