Neurological symptoms with TOS?
 

Has anyone suffering from vascular or neurological TOS experienced neurological symptoms along with symptoms of TOS, such as dizziness, vertigo, and tinnitus?

Does TOS in any way affects the blood supply to the head, which in turn might cause these symptoms?

I'm asking this because 6 months before I started to see vasc/neuro TOS symptoms, I had such neurological symptoms as episodes of vertigo and tinnitus in one of the ears. Also, when working with both arms up I would feel dizzy. I went to a neuro who diagnosed me with vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

I still have these symptoms now. Does anyone relate?

Yes, I have had and still at times have these symptoms. I know that in my case, when my subclavian artery gets compressed, my vertebral artery stops flowing causing dizziness. The ear problems I believe are caused by the scm and other tight muscles.

I had a lot of those - I had a bruit sounds and not tinnitus, bruit is the swooshing pulse sounds - I get them when my scalenes/SCM get tight
here's a chart showing more-
http://tos-syndrome.com/newpage12.htm

For 2 years since my TOS symptoms started I'm having sudden tinnitus in one of the ears (never in both) for less than 5 seconds, along with partial hearing loss. I'm not sure anyone has had that or not.

Anyway, in the page Jo*mar gave link to, there are VERTEBRAL ARTERY symptoms listed. Are these symptoms because of neuro or vascular TOS, or both?

My TOS is vascular and neurogenic. I was having dizziness in physical therapy after doing stretches/exercises with my arms raised. I also started experiencing occipital neuralgia and TMJ pain. I later developed ear pain that I originally thought was simply ear infection (I used to have chronic sinus and ear infections). I insisted on antibiotics from my Dr. even though they saw no evidence of ear infection. Of course, the ear pain continued.

My clinical exam showed both neurogenic (left greater than right) and arterial (right greater than left) TOS. I had an MR Angiogram which showed narrowing of the subclavian veins in the hands-up position (left greater than right, complete blockage on the left).

The ear, TMJ, and occipital pain seems to have disappeared on the left side after I had rib resection surgery two weeks ago. I still feel the ear pressure on the right side. I will be having surgery on the right side in 3-4 weeks.

So yes, I believe TOS affects the blood supply to the head, which in turn might cause these symptoms.

Ditto what brmr19 and nospam said. I have had these symptoms as well.

Reducing neck tension by whatever means and shoving my rib down, reduces these symptoms for me.

yes, yes, yes ---- it's all from the tos. I used to get all that stuff too. I was so stubborn about not wanting to quit my job (HEAVY computer use), that I was using my feet for controlling the mouse and had a button in my mouth that I would click to simulate clicking the mouse. I ended up getting TMJ issues. Bottom line, when the neck is tight and muscles in major spasm, it effects the upper extremities, including the face, ears, eyes, tmj, etc. (IMO). Also, when my neck was bad, my left eye (my bad side) used to twitch like a stripper's butt in Vegas.

So glad those days are behind me.

It was my eye doctor who first suspected I had vertebrobasilar insufficiency. This was before my left side became symptomatic with the vascular symptoms about 4 years ago. I have the dizziness, vertigo but not the tinnitus symptoms that you mention. I am hoping that by having the surgery, these other symptoms dissipate.

Like nospam, the symptoms seem to be brought on when I lift the arm up overhead. At times, my cardio workouts seems to trigger the symptoms, too. The right side does not trigger symptoms but the rib was removed 8 years ago and that side is still doing good.

On the left side, my vascular studies have progressively worsened over the years (pre and post-left sided TOS).

The eye twitch was crazy. That stopped after surgery, but I still get tingling in face at times. There still is some issues on the surgery side, but I will ask the doc when I see him in a couple weeks. The main problem is the scm. When I use left arm, I can feel the left side of neck tighten then the symptoms start.

Does anything from https://www.google.com/search?q=scm+massage help?

I have this strange episodes of dizziness that lasts for a few seconds and are brought on by sitting in a certain position on a chair, such as at the edge of the chair. This mostly happens during summer season when it is hot.

Once I was straining my neck to look closely at the monitor when I had a vertigo. My arms aren't raised above my head when this happens. There is no nausea associated with it.

Has anyone felt like this?

Yes. It use to happen all the time with me prior to my first surgery. I still get it every now and then. I know I can not cross my arms in front of me because that will bring it on.

When my neck was really tight, I would get this when turning it to the side. Particularly turning it to the right which stretches things out on the left which is my worst TOS side.

I do gentle neck mobilizations and stretches every morning, plus some other things, to reduce muscle tension. This fixed the problem by > 90%.

I had the surgery on the left side with scalenectomy. My left side of neck is still tight from scm. There is no perfect solution for everyone.

it stands for sternocleidomastoid muscle

I would never push and/or suggest surgery for anyone experiencing TOS or symptoms which replicate "TOS" on a forum based upon YOUR outcome.

In my experience, I have read thousands of forum posts pre and post op. Even though it would be wonderful to declare a surgery "successful" weeks and or months following the procedure, it is not possible. The number of recurrent problems I've read is disastrous in the patient population.

:deadhorse:

Limoges remind me ,did you have scalenctomy surgery only? If so what was the dr's reasoning? And was he going to be able to take the rib out if necessary? I am interested in scalenectomy only if possible. I am starting to see the 3 surgeons here in L. A. starting next week, Only one is covered by my insurance though so I may have to travel. How is your recovery going?

Long timers around the forums have seen past battles over drs ( what dr is best or worst) :( and surgery pros and cons... we don't want that to happen here ever. It just creates tension for everyone reading..and that is not good for any of us.
Those old posts were lost in a major system crash on another site.


*Sometimes it is best to use the PM system for specific questions or comments.*


We also need to be polite about hijacking, or going off topic on another member's thread.

I'll bump up the original post to get back on track.

bumping up for more replies re: dizziness, vertigo, and tinnitus

Lately my dizziness has become frightening.

I have episodes of this strange kind of what looks like a dizziness but is not exactly a dizziness or vertigo, where it feels as if the vision and head is being pulled towards the left side. I especially get this feeling when walking slowly (taking a few steps). There were times I almost fell when I had episodes like this.

I am afraid that if this being caused by incomplete blood supply to the head, especially the vestibular region of brain, then it might cause TIA or even stroke.

Please go see a vascular specialist for doppler ultrasound and/or angiogram.

FYI, I was privileged to watch a dear friend have a surgery to remove a tumor wrapped around her jugular. The surgeons slowly stopped the blood flow to her brain on 1 side... then SENT HER HOME for 24 hrs prior to surgery!!! :eek:

Just thought you'd feel better knowing that the brain has miraculous recovery systems and backup systems to keep you alive. The Brain re-routed blood from her good side to the rest of the brain while surgery was done on the opposite side.

Still.... I suggest going to your Dr and having stroke ruled out.

I'm having these kinds of neurological problems since 2 years, when I had a doppler test on the arteries in the neck and based on the result I was diagnosed with vertebrobasilar insufficiency. 6 months later I had mild symptoms of vascular and neurological TOS (blood pooling in lowered hand, tingling in the scapula region when sitting in slouched posture), but I didn't know what it was at that time.

8 months ago I had brain MRI and MRA (without contrast) and it did not show anything.

Just 2 months ago symptoms of neuro TOS worsened a bit, and that is when I learned about TOS for the first time. I then went to a vascular surgeon who did not diagnose me with TOS when I mentioned it to him.

It is for this reason I'm wondering if there is a connection between my neurological symptoms and TOS.

If this is happening because of TOS, then I will have to worry about the TOS problem and nothing else.

Sure sounds like my TOS: tintinitis, blood pooling in hands, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, even have the twitching eye thing.

it can be a 100% TOS connection, or a combination of TOS and another issue (your cervical?)

You need to see a vascular MD ASAP and describe these symptoms. I know from personal experience it can be hard to remember everything during a medical appointment when you're dizzy. Write this all down and hand him/her a copy. And take notes during the appointment.

Why ASAP? Do you think it could be something serious? You've got me really worried now!

I think this is why we are suggesting you get more testing, just to be safe and sure it isn't something serious.
:grouphug:

Yes, I think these are serious symptoms. But I also think you knew that.

Have you seen a vascular MD? Did they run any tests?

I had similiar symptoms, I constantly felt like I was passing out. When the subclavian artery was being compressed, my vertebral artery stopped flowing completely. This is not a good thing and you do need to have it checked.