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  • mrheac
    Participant
    Post count: 2

    Dr. Coleman-
    I was recently told that I may possibly have Parsonage Turner Syndrome. I began having left shoulder pain that radiates down my arm and causes heaviness and numbness, especially into my index and middle finger. With certain positions, the numbness can go into the ring and pinky fingers as well. I do not have pain in the posterior shoulder, only anterior, and currently no thumb pain or numbness.

    The pain began two weeks after being diagnosed with an infection in the left parotid gland which was treated with an oral steroid. The sports medicine physician I saw for my shoulder believes the infection migrated into the shoulder and caused the PST.

    I did test to have weakness in the rotator cuff muscles, deltoid, and grip, but my bicep/tricep and wrist extensor/flexor muscles were fine. He did not order scans yet as he wanted to see if any changes occurred over an additional two week period (I saw the MD two weeks after the shoulder issue began, and four weeks following the jaw pain.)

    Does this sound like typical PST? I am a massage therapist and it is difficult to work currently with this issue. The shoulder problem came on quite suddenly, but there was no specific injury. I work with OT’s who have done some taping of the shoulder, but would love to know if there are other treatment options if this is indeed PST.

    I appreciate your opinion on if this fits PST diagnosis, as well as options for treatment.
    -Mindy

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    It is possible that you developed Parsonage Turner Syndrome (PST) but you do need to be ruled out for a radiculopathy. Does moving your neck back (extension) but keeping your arm still cause increased symptoms?

    I generally order a cervical MRI to look for foraminal stenosis when a question of PST is raised. Also, an EMG 3 weeks after symptom onset can help to rule PST in or out.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    mrheac
    Participant
    Post count: 2

    Dr. Corenman-
    Thank you for the quick reply. Extension of the neck does not seem to increase the symptoms. The doctor I saw stated that if the symptoms did not improve over a span of a couple weeks that he would consider doing an MRI, CT, and/or EMG.

    Again, thank you for a quick reply and giving me some things to consider.
    -Mindy

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Please keep in touch to let us know how you progress.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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