A year ago when I was frantically searching for anyone with a story like mine that was ever cured, I was heartbroken to not really find one. So I am back to post my own story!
It all began 2 years ago as a tiny pain in my wrist. It slowly elevated to a pain all the way up my arm, into my neck and shoulder blades. Multiple doctors, multiple tests, multiple therapies 2 years later, I am pain free!
My TOS began as bad posture and how I held my babies (I have 3) and over time my muscles moved and tightened and shortened or lengthened or whatever they do to compensate for my bad posture which ended up compressing on the thoracic outlet causing me severe pain and limiting my life greatly. I missed almost an entire year of my kids life because I was in pain every day. I went through physical therapy and acupuncture and massage therapy. I took pain killers and nerve pain killers. Spent 1000s of our health care funds. And on top it, I became depressed because who wants to spend every minute in pain?! My birthday is on Christmas and this past Christmas was awful. I couldn't even enjoy my birthday and my kids on Christmas?!?!?!
We first purchased a new mattress as ours was very, very old. and very, very lumpy and dippy and just awful. We didn't buy a super expensive posture-pedic, in fact we went a very basic, firm one. That did wonders right there. I then retrained my body to have perfect posture. It took a long time and I did seek out help from a massage therapist that specialized in posture. I am now happy to say I am very aware of my posture and it's second nature to stand and sit properly. After those 2 things, my symptoms let up some but were still there every day. Then all of the sudden, they stopped. I was sure it was just from the posture and new mattress. We went away on a mini vacation and I left all my vitamins, including fish oil at home that I just started taking about a month prior. After we came back, I fell out of the routine of taking fish oil. And not much longer, my symptoms all came back with a vengeance. I couldn't understand what I did wrong? I poured myself into google trying to figure it out and came across many stories of patients with TOS taking big doses of fish oil a day......and becoming cured from many nerve issues. I immediately popped 2 in my mouth and called my dr to see if it was ok to take 2. These people were taking more than that, but I didn't want to overdose myself. She was fine with taking 2 a day. Slowly, my symptoms decreased. They hung on barely and that's when I decided to lift weights and get my body back in shape. I couldn't even do a pushup without my arm hurting intensely before. I have been "heavy" (I'm still a wimp) lifting for a couple months now and have been symptom free ever since! Something I NEVER thought would happen a year ago. I take 2 fish oils every day and workout 3 times a week. And the added bonus is I finally got rid of the baby weight and fit into clothes I wore in college and highschool! And I have muscles to boot
So that's my story. I know there are lots of you with the type of TOS that does require surgery and I hate that
But for those that do not, require it or want to try alternative methods, I highly suggest fish oil, correcting your posture and lifting weights to strengthen your muscles! I am still in shock that I"m cured. And saying those 2 words, "I'm cured" make me tear up thinking of the constant and chronic pain I was in just one year ago ♥♥♥