Hello to all,

I’m here for info on Thoracic Outlet and I hope to get some feedback from those with personal experiences. I understand nobody can diagnose me over the internet, but I am VERY interested to see if my symptoms “closely relate”. I am a 36yo male, slender and tall with what some say is a droopy shoulder posture. I have been a runner for many years.

I have had symptoms of numbness to the right small and ring finger, on and off for a year. It is seemingly positional such as sitting position and most aggravated by sitting at the computer utilizing a mouse. About 3-4 months ago the pain started to go up my arm, affecting the wrist and causing pain along with wrist “weakness” per say. I started with a strong pain in the upper forearm closely resembling tennis elbow. I suspected radial nerve issue or ulnar nerve entrapment.

A few times particular I was riding the motorcycle on a long day trip (cruiser/touring style) when the pain became significant and all the way up my right arm in the triceps, into my shoulder, clavicle and right side of my neck. The pain seemed deep though, located right above my clavicle, under the neck muscle. This lasted for days on end after that long ride. My arm felt heavy and the pain was constant.

This sent me to a Chiro for relief of right sided neck, shoulder, and arm pain. He cracked me twice, a few days apart from each other. I got very little relief and in fact on the second time I walked out of the there with a new pain to the left neck and a few days later began to experience heaviness to the left arm. Since then (3 months now) I have developed numbness, aches, and cramps to my left hand and fingers causing dexterity issues and “perceived weakness”. All the while the right arm continued with positional pain, numbness, and aches as well. I quit riding the motorcycle and stopped all upper arm exercises and the shoulder pain subsided, but the hand and wrist symptoms continue. The arm heaviness is there at times. The finger numbness comes and goes and can be exacerbated with certain shoulder stretching. What gets me the most is the left hand wrist and fingers that ache at times and feel “stiff” or a loss of dexterity per say. Others say I have no loss of strength.

I have had a neck CT scan, MRIs of; Brain, Cervcial, Thoracic, Lumbar spine, all with contrast. EMG/NCV studies to all four limbs, blood work to include Lyme and other “stuff”. All the diagnostics are negative. No nerve entrapment etc. I was told I could take anti-depressant medication and see if this would help. I don’t feel I need that. I’m anxious because I cannot find a reason for my symptoms.

I have started with a different Chiro and also one session of PT with someone who specializes in sports and active release. The session was ok, not awesome, but I will continue.

Does this sound similar to TOS? Hand, wrist, finger numbness with aches and dexterity feelings? Pain up the arm and into my shoulder and right neck at times, almost feeling like it’s under my clavicle? Feeling like I have a pinched nerve, yet studies are normal? This is frustrating.

Thanks to those who will respond.