Originally Posted by ElyseHart

Thank you for all the advice and support. I have an appointment with my vascular surgeon on Monday. I need to go back over these posts and write out my questions to ask him. At the top of my list is this statement from Marc, "I hope everyone can learn from my experience and find someone who can truly evaluate the source of their TOS and design a proper plan for therapy so we aren't all stuck trying to run through a brick wall with fruitless stretches and exercises." I don't know what the source of my TOS really is other than it was caused by an auto accident where I had side whiplash so badly I was knocked unconscious.

I do know I have arterial compression on the right side which was confirmed with two separate doppler studies. An EMG showed no compressed nerves. I don't understand this. If I don't have a detectable neuroma, why do I have pain? Can a compressed artery (only in arm elevated positions) cause so much pain?

My vascular surgeon said all PT would be a waste of time and said only two exercises have been shown to help - shoulder shruggs and push-ups. However, a top notch hand surgeon and a second vascular surgeon said that PT is a must to keep things moving and and to strengthen the muscles around the scalenes so they are not doing all of the work.

I wish I knew the root of the problem. I see others don't always know at first either.