United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

pec transfer update.
Physio was going really well and the shoulder was stable and relatively pain free (which after year was a huge relief) so 9 months post op I was coping very well. However early this year the pain started again and to cut it short yesterday I saw my therapist and explained the problem. After she took some comparative measurements it was noted that the shoulder had rolled forward and that at rest the scapular was sitting in the wrong position (some 50mm out form my good side) so 10-15 minutes and a lot of pain later the muscles where loosened up felt awful really painful but necessary. So now I need to focus on only a couple of exercised to try and maintain the correct scapular position, hurts like hell today feels very bruised.
james

Hi, am sorry to hear your "story". I have a winged scapula, and am unable to raise my arm more than 90 degrees. I do not have any pain, which I am very appreciative of, however I was in excellent shape. I did group exercise classes with weights, spin class, yoga, and pilates. I am still able to do most, but have very limited rom and cannot do most shoulder, and chest exercises. I went to an orthorpedic doctor, and had an mri of my shoulder, and emg testing. both were normal. I had a massage and the next morning I woke up with severe pain and within weeks "winged scapula". The ortho doctor told me I would get better on my own within 6 mos. It has now been 8 mos. and I am still the same. I do some particular exercises, I've tried 5 accupucture treatments and 2 chiropractic treatments.

Yesterday I was on Dr. Nath's website and he does decompression surgery, and from what I have read I most likely have a long thorasic nerve injury. I see you do not believe in surgery, but I do not want to live like this if it can be resolved. I have been waiting, but feel that it will never get better. I am waiting to see what Dr. Nath thinks after reading my medical records I sent to him yesterday.

Have you heard of anyone getting this surgery? You can read his information on drnathwingingscapula.com

Thanks, Sincerely, Sandy

Hi Jean.
I have a ws which started 9/05 the next morning after a massage. I woke up in a lot of pain which went away in a day or so, but then noticed weakness, unable to raise my arm above my head, and the winging of my scapula. I do a lot exercise, weights, spin classes, yoga and pilates. I went to an orthopedic dr. and had an mri or my r. shoulder and emg tests that were normal. I have a few exercises they gave me, but I do not notice any change after 8 mos. The 2 dr. said I would get better on my own in 6-9 mos. I am getting less hopeful, and it really bothers me because of my limited range of motion and inability to do my regular workouts. I found a website yesterday for Dr. Nath and he does the decompression surgery. This is the first I've heard about it, I have sent him my medical records and am going to see what he says. I have not been to a neurologist, but what I've read I believe I have a long thorasic nerve injury. I'm like you I do not have pain, but I am really bothered by the inability to raise my arm up over my head, and loss of strength. Any more questions please respond. Thanks, Sandy

James and Sandy,

Please read my post from March 6th. Paul St. John, a Neuromuscular Therapist in St. Pete, Florida cured my winging scapula and over 4 years of chronic pain in just 10 treatments. I went to specialists all over the country who gave different diagnoses and didn't know what they were talking about. Paul's number is 727 347-4325. He has trained therapists all over the country; so even if you can't get to St. Pete you can call his office and ask Marybeth to get you the name and number of someone near you.

I lost 4 1/2 years of my teenage years and now, at age 17 have my life and my health back again and it feels so good!

Good luck
Heather

This message board has been so helpful. I too have a winging scapula which causes great pain when lifting above my shoulder and like many other participants I have seen many doctors who have not seen this condition before. About 3 weeks after the birth of my son (c-section) I developed extreme pain in my right arm. I could not move it above my shoulder at all and then found that I had a winging scapula. I had an EMG that showed an irregular reading of my long thorasic nerve. I was clinically diagnosed with parsonage turner syndrome and am told that it may never go back to normal. I have been living with this condition for 18 months and am looking for any advise for treatments or options. If anyone has any suggestions please please share.

Any updates with this condition?

I guess I had missed this topic. I never would have guessed there were so many (at least long ago) who posted to it.

I have winging on the right. Doctors think it is related to BPN, but there is no proof I have that- it is just a guess. Winging is an odd beast. It can be caused by BPN, or by direct trauma of some sort directly to the long thoracic nerve. How do you pin it down? At one point I believed mine was caused by BPN, but now I am not so sure. At one point they said it was from muscular dystrophy. I see Heather and maybe a few others also had that misdiagnosis. Anyway, I wanted to add my 5 cents (inflation) to the group about this, since I deal with it daily, no matter how little my doctors seem to care about the debilitating nature of it, or the ultimate cause.

James, are you still out there? I remember asking you about this in 2005.

I wish I had something better to report. I had the pec major transfer in December 2005, and my shoulder got worse after the surgery.

My scapula wings about the same as before the surgery, but it has shifted a little to one side from the grafted muscle pulling on it. I can't stretch the pec major any more, it drives me crazy. I spend all my free time lying down with my left arm overhead, trying to stretch it. My left shoulder is so sloppy that my arm loses circulation easily, and I have to wake up a few times every night to move it around with my other arm.

If there are any new winging scapula patients reading this, I would suggest avoiding surgery/PT/Doctors altogether. The best thing you can do is rest that shoulder and hope for the best.

Hi All...

Did my own physio at home for my winged scapula.
Stand in a doorway. With the back of your healthy hand and your arm placed by your side.Keep your arm straight. Position yourself parallel with the doorway about 6-8 inched away from the wood. Raise your arm & kleeping your arm straight-pressing the back of your hand into the doorway and hold for the count of 10. Do a set of 5 to start. Each day increase by a few. In no time flat, you will be tightened up in your scapula area.

With Peace & Light
Mardelle