jennifer-schwickerath

I remember the pain so well…and my frustration after two visits to the emergency room and still no clear diagnosis. The pain that hit my arms suddenly and with such force that I ended up losing some control in my right arm, which was terrifying. When I was released from the hospital the second time, I was told to take it easy and follow up with my primary care physician if I didn’t fell better.

Approximately a week went by, and at this point I knew I needed to see an orthopedic specialist. I asked for a referral to see Dr. James Latshaw at Orthopedic ONE, since a few of my co-workers had been treated by him and shared positive feedback. That appointment changed everything for me…

After being taken back to the exam room, Matt, Dr. Latshaw’s Nurse Practitioner, listened to my concerns and asked questions about the events that led up to my sudden onset pain. After talking to Matt and Dr Latshaw, I was diagnosed with Parsonage Turner Syndrome. This was a turning point for me. I now had a name for the pain and an explanation!

Dr. Latshaw wanted to see how my healing would progress, then a few weeks later, decided that physical therapy could be of help. Physical therapy ended up being another turning point in my healing! Parsonage Turner Syndrome caused me to lose a lot of everyday functions in my left arm. I could not lift a gallon of milk. I could not lift an imaging plate to take x-rays. I could not pour laundry detergent. When I met with my physical therapist, Chris, I told him my goals and we set out to accomplish them. While challenging, Chris made therapy an overall good experience for me. I did my exercises at home and worked with Chris in the clinic once a week to start, then every other week as I began improving. I completed physical therapy in 4 months and I am pleased to report that I met my goals! I am where I need to be and the function in my arms is at about 90% percent of where they were before I begin experiencing Parsonage Turner Syndrome symptoms.

Due to the nature of Parsonage Turner Syndrome, I still have bad days, but they are fewer. It may take a year to completely heal, or I may never fully recover, but I would not be where I am today if it was not for the team at Orthopedic ONE. I can not express enough appreciation to them for getting me on the road to recovery!

Thank you Dr Latshaw, Matt and Chris!