Several questions about pain in neck and shoulders from car accident/thoracic outlet syndrome?

Question

In Jan. 2005, I was in a head-on collision deemed the fault of the other driver. They have $20,000 injury insurance and my medical bills to date total slightly more than that. I have until Jan. 21, 2007 to settle or file a lawsuit. I am still in pain after several months of physical therapy and one surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. I've had all kinds of tests done, and the only thing anyone can come up with is TOS. The surgery fixed the tingling on the side I had done, but now my hand gets cold and my shoulder and neck hurt when I use them a lot or stand for any longer than 15-20 minutes. I don't want to do the other side because the side I had done has some adverse side effects. Is the pain ever going to go away? What's my next step? Do I talk to more doctors or do I accept that I may hurt forever? Is future pain worth anything in a lawsuit? Is it worth hiring a lawyer or should I try to negotiate a settlement myself? Anyone have good results with alternative medicine?

Answer 1

I HAVE LEARNED, NNNNNNNNEEEEEEEVER HAVE SURGEY, UNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTIIL MY DYING BED!!!
Doctors, ALL of them, DON'T make MONEY unless they CUT!!
I was in a car accident back in '86 where my left shoulder was partially seperated, and I was bruised ALL the way down my left side!! I went to an Orthopedic Dr. then, and SHE said, honestly, "You weren't seperated that bad, and you just need excercises to get the soreness out, etc."
TEN YEARS LATER. I was in a bar, watching the Olympics, I have to use the BATHROOM (bear with me, it brings me to what you need to know), and I'M BLEEDING like CRAZY! I run to the Emergency Room, and am STUCK in ICU for 3 DAYS and NIGHTS, UNABLE to get out of bed!
When THAT was OVER, myCarpel Tunnel Syndrome, went CRAZY, i thought!!
I wasn't just having pain in my left hand anymore, MY NECK, and SHOULDER were KILLING me, in PAIN! I went to a hand specialist, and he gave me a list of neck excercises to do, even thought he said,"You have Carpel Tunnel!" I didn't believe this guy, so I went to a Bone Dr., who said that I have Thoracic Outlet, TOO!
I started doing those neck excercises, and MY NECK PAIN CLEARED UP!! (I still get pain in my left arm, and shoulder though some. But, I got a TENS unit, that you can get a prescription for, to improve THAT dramatically!)This ONE excercise in particular helped me. I lay down on the bed, or the floor, face up; bend my knees at about a 45 degree angle; lay them downn bent to one side at a 45 degree angle; look to the oher side; and put the arm to the side you are looking at aboutt a 45 degree angle. It STRETCHED my NECK after doing that to each side, for about a month, every day, and IT'S FINE now!
But, do excercises, and get a TENS unit presciption from A bone dr. THEY HATE TO DO that BECAUSE they can't CUT you if you have ALLEVIATED pain!!! GET THE TENS unit!!

Answer 2

you may eventually become accustom to the pain