Quote:
Originally Posted by Lava1222
Hi guys! I am new to the forum. Thank you all for taking the time to post about your experiences since I do not know anyone in person who has been diagnosed with this.
I have had symptoms of TOS for over 8 years, but never knew what it was. After seeing two upper extremity orthopedists for more than 4 years and having every test you can think of, I was finally referred to PT to help alleviate my symptoms with the diagnosis of "hand pain". It was the therapist who first recognized my symptoms as a potential TOS diagnosis.
I had never even heard of it before! I was then referred to an orthopedist at Mass General who specializes in TOS. I was officially diagnosed by him as he told me I had all the appropriate symptoms and findings on exam. I tried PT for 7 months without improvement. The next step I am told is the OR for a first rib resection because my left hand is unfortunately beginning to atrophy. I had a second opinion at Brigham and Women's by a thoracic surgeon who also agreed and was concerned about the atrophy in my hand. I am getting a third opinion next month because I want to make sure I am making the right decision since surgery seems rather scary.
Anyway over the past many years my symptoms have been left hand pain, numbness and tingling along with pain in my left shoulder blade, pec and the left side of my neck. However just over the past few days I am experiencing awful, aching pains in my left armpit. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I am just wondering if it is related to the TOS or if something else is going on.
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.
Lisa  |
Hello,
I also have had the armpit pain, so that is not uncommon. I am 6 months post-op for my left side. Went back to work, lasted only 10 days, and had to quit. Still not quite back to where I was before I returned to work. But still, steadily progressing and the left armpit pain is gone, for the most part! When neuroplasty work is done (removal of scar tissue from the nerves), the healing process is very slow. I will take a year to recover. I get the armpit pain on the right side if I do too much work with my right arm. I intend to get the surgery done on the right side by next spring. Dr. Donahue also told me that the lymphatic system is probably not getting the right signals from our compressed nerves, which can give us pain that we cannot attribute to the nerves.