Expert: Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 9/6/2007

Question
I was crushed shoulder to shoulder 6 months ago at work.I had a broken collarbone and brachial plexus injury.After 3 years of PT we got the arm to raise actively to 135degrees and only able to lift one pound.Six months later,I got alot of pain in the upper extremity and in 6 days,the range was all gone again.Seen the doctor who did the Ultrasound and seen I had a torn rotator cuff/bicep tendon.Work Comp wounldnt pay till a year later.Had that surgery 4 months ago.4 months post surgery I have made NO improvements.I have more pain.Besides the pain I always had in the pec area.I know have terrible pain in the upper arm.Had an EMG to see if the muscles are all firing(that was last week).The doctor says it seems the tricep is ruptured now in a couple different areas.Im so confused.What are the symtoms of a torn/ruptured tricep? How could the doctor miss this? Plese!!!! Anyone with answers

Answer
He couldn't miss it, the area would have swollen up and turned back and blue. Sounds like you need to find an entire new set of doctors. Rehabing the area needs to include biomechanical changes or you will continue injuring soft tissue structures as the become active again. You need to find a very good Chiropractor, not always easy, and get second and third opinions before anymore surgeries. Preferably, going to a teaching facility near or on campus at a Chiropractic school would be a good option if convenient. Going to a teaching institution for orthopedics would also be wise. However, this is out of most orthos and chiropractors league.

I would start by researching the Internet for sites with forums that have experience with this. I can't imagine many injuries as complex or gnarly as this, you'll need the best heath care has to offer to overcome this.
There is no way I can begin to appreciate all the secondary problems that exist without one-on-one evaluation. Get busy and seek out all the opinions that you can, the earlier you address problems as they arise the better; if the solution is sound and not a rush to judgement. I wish I could be of more help, but this is far too involved for written exchanges, all I can do is recommend the above.

I wish you a good outcome and quick recovery!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com