Armpit pain anyone??
 

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 :)

For the armpit pain, it could be lymph system clogged up.
Some simple lymph drainaige massage might be helpful. There are videos on youtube showing how it is done, or seek out a masasge therapist for it.

Some gentle heat might help too.

Did it seemed like the PTs you went to were skilled & knowledgeable?
What kinds of things did they do for you?

weights, stretchy bands??:(:( not good for most w/tos

Did they do much "hands on" therapy work and/or posture work?

For the hand atrophy -- it might be a specific area that needs to be released, so I hope they aren't suggesting rib resection surgery just as a shot in the dark..
I don't know enough about it.

yes I have armpit pain. It comes from the pec minor and the teres major and minor muscles spasming or being impinged. In my case it may be caused by rib impingement but also just using my arm. It creates aching, weakness and numbness in my arm and pinky. A knowlegdable PT helps and pressure with a ball or a ball on a stick every day and breathing helps too, but mine still happens even with months of pt.

Have you seen Dr. Donohue at MGH-he is highly recomended by others on this forum.

If going the surgical route, it is EXTREMELY important to use a skilled TOS expert. Dr. Donahue might be an option for where you live.

I do not have a clear diagnosis yet but yes, one of the things I have experienced is sever pain under the arm.

I would routinely try position myself over the top of my partners knee in order to press down into the armpit area.

It's is probably relevant to note that at the time I was also experiencing alot of pain in the pec minor and in my arms.

As those pains lessened so did the pain under the arms.

do anyones arm pit(s)
feel RAW

like i can touch the fascia, muscles around there and it is always raw feeling and stuck even tho its not spasming, this tenderness goes into my triceps. its constant.

also do your lats hurt..like where it gets near the armpit

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.

Ditto here. Except that lots of PT work both in the office and at home, and reducing stress, have eliminated 95% of my armpit pain.

have had the left arm pit pain before and after surgery. I am two months out from surgery and still get the occassional pain/ache in the armpit.

is armpit pain usually a pec minor issue

and those of you that are having pain post-op..thats from rib/scalene surgery right?

is pec minor surgery pretty painless? im getting desperate :(

I had armpit pain, and from my understanding it's from the pec minor. My doctor told me that it can go hand in hand with TOS, and more women than men have the armpit and chest pain. I am 2.5 weeks post op, and had the pec minor release, first rib resection and scalenectomy. The pec minor tenotomy (release) for me was painful, and probably more debilitating than the rib resection in my experience. There are stretches you can do and manual therapy that a PT can perform to try to release this muscle, too. It is widely reported that the best outcomes for PT are those that get treatment at the onset of symptoms and from a well informed PT that has a greater understanding/experience in what's really needed to treat TOS successfully.

I had pec minor surgery and it was no big deal for me. I went sight seeing the next day and then caught a plane back to california. I still get armpit pain sometimes ---- pec minor surgery offered no improvement for me.

what about pec minor surgery without rib/scalene involvement? this is what i have

or just really really bad post injury neuropathy

does anyone know if p minor would effect the median nerve distribution more or ulnar..

I will be having the Pec Minor Release, Scalenectomy, and Rib Resection in January. Can you tell me how your recovery went, also what to expect after surgery?

Thanks.

I am almost 3 weeks post-op, and still having pain, which is expected. I started PT 2 weeks post-op. I was given nerve gliding stretches, and the pec minor incision was massaged during my post-op PT visit. It wasn't too painful, and actually felt pretty good, as there is a lot of tightness. The pain from surgery varies from person to person, but one thing I was quite surprised with was when I was being admitted, each person that would come in told me how painful this surgery was and how much I would hurt afterwards. Their reason was so I wouldn't be overwhelmed when waking and surprised. I've had several other surgeries including two c-sections so I was no stranger to pain. I can tell you from my experience the pain was tolerable, but I also had a Morphine PCA pump so I could press the bolis each time I wanted extra meds. I was also given a combo of Toradol, Tramadol, Zanaflex/Tizanidine, Ibuprofen (800mg), and Zofran/Phenergan for nausea on top of the morphine drip that was spread out throughout the day. This combo really helped to manage the pain post-op while in the hospital, although I would still say the pain was between a 5-8 most of the time. The average stay is around 3-4 days depending on your pain levels. Once you can get off the PCA and remove the IV, and manage your pain through oral meds, the sooner you will be sent home. The hospital was very serious about making sure the pain was manageable before removing the IV, and offered to give extra meds through hand IV if I needed them. Make sure when you come home to set an alarm or ask your spouse/caregiver to do that to keep the pain med schedule on time. If you oversleep, you may wake in a lot of pain. You will need pain medicine as directed for the first two weeks most likely. I also had trouble opening the pill bottles so my husband would do that for me. One thing I had a problem with 7/8 day post-op was constipation. I had started colace day 3 post-op, but I wasn't eating too much, my appetite was very poor, however, I couldn't "go", ughhhh! No fun when you are hurting already. I added Miralax, plum juice and Magnesium asportate, and all was well again :) I also took vitamin D3, too, only because I have a Vit D deficiency so I take 4000 IUs daily to keep levels up. My doctor firmly believes in getting up to keep the chest open, which does help with the stiffness you feel. Just walking around the house several times a day (assisted at first if the meds make you woozy). Drink lots and lots of water; it's very important to stay hydrated with all the meds and for good recovery. I still fill up my hospital mug and refill many times a day. Eating things that are light on the tummy will help, but try to stay away from empty carbs. Protein is a great source as well as fruits and veggies. One very important thing I forgot to mention is the spirometer. It is to be used every hour for the first week or so to make sure you do not get air in the lungs which could mean getting a chest tube or worse pneumonia. It's very important to suck/blow into this to make sure your lungs are fully expanding. They will xray your lungs before surgery, in recovery and in your hosptial room for the first 2 days or so. I had a small pneumo that was discovered in recovery, however it wasn't an issue the next day - all clear. It is painful to use the spirometer at first, but don't let that stop you. You do not want to develop complications :) The respiratory therapist will give you a goal to reach for, and check on you during your stay. You will most likely be on a low-fat plan while in the hospital, but all my choices were still good, and honestly I didn't have much of an appetite. I was up walking the halls the next day, and by day four was up walking the hall circle 6 times before I left. Moving as much as you can, does help recovery, but there's a fine line to overdoing it; your body will let you know. Of course no lifting, just walking about. You will have a JP drain about center between both incisions. It's a tube inserted to drain excess fluid off the surgical area. The gown they give you will have a pocket to place the small bottle that collects everything. I was released on day four, but had to keep the JP line in until the following day. It was removed at my surgeon's office. I have an adjustable bed, which really helped a lot while sleeping. Lying flat is not recommended. If you have a wedge for your bed, it will help, or maybe even sleeping in a recliner might be most comfortable. As far as clothing, you will not be lifting your arms over head so button up shirts or something you can step into and pull up will be best. I am still not wearing a normal bra because it is too painful for me. I bought the really loose bras that are similar to a sports bra type, but not tight at all, infact, I bought it two sizes bigger to be sure it was loose. Also, the racerback ones will not be comfy, at least not for me. I'm not sure if you have a Kohl's, but that's where I bought mine. I know this seems a bit all over the page, so very sorry for that. I am sure there's more I have left out, but those are the points I can most think of now. Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask more questions if you'd like :) Best of luck to you in January and hoping for great results for you :)

I did not have pec minor work with my surgery, as dr Donahue felt it was not needed. Still need to take it easy. But as he said, my condition probably brewed for 10 yrs, so I need to accept a long recovery time. Armpit pain is coming less frequently. It is difficult to force oneself to be still and basically unproductive for weeks..

Where are you in California?
 

Have you tried really good PT ( specialized CFMT)? My Pect Minor pain has resolved after scar tissue mobilization, myofascial release and really good PT exercises. Where are you in California? I greatly improved with Art Ando's physical therapy in Anaheim hills and now I am seeing a specialist in Northern California who has been really good too.

I just want to add that in my case really specialized PT (CFMT) who understands TOS well has been able to help me with even 2 year old scar tissue issues and some even older than that from previous surgeries. And it is still worth finding a specialized therapist even for old stuff. If they are highly specialised they can break down the old scar tissue too as long as they can reach it.

i wonder if i have scar tissue in my arm pit or if it's just a really really tight p minor..with exertion my arms swell, its really subtle tho

Hi STOS,what kind of therapy does your other therapist do? My armpit muscles subscalpularis, and teres are always tight and is hard to get it them to stay relaxed even when I do the ball exercises every day and still going to Art or James once a week. It definately contributes to my arm and pinky numbness. As soon as I get on the computer it comes back. Marc said the Graston technique worked for him. I am looking into that.

Thanks for the info. Definately helps to hear from someone that is going thru it. So are your symptoms improved from before surgery? I am still very anxious as this is a major surgery and I have never had any major surgeries before. So I am just trying to get as much information as possible before it gets here.

I know exactly how you feel. It is scary, and does make one very nervous. Having children and a family to take care of as well makes it all the more stressful, not knowing how your body will respond post-op. The time for recovery and how soon you can do light day to day things is so dependent on the person, their injury/symptoms, surgeon, and factors out of your control.

My symptoms were completely gone in my head, neck, jaw, and shoulder following surgery. I had slight tenderness in my front/top forearm and tingling/numbness in the very tips of my 3rd,4th and 5th finger. About 8 days post-op I started getting muscle spasms in the pec minor incision area and upper traps. This caused pain in my upper traps, arm and wrist to return. My doctor said PT would help with the muscle spasms and tightness, however, I am starting to get more of the old symptoms returning. I'm hoping next week will be better with therapy 2x's, and keeping my fingers crossed this therapist can help me. He is a new physical therapist I haven't been to yet so the jury is still out if he is a good one. If I am still in this much pain end of next week, I will be contacting my doctor for a follow-up visit.

Being the sole supporter of my family of 5 and having my surgery 3 months ago...the best advice I can give you is make sure you are prepared for the worst recovery but hope for the best. I have no more upper neck pain but am still having nerve correction issues from the surgery as well as trying to find a comfortable balance of medications. Research your surgeon as mentioned previously. I have regrets myself about jumping into the surgery too soon and not visiting other surgeons. I was just ready after 4 years of pain to be done. Recovery can be a tough road. Be prepared and feel comfortable both mentally and financial about the decision. I ended up staying out of work an extra month and due to FMLA about to run out had to return to work but and on a reduced schedule from 40 hrs to 30. Take care of yourself and listen to these wonderful people on the board and take it slow.

QUOTE=Thankful for Hope;936704]I know exactly how you feel. It is scary, and does make one very nervous. Having children and a family to take care of as well makes it all the more stressful, not knowing how your body will respond post-op. The time for recovery and how soon you can do light day to day things is so dependent on the person, their injury/symptoms, surgeon, and factors out of your control.

My symptoms were completely gone in my head, neck, jaw, and shoulder following surgery. I had slight tenderness in my front/top forearm and tingling/numbness in the very tips of my 3rd,4th and 5th finger. About 8 days post-op I started getting muscle spasms in the pec minor incision area and upper traps. This caused pain in my upper traps, arm and wrist to return. My doctor said PT would help with the muscle spasms and tightness, however, I am starting to get more of the old symptoms returning. I'm hoping next week will be better with therapy 2x's, and keeping my fingers crossed this therapist can help me. He is a new physical therapist I haven't been to yet so the jury is still out if he is a good one. If I am still in this much pain end of next week, I will be contacting my doctor for a follow-up visit.[/QUOTE]

hi jkl626,

My other therapist here is also a CFMT and I basically start with peter's breathing exercises as some of these are breathing muscles, then do all of Art's exercises which mobilizes the front ribs and side of the ribs, except she has added one more with the yamuna ball where you hold the ball close to your breast bone (kind of left or right of the sternum where the rib attaches to the sternum) by standing against the wall and mobilise that area before you mobilise the pects with the ball. then again do peter's pinky ball exercises to mobilize the back ribs.
She works on my pect minor sometimes and sides of the rib cage which i believe Art also does. She has been mobilizing the nerves along my arm, since i had elbow pain earlier. She works on the scar tissue in my neck. i think art knows all of this except i have had scalenectomies and scar tissue issues while you havent had any surgery so our issues are a little different. i go to her twice a month now. hope that helps.
good luck

who did your pec minor surgery? and the test? was it Dr. Sanders or Thompson? did it not improve it at all?