Desperate for help - Anyone with Radiology experience?

[AedanRayne]

I've kind of disappeared due to a lot going on this year but it's stemming from my car accident back in January 2014.

I had x-rays done today (and a whole slew of other tests in the last months including 5 MRI's) because I cannot lift my right arm since something popped in my chest while weight-training with my personal trainer in September. Doctor's aren't listening to me that my pain is located around the sternoclavicular joint (basically where your collarbone meets your sternum). They practically ignore me and search all around my shoulder joint and spine (one doctor suggests I have spinal surgery, ugh).

My Backstory: Basically my right arm is only functional below my elbow, I cannot turn it at the shoulder, nor lift it at my shoulder joint. I'm suffering from excruciating pain in my collar bone area, my right arm turns purple frequently, I have issues swallowing and my right shoulder dropped about 3-4 inches in the first week after the injury, and has been hanging down (drooping) since then.

I also had a car accident in January 2014 (50mph frontal impact, severe whiplash, car totaled, ankle broken, tendons torn, etc.) and something has been popping off and on in my upper sternum area since then. I am pretty sure whatever was injured during weight-training was unstable since the car accident.

Thank you for your help!

You can see my range of motion (or lack there of, lol) in this portion of the video:
http://youtu.be/ieISuv-Qr0I?t=14m1s

This year has been hell but I'm holding onto hope, prepared to kick ass once I have a diagnosis and finally get treatment. Doctors have been telling me one thing after another from brachial plexus injury (that I might be paralyzed in my right arm for life, it was terrifying), to thoracic outlet syndrome, herniated discs, possible spinal surgery, etc. I don't know what to think anymore but Mayo in Rochester is working on my case since November but I'm waiting to be seen (hopefully January, per the last lady I spoke to on the phone).

Does anyone have radiology experience? I only have experience with veterinary radiographs (so none, in this case, lol) but my right clavicle does not look to be in place. Here is the frontal view in 2 contrast settings:

To me it looks like my Sternoclavicular Joint is not attached to the sternum on the right side, am I right? I won't see my orthopedic doctor until Monday, and I'm not sure if I need to go to the ER (again, ugh) but it's becoming harder to swallow each day.

Any input is appreciated. My apologies for disappearing from the community but it is rather difficult to type with one hand as I'm sure many of you guys know. :lol: Thank you so much!!!!

 

[Deleted member 16664]

Wow, I'm very sorry to hear this and I also watched some of your video. Although I am not a radiologist, I am a trained massage therapist so I do know/feel what normal anatomy is like. Here is a normal x-ray (with organs labeled for less confusion): http://www.anatomybox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/x-ray-labeled.jpg

I would agree that, as a second opinion, your Sternoclavicular Joint looks out of place from that x-ray. Definitely see a trained specialist to know for sure. Also, from watching your video, your left shoulder looks like there has been a lot of damage to it as it's very elevated. Have you had any work done since your first accident (chiropractor or massage therapist)? I would say judging from your video, I would considering looking into seeing a chiropractor, a therapist specialized in rolfing (excellent for posture and getting very deep into the tissues), and a massage therapist as well. A doctor, too, of course. If you cannot do any of those things right now, I would at least look into trigger point therapy and purchasing a trigger point ball (a lacrosse ball works) to help relieve some of the pain by breaking down scar tissue.

I really hope you feel a lot better!

 

[Red7227]

Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry. I know how much pain your in. I have a similar thing in my lower back, but sadly I'm going to support your current doctors and say its likely spinal.

In my case I have a rotation very low down in my spine along with two ruptured disks. The muscles and and tendons attached to the rotated vertebrae then set up all kinds of muscular issues that mess with my posture and make me lean to one side because the rotation has shortened the tendon and adductor in my right leg. I hope its as simple an issue with you. There is nothing I can do about mine at the moment because of the ruptured disks, but I would love to hear that a chiropractor was able to sort this out for you.

I've just walked around with one shoulder pushed down 4" for about half an hour and now I'm having a little trouble swallowing and and starting to get a pain in in the right shoulder blade.

Good luck sweetie.