sunny, hands and entire arm swelling is a common symptom of TOS.

But what I am having now is limited to a vein at a particular location that swells. The doctor said that the vessels are smaller in the hand and that the veins build up pressure when I exercise due to the vascular component of my TOS. He said that the problem in the thumb is caused by a weaker vein engorging and bursting after pressure is built up in the entire arm. He said that surgery is "the answer" and didn't even want to see me to check it out. He said that the vessel walls weaken with age and get easier to burst. I'm going to get some material he suggested at the drugstore to put around my thumb while I think about the surgery (again). I'm just surprised that this is a symptom I've never read about assoc. w/TOS. The good news is that I don't seem to have a clot!