Age: 46.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: Muscular weakness, Nerve injury, Neuralgic amyotrophy, Pain in extremity, Vaccination complication
Clinical narrative: I developed Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS)/ idiopathic brachial plexopathy in July 2021 shortly after receiving the Moderna covid vaccine.  Parsonage-Turner Syndrome also referred to as idiopathic brachial plexopathy is a rare neurological disorder characterized by rapid onset of severe pain in the shoulder and arm which may last up to a few weeks and then is followed by wasting and weakness of muscles (amyotrophy) in the affected areas.  Parsonage-Turner Syndrome is only reported on an average in 1.64 per every 100,000 people.  Even though the rapid onset of PTS occurred three (3) months after I received the second dose of the Moderna vaccine which is still shortly after vaccination, my neurosurgeon feels the cause of it was viral, possibly caused by the Moderna vaccine, especially since I have never had any trauma to my brachial plexus, and additionally an MRI of my brachial plexus revealed nothing resulting from any trauma nor any masses in my brachial plexus region.  An EMG test confirmed idiopathic brachial plexopathy.  When I saw my neurosurgeon for a follow up appointment on November 23, 2021 the doctor stated he was more convinced that my condition is Parsonage-Turner Syndrome.  Vaccinations are known to be a trigger Parsonage-Turner Syndrome.  It has been documented that some individuals who have received either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID vaccinations have contracted Parsonage-Turner Syndrome.  When I asked the neurosurgeon if I will recover the doctor stated ?not 100 percent?. In a letter from my neurosurgeon dated December 3, 2021, he specifically wrote ?The association of vaccinations and Parsonage-Turner Syndrome is well established?. When I saw my neurosurgeon for another follow up appointment on January 4, 2022, he referred me to see an orthopedic specialist also trained in peripheral neuropathy to assess my condition before he considers sending me to the clinic.  When I saw the doctor on January 28, 2022, he stated that my ulnar nerve is shot, and stated my median and radial nerves were also damaged.  He also stated that treatment for my condition is beyond his personal level of expertise. Ultimately, my current medical condition has resulted in me being unable to use my service issued firearm, unable to use a collapsible steel baton, and unable to handle handcuffs.  Therefore, I am unable to fully serve as a law enforcement officer and I feel my current medical condition could possibly result in me having to medically retire form my current position as the result of the Moderna covide vaccine, especially since I have been advised by multiple medical professionals that I likely won?t fully recover. Below is an inconclusive list of simple things that are now very difficult for me to do due to my current medical condition:   JOB/CAREER RELATED HARDSHIPS caused by current condition   1. Gripping my service firearm with dominant left hand (very detrimental to full time job career) 2. Shooting a firearm with dominant left hand.  Cannot squeeze trigger with my left index finger.  (Very detrimental to full time job career, as I can?t just alternatively use my weak hand, because if that hand gets injured in a shooting, then I have no hand I can shoot with.  Extreme safety issue) 3. Keying the mic on a radio with dominant hand (very detrimental to full time job career)  4. Gripping, holding and swinging collapsible steel baton (very detrimental to full time job career) 5. Handling of handcuffs (requires full use of both hands, very detrimental to full time job career) 6. Typing with dominant left hand, cannot spread fingers apart with left hand(detrimental to full time job career) 7. Writing with dominant left hand (required ability in my job) 8. Gripping anything with my dominant left hand (can?t handle packages up to 50lbs with only one adequately functional hand) 9. Pinching with dominant left hand (can?t handle packages up to 50lbs with only one adequately functional hand) 10. Picking anything up with my dominant left hand (can?t handle packages up to 50lbs with only one adequately functional hand) 11. Making a fist with my left hand (essential function for self-defense in law enforcement profession) 12. Bending thumb of dominant left hand (essential for using service issued firearm, baton, handcuffs in law enforcement profession) 13. Doing OK sign with dominant left hand (another obvious indicator that I am unable to perform any of the above stated essential law enforcement functions with my dominant left hand) 14. Touching thumb to any fingers with dominant left hand (another obvious indicator that I am unable to perform any of the above stated essential law enforcement functions with my dominant left hand)                                                                                                                                                           SAFETY HAZARD HARDSHIPS caused by current medical condition In addition to above listed articulables already listed, the additional below articulables are a safety hazard for myself, fellow officers and the general public as well:   15. Opening and closing screw on lids with dominant left hand (safety hazard to myself and others if involves hazardous materials in the course of my duties as a law enforcement officer, also a safety hazard to myself and others if it involves hot liquids and/or foods for obvious reasons) 16. Opening and closing snap on lids on containers with dominant left hand (safety hazard to myself and others if involves hazardous materials in the course of my duties as a law enforcement officer, also a safety hazard to myself and others if it involves hot liquids and/or foods for obvious reasons) 17. Operating headlight on/off knob on automobile with dominant left hand (obvious driving safety hazard as switches are on left side of steering column) 18. Operating switch  to adjust mirrors on automobile with dominant left hand (obvious driving safety hazard as switches are on left side of steering column) 19. Cooking with dominant left hand (stirring with spoons, using spatula etc, this is a safety hazard because need to stabilize pots and pans with opposite hand while stirring and flipping food, not to mention I can?t even stabilize pots and pans on the stove top) ALSO A FIRE HAZARD!!! For obvious reasons. 20. Tying shoe laces (inability to do so is a safety hazard for obvious reasons, also requires full use of both hands) 21. Cutting food with dominant left hand (requires both hands as involves stabilization with opposite hand and I cannot stabilize with my dominant left hand either, slippage of knives and forks can cause injury to myself and/or others, not to mention eating is an essential function of life) 22. Stabbing food with fork with dominant left hand (Therefore I can?t stabilize food to even attempt to cut with my right hand, not that I can cut with less dominant right hand anyway, slippage of knives and forks can cause injury to myself and/or others, not to mention eating is an essential function of life) 23. Holding plates with dominant left hand (dropped plates = scattered broken glass) 24. Holding drink glasses and bottles with dominant left hand (dropped glasses and bottles = scattered broken glass) 25. Cutting a piece of paper with scissors with dominant left hand (slippage of such a tool can cause injury to myself and/or others) 26. Using a cork screw on wine bottle with left hand (slippage of such a tool can cause injury to myself and/or others) HYGIENE RELATED HARDSHIPS caused by current condition   27. Using nail clippers trim fingernails and toenails with dominant left hand (obviously I can?t trim fingernails of my right hand with my right hand, and using teeth to bite down on clippers is a dental hazard not to mention NOT hygenical) 28. Opening plastic bags with dominant left hand (using mouth to stabilize bags to open them ISN?T hygenical) 29. Opening wrappers with dominant left hand (using mouth to un-wrap wrappers to open them ISN?T hygenical) 30. Holding Q-tips with dominant left hand to clean my own ears 31. Brushing teeth holding toothbrush with dominant left hand 32. Wiping my rectal area with dominant left hand after bowel movement (very important hygiene wise.  This should speak for itself) 33. Washing my left gluteus maximus cheek entirely in the shower with wash cloth with dominant left hand 34. Shaving holding razor with dominant left hand 35. Combing hair with dominant left hand 36. Household cleaning with dominant left hand 37. Washing dishes with dominant left hand 38. Buttoning shirts and pants with dominant left hand (Getting dressed concerns hygiene) 39. Folding laundry (keeping laundry clean and folded concerns hygiene, also requires full use of both hands) 40. Ringing a towel/wash cloth with dominant left hand (concerns hygiene, also requires use of both hands) 41. Folding a towel with dominant left hand (keeping laundry clean and folded concerns hygiene, also requires use of both hands) ESSENTIAL LIFE FUNCTION HARDSHIPS caused by current medical condition Eating and drinking are essential life functions, and the following hardships pertain to such:   42. Cutting food with dominant left hand (requires both hands as involves stabilization with opposite hand and I cannot stabilize with my dominant left hand either.  This makes eating difficult.  Slippage of knives and forks can cause injury to myself and/or others. 43.   Stabbing food with fork with dominant left hand (Therefore I can?t stabilize food to even attempt to cut with my right hand, not that I can cut with less dominant right hand anyways.  This  makes eating difficult.   Slippage of knives and forks can cause injury to myself and/or others. 44. Holding plates with dominant left hand (makes serving meals to myself difficult) 45. Holding drink glasses and bottles with dominant left hand (makes serving meals to myself difficult) K9 HANDLER RESPONSIBLITY HARDSHIPS caused by current medical condition My dog is a working K9 Search and Rescue dog for a non-profit search and rescue group; therefore my ability to take great care of her is essential!  My medic al condition makes the following essential tasks difficult:   46. Brushing my dog with dominant left hand 47. Cleaning my dog?s ears with dominant left hand (requires full use of both hands) 48. Putting wax on my dog?s paws (requires full use of both hands) 49. Leash handling (requires full use of both hands) 50. Suiting up my dog to prepare for working  HOBBIE RELATED HARDSHIPS caused by current medical condition   50. Tying fishing knots (requires full use of both hands) 51.  Handling fishing rod and reel (requires full use of both hands) 52.  Casting a fishing rod (requires full use of both hands) 53.  Car topping my fishing kayak (requires full use of both hands) 54.  Inflating a paddleboard 55.  Handling paddle on paddleboard (requires full use of both hands) 56.  Rolling up a paddleboard after deflating it (requires full use of both hands) 57.  Gripping handle bars of fat tire bike with dominant left hand (keeping control of bike          requires full use of both hands) 58.  Throwing a ball for my dog with dominant left hand (inability to grip=inability to throw)   OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE NICE TO REGAIN assuming I recover    59. Crumbling a piece of paper with dominant left hand 60. Holding onto a piece of paper with dominant left hand 61. Using a can opener with dominant left hand 62. Turning a door knob with dominant left hand 63. Pulling on a door handle with dominant left hand 64. Operating the on/off switch on lamps with fingers of dominant left hand