Subclavian steal syndrome and other insufficiencies
 

Hi, Can you tell us more about these two? What symptoms did you experience? What was the underlying cause(s)? What treatments were tried? How was the diagnosis done?

I ask because I have had some strange symptoms, like getting light-headed when my arm is in a down position. Also, getting light-headed when turning my head to one side (not the other) and even worse if tilted back. I found later that such a head position was used as a diagnostic for vb insufficiency!

After some diazepam, OMT and PT, I'm doing better, but still, I would love to hear from a fellow patient what they experienced with the conditions you mentioned.

tos is subclavian steal syndrome

Nothing I've read on either subject says exactly that and in many cases, documents about one or the other don't even include a "see also" for the other let alone state that they are identical conditions... Is this an opinion then? If so, would you like to expand? If not, would you provide references?

I was firstly diagnosed with subclavian steal syndrome, then they told me it's the same as tos.

Subclavian steal syndrome is often caused by anterior scalene syndrome.

more info on it some of these sites have been recently updated.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/418203-overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subclavian_steal_syndrome

[Subclavian steal syndrome is a relatively uncommon form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in which a blockage is present in a critical location within one of the subclavian arteries, causing symptoms that involve both the arm and the brain. ]
http://heartdisease.about.com/od/les...l-Syndrome.htm

* Looks like it depends on what is causing the blockage or blood slowdown.

Thanks for the info. Were you having problems with lightheadedness/dizziness then? Can you share what tests they used and what kind of doctor?

they just saw my red hand, level up my arm, take my pulse and say it's sss.

But the name is not important, because it's a "syndrome", it mean that we don't know the disease. Only speculation.

You can call it how you want^^

sorry not to answer yet. will get to this soon as I can. remind me if it gets to be too long.

I started out having constant lightheadedness (a woozy, foggy feeling) and nausea, and when I raised my arms, for example, to wash my hair, I almost passed out; then it progressed to full-on vertigo (the room spinning around me sensation). I have bilateral arterial and venous TOS. I researched it and yes, subclavian steal can be caused by TOS. My thoracic surgeon (who will be performing my rib surgeries) confirmed this. This is what I found:

In subclavian steal syndrome, occlusion or marked stenosis are present, usually due to atherosclerosis, of either the subclavian or innominate artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery (VA). The established difference of pressure between the subclavian and basilar artery may lead to a siphoning effect with blood flowing from the opposite VA across the basilar artery and down the VA on the occluded side. This results in a steal blood phenomenon at the expense of the basilar artery, as blood flow is reversed to the ipsilateral occlusion VA, which leads to a hypoperfusion state in the vertebrobasilar arterial (VBA) system and thus vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). in patients suffering from SSS, who developed dizziness, hearing loss or tinnitus, careful neurological examination and follow-up are mandatory in order to prevent other neurological deficits in the VBA territory.

Look at the vertabral artery sx of TOS on this chart -
http://tos-syndrome.com/newpage12.htm

I had all of those early on - Most of them faded away with being off work and PT/DC, self care etc. I think mine was mostly tight muscles/spasm related.
DIZZINESS, LIGHTHEADNESS
VERTIGO, SYNCOPE
DIPLOPIA(eyes/vision double, etc),
DYSARTHRIA, DYSPHONIA, DYSPHAGIA - these are voice, swallowing and another one involving the throat or speech - I looked them up long ago..

My voice still acts up if I talk a lot or sing loud.
Still can mis-swallow if not paying attention...just goes the wrong way sometimes..

I think my problems are like Jo*mar's. When I got on a muscle relaxant, the chronic neck tension came down a lot and the dizzy spells went away.

I still get asymmetrical neck and back tension. I'm working with my PT and trying things like somatics to get my body more symmetrical and relaxed.

It's been too long. ;)

omg, I just typed out a book describing it all, and when I hit post, the system ATE IT.

sorry. will try again another day when I can face doing it all over again.

sorry Winic , did you get timed out on the site???

sometimes you can rescue a "lost" post by going back one page right away and then opening another tab or webpage and re log in on it, then go back and re submit on the first tab/page with the post.

If you can use the remember me check box at the login area that usually helps with the timing out part.

how long is it to timing out? on a different computer so I forgot to click the remember me button, if Radio Shack hadn't trashed my computer on me, I just stay logged in.

going back didn't work. all gone. just as I was hitting the post button I remembered I should have control-c'd the whole thing just in case. use another proboards site as well, and it has random post-eating problems also (not just me, the others on that board also.)

Thanks for the attempt, winic1.

Another trick is to use Word or Notepad (or TextEdit on Mac). These are unlikely to eat or destroy anything. Then just copy the whole thing over.

You can even save to disk if you like, although I haven't found that necessary since these programs are quite stable.

I also find the Chrome browser is pretty good about preserving and restoring my form content.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH............ .................you guys are too computer savvy for me, you are frying my brain.
I have absolutely no idea what language you speak. I'm melting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prehaps I'm just lucky that my posts get sent out?
Best wishes to all out there. TOS won't beat us! xxxx:grouphug:

Hi winic1, Can you share any information about the above?

Yeah....red wine usually works for me!!!!!:rolleyes: