This week I have been suffering more than usual in the form of severe stiff and painful neck with pain along the back few inches of my skull.

It feels like my head is actually swelling, and a feeling like something inside may burst.

I don't want to go to ER - I find it to be an added problem rather than help.

But, I do watch Mystery Diagnosis and I am surprised to find similar symptoms with a VAST variety of causes. One case that seemed identical to TOS turned out to be calcified lymph nodes located in the thoracic back. A thoracic CT showed the problem.

Another case, with the pain and numbness in hands, high pain and head aches, turned out to be "cavernous angioma" which is where small blood vessels burst. This was diagnosed by Dr. Andre Metzger of the Southwest Neurosurgeon Association in Phoenix, AZ.

Another similar case turned out to be a rheumatological disease of the discs which would ultimately cause freezing of joints (not a symptom of TOS actually) and that was diagnosed by Dr. Steven Magid, rheumatologist in New York City.

I still feel, but have no evidence, that I have TOS along with a rheuma / immunological disease process, as the swelling and intermittent all-over HIGH pain does not jive perfectly with TOS. Yes, it could be RSD or fibromyalgia caused, but I still wonder if someday, some astute doctor will actually look at my CTs, MRIs and / or do some testing that will show an additional illness.

God bless, feel free to comment.