Brachial Plexus Injuries and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Tim Kennedy is certified as a specialist in the practice of Workers' Compensation law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Section on Workers' Compensation Law as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

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The space between our collarbone and first rib is referred to as the "thoracic outlet". There is substantial bunching of nerves -- the "brachial plexus" -- in this area, along with crowding of muscles and blood vessels. Certain injuries can cause your collarbone to slip down and forward, putting these structures under pressure and resulting in signifcant and disabling symptoms, referred to together as "thoracic outlet syndrome." Typically this occurs when the shoulder muscles in the chest cannot support the collarbone in its natural position.

Other sorts of mechanisms can also result in pressure upon or damage to the brachial plexus, resulting in symptoms of neck pain, shoulder pain, arm or hand pain. Brachial plexus injuries can also cause pain, numbness, or tingling on the inside of the forearm and particularly in the fourth and fifth fingers of the hand, as well as in other nerve distributions of the arm and hand. Weakness related to a brachial plexus injury may make your hand clumsy so that you have difficulty with simple grasping or fine manipulation, as well as other tasks with the hand and arm. Inflamation or compression in the area of the brachial plexus can also reduce the flow of blood in such a way that you may suffer swelling and redness in your arm, or even reduced blood flow into your arm and hand so that they may feel cool and easily become fatigued. Overhead activities make the compression worse and are therefore difficult. You may note a depression in your shoulder, or swelling or discoloration affecting your arm, and your range of motion may be limited. Doctors may also look for a winged scapula, suggesting that certain muscle groups have atrophied due to deficits in the arm caused by a brachial plexus injury.

Unfortunately, brachial plexus injuries are difficult to prove and difficult to cure. While such injuries may have a very substantial on the nerves of the involved upper extremity, even mimicing or making worse conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, patients who have suffered injury at the brachial plexus level cannot expect to recover fully when surgery or other treatment is addressed only to another level of the nerve. Surgery at the brachial plexus level itself is rarely pursued, largely because the risk to surrouding structures and nerve groups outweighs realistic hopes for a favorable surgical outcome.

Meanwhile, these injuries are almost universally disputed by workers compensation insurance companies. They may rely on EMG testing or even clinical examination findings from insurer-referred doctors to contest the diagnosis of a brachial plexus injury -- specifically because many EMG tests and most insurance-ordered clinical exams are not conducted in a manner that would confirm the presence of a brachial plexus level nerve injury. While a truly complete EMG and nerve conduction test will often identify such an injury, a less detailed study will often allow an insurance company operative to claim such injury has been "ruled out." Much depends on a claimant's clinical presentation, but the complex nature of these injuries and the overlap of symptoms with other nerve injuries often allow the insurance doctors to attack the injured worker simply on the grounds that he or she makes complaints of symptoms that simply appear too broad, or involving more than one specific nerve dermatome. Insurance doctors tend to conclude that the more broad an injured workers' complaints, the more they can attack them as false.

If you have been diagnosed with an injury affecting the nerves of the brachial plexus, it is almost certain that the involved insurance company will dispute it and reject that diagnosis, and very likely attempt to deny or downplay your claim.

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS:

I had a serious work related injury. I hired Tim after speaking with him and feeling completely at ease with his professionalism and demeanor. My case became complicated over time. Throughout the process I always felt that Tim had my best interest in mind. With every phone call or email, Tim was very informative and proactive, always explaining things in a way I could understand. He worked hard for me in his dealings with my employers insurance company. He did this so much so, the insurance company actually fired their own attorneys in the middle of litigation. In the end, Tim was able to negotiate a substantial settlement, including taking the burden off of me of an excessive amount of unpaid medical bills. I would highly recommend Tim.
                - B (Workers Compensation client)

"I" truly, Love / Respect and Appreciate - "Attorney: Timothy James Kennedy" for, his (highly, professional / unselfish {going, above and beyond} / highly, dedicated) approach in working with, me / my, un-fortunate circumstance(s) and my (unfortunate), legal dilemma... and, will (with; every, opportunity) be highly, recommending his legal services to (all) family / friends and strangers found in-need of such, ser-vices!!!
"Attorney: Timothy James Kennedy" is (not, only) a, true professional -He is a, loving / caring / sharing human being who (not, only) cares about his, cases and reputation; but, cares (also) for the lives and the families of those he so-caringly and so-humbly, represents!!!
He will (always) be appreciated and will never - ever - be, forgotten. "I" (on, behalf of myself and my, family) appreciates the fact that, He was willing to stop-by and become, "The Good Samaritan" in our, lives!!!
                - Michael (Workers Compensation Client)

Timothy is a really great lawyer. He knows what to do, and how to handle really sticky situations. When I first came to him, I had very little to back me up, but we mainly him lol pulled through and got the job done with GREAT results. If I could back in time I would still pick him as a lawyer 1000 times more. He took his time, talk to me like I was a person and not a dollor sign, and made lawyer jargon understandable english for me. I truely felt comfortable with him handling my case, and I never doubted him since the very first meeting. I also like that he gives his personal direct number to get in contact with him whenever you may need him, and he always responds if not that same day, the very next. The only bad thing I would have to say is its a shame I would have legal trouble to work with him again lol.
                -Trina (Workers Compensation Client)

Highly knowledgable in the law with excellent people skills..I highly recommend Mr. Kennedy.
                - Current Workers Compensation Client

As these testimonials reflect, we work very hard to satisfy our clients and to ensure the best results in handling their claims. Call us now to let us explain how we can help you advance your rights and interests, so that you too can become a satisfied client.
                -Tim Kennedy
                (484) 453-8144

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