Hello,

I was doing some net research on some symptoms that I'm having and came across this forum. As I was reading through some of the entries, I found some of the same problems that I am facing.

I am 50 years old, exercise regularly, and haven't had any significant health problems. I do light weight lifting, play alot of racket sports (Mostly table tennis).

Several years ago, I was diagnosed by a chiropractor with Throracic Outlet Syndrom. I was having some very strange sensations (almost like a tournequet being wrapped around my left arm) and feeling like there was not enough blood flow going down the arm. I also experience frequent shoulder spasms due to a slight spine curviture that pushes against one shoulder and pulls against the other. I also have an inside sales job where I do alot of typing on a computer and make alot of phone calls to prospects (50-70 calls per day). During this first episode several years ago, the chiropractor noticed that she could hardly feel my pulse depending on the position of my arm. After serveral weeks of treatments, the feeling subsided and I forgot about it.

Well now, they are back. I get some very strange sensations going down the left arm into the last two fingers of the left hand. I can recreate the feeling when pressing on the muscle of my left shoulder with a "theracane". Even though my first though is Thoracic Outlet Syndrom again, I worry about Carpal tunnel due to all of the typing, and even MS, since in MN where I'm from, MS is more common here than anywhere else.

I'm going to the doc tomorrow to have him take a look at the shoulder. I may also see a chiropractor to see if any subluxations can relieve some of the symptoms. I don't want to undergo some painful and expensive neurological procedures to diagnose what I think is a simple nerve pinch from too much table tennis, typing and muscle spasms.

If any participants reading this have had similar symptoms or in a similar situation, I'd welcome your feedback. Sorry for the long introduction. Thanks in advance for reading my post and sending me a response.

Best regards,

Ben

Hey, Ben

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I'm not familiar with all the symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Although I've read some in that forum (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome forum) and wonder sometimes if that might be contributing to some of my own problems. They've got some real good documentation ('sticky notes') at the top of that forum. I know a lot of the people that post there. I'm sure if you wander over there and read a little and post a little, you'll get some help figuring out what's up and also some help with coping.

You might also want to pop over to the Spinal Disorders forum and introduce yourself. I have the symptoms down into my fingers (all of my fingers). Sometimes pain or numbness in your fingers follows along the dermatomes (the nerve paths) -- this might indicate a cervical problem.

I worked on computer help desks for years and years. Seems a lot of people who spend hours on the phone in front of computers end up with neck, wrist/hand, and upper back problems. The upper back tension is felt just above the bra line -- even though you probably don't have one of those , I'm sure you can visualize where that would be.

I'm just gonna make a comment here about workplace safety. I'm retired now. But, I can't tell you how many people I've seen that became badly/permanently injured because they felt that they "should" put up with bad working environments. I hope the situation that you work in has an ergonomically suitable desk and chair and computer placement. I also hope that you're using a headset instead of doing the leaning-to-the-shoulder thing with a regular phone handset.

Well, once again -- welcome!! Pull up a chair and stay for awhile. Don't forget to read the historical messages in the forums -- you might find just what you're looking for.

Good luck.

Barb