Please also check the very interesting contribution of JennyHurts of 09-30-2008 at http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=54603. My left side of the face is actually swollen and this is also coming from lymphedema. My PT did some very useful massage today and I got some relief for at least a few hours.

"Your lymphatic system drains right through the thoracic outlet (thus it's called an "outlet"). So, all that junk from your head that should be heading down into your body to escape, gets trapped at the outlet because of your compression. I know ALL about this. This seems to be my latest *big problem.* I keep getting sick, and NOTHING drains, so I stay sick. And then all that junk that sticks around creates just enough of a swelling in the area to not be noticeable visually, but to put enough pressure on the area to flare up the TOS even more, which then causes more blockage at the Outlet. It's really a downward spiral." by JennyHurts. Thanks!