Quote:
Originally Posted by rmurphy7978
Hello everyone! I am new to the board. My name is Rachelle and I am a 30 year old female that has been suffering with symptoms since I was pregnant with my son in 2006. It started with chest pain in April 2006 and progressed the more and more pregnant I got. When I was 8 months pregnant I was having HORRIBLE pains in my left shoulder/arm. No one could tell me what the problem was, even after numerous tests. All my doctors where concerned with heart problems, but all tests proved that my heart was fine. The left arm pain never did subside, it wasn't until this May that I finally got a diagnosis of TOS. This was after my diagnoses of MVP, hiatal hernia, GERD, and gallbladder problems, they even took my gallbladder out last September.
Anyways, I am writing this because after I was diagnosed I was sent to physical therapy for about 3 months. I felt "better" but my symptoms were still there a little. I have an elevated left 1st and 2nd rib in which they would "mobilize" it back down. I worked on my posture and strengthening of my left shoulder to keep my ribs down. My therapist d/c me after 3 months because she said she would never be able to cure me and that my only hope of recovery was surgery to remove my 1st rib and scalenes, the thoracic surgeon agreed with her. With having a 2 year old to care for this all seemed a little traumatic. I was pretty much told either have the surgery or live with it. I have been doing okay until recently. I don't know if it is the cold weather or stress but I have been in a lot more pain lately.
Symptoms:
chest discomfort (feels like a tightness across my chest)
L shoulder pain
Neck pain
L bicep pain
Tingling in pinky and ring finger
headaches
fatigue
I am concerned because these symptoms are also attributed to heart problems but I have had numerous testing and consults with 3 cardio's to rule out anything serious (I do have MVP, which I take propranolol for). I can not find anything on the internet though about chest discomfort being related to TOS and no one seems to know enough about TOS to answer any of my questions (I actually work for physical therapists and they all tell me "I don't know"). Has anyone else had TOS as a result of pregnancy? I am so lost and confused, why can I go about 2-3 months with minimal symptoms and then "BAM" get hit again. Sorry this is so long but I don't want to leave anything out. If you want I can post with all my tests I have had done since my son was born to diagnosis TOS/rule out other diseases. Thanks all!!
Rachelle
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Hi rmurphy7978,
I have similar symptoms, please consider the following reason for your TOS.
1. The pains in the chest are due to costachondritis
2. The costachondritis is caused by a costavertebral problem
3. When there is irritation and inflammation at the joint between the rib and the vertebra the scapula stabilising muscles which at this attach at this position will not function properly>> destabilising the scapula>> precipitating pectoralis minor syndrome (hyperabduction syndrome)
4. Chest breathing (paradoxical breathing) which often accompanies TOS can cause GERD and vise versa
5. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can cause
a. GERD problems
b. Breathing problems
6. Pressure on the diaphragm (sitting, being pregnant) can cause chest breathing (paradoxical breathing)
7. Chest breathing (paradoxical breathing) will exacerbate the costavertebral problem
8. Neck muscles which attach to the same inflamed thoracic area will not function properly stressing compensatory neck muscles causing neck and head aches
9. Sleeping (laying ) on the affected ribs will be uncomfortable and exacerbate the costavertebral problem
10. Not having enough sleep and continually chest breathing will cause fatigue
11. Using the arm which is on the side of the costavertebral problem will cause the scapula stabilisers to be continuously irritating the affected area.(stressing the joint)
12. Having a
a. job with over head work
b. job which requires hours of postures with arms out in front (typist)
c. hobby such as musician (continuous stressful arm postures)
d. Sport that stresses this costavertebral joint
e. young child which will not allow one to let the joint to heal or the irritation to subside
can cause the condition
If you focus on not irritating the that joint (it is not easy) you may have an improvement in your situation
Try this site for another understanding
http://www.spine-dr.com/site/alt/osteo_article2.html
Good luck, Towelhorse