Swimmer-possible TOS
 

Hi all! I was wondering if any of you have gotten TOS from swimming or another repetitive-motion sport? I'm a swimmer, and I've been getting the symptoms of TOS for YEARS but I never thought anything of them (I just thought that my arms were relatively weak!)

Last week I was doing kick at practice (with a kickboard, with my arms completely extended in an overhead position i guess) when my shoulder started to hurt a bit (my physio says I have a restriction in my shoulder, possibly from glenohumeral or from TOS), then my thumb started hurting like NO OTHER, then a few minutes later my pinky, ring and middle finger went numb and the underside of my wrist/forearm went tingly. So, obviously, I stopped doing the kick and started swimming because I find that moving my shoulder around helps with the pain. Well, not only did the pain in my shoulder hurt when my arm was above shoulder-level, it almost made my cry and right above my collarbone started to cramp up. This has been happening on and off for a few years, and it always somehow starts to heal itself.

This time, though, even just moving my arm into that position hurts to the point of not being able to swim, and I can't kick since that hurts too, so pretty much my training has stopped. I went to a PT and she said that it's very likely I have TOS, i have tightness in my quadrangular space, and probably a restriction in my neck t-spine.
Just for some history, my hands go numb, tingly and cold from being raised above shoulder level for more than 20 seconds. Squats with a barbell are a no-no.

Have any of y'all experienced this or know what to do about it? It's just really depressing because my shoulder really seriously hurts, and I'm afraid of what would happen if I pushed it too hard. My PT said that pushing through the pain too much (and taking Advil before practice, which I'm not supposed to do) could lead to permanent nerve damage.

Any suggestions on exercises or pain relief? I ice and heat my shoulder as well as using Voltaren Emulgel and ibuprofen after practice, and I'm trying to make my posture better....

Hi there, and welcome to the forum!! Although I am not a competitive swimmer, I do, or did rather, enjoy swimming laps nearly every day. Until, I developed the same symptoms that you're describing. Please go to the introductions thread (last page) and read my story. I did not have nerve involvement so much, however, I did also have numbness in my ring and pinky finger, the bottom of my hand and wrist, etc. Then over time, it seemed that the numbness encompassed my entire left hand.

Lo and behold, I have arterial TOS. My left subclavian artery was 100% compressed when my left arm is raised over 90 degrees in any direction. Hence, why I sold my motorcycle- think about how the arms are positioned on the handlebars, why I sold my manual car (couldn't use my left arm comfortably enough to hold the steering wheel while shifting with the right hand..) and why swimming, painting, doing my hair and just about any other activity that raised my arm became so incredibly combersome. Come to find out further, I have the exact same condition on the right side as well. Go figure, surgery will be next year if I can hold out that long.

I am now just over two weeks post op and doing wonderful. They cut out over half of my scalene muscles and 2/3 of my left first rib. Turns out my ulnar nerve was wrapped up in my median scalene muscle. my rib, clavical and scalene muscles were cutting off my artery AND my subclavian veins. For the first time in a very LONG time, I have a PULSE in my left wrist when my arm is up at 180 degrees. Amazing.

TOS is common in swimmers, ball players and folks with either bad posture or folks with a nasty combination of the above. Many who have TOS have a cervical rib as well. I didn't. As I mentioned, I'm no longer an athlete, though I am on top of my game in terms of fitness. Before surgery, ANY repetative motion set off the symptoms.

Get it looked at and go from there. We're all here to help, so ask questions!

Good luck,
Jocelyn

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I was thinking it sounded like blood flow issues to me too.

this website is down tonight but maybe it will be working when you check back here later on.
It shows a simple few tests a Dr or PT should know how to do, that will help to sort out if TOS might be a possibility for you or not.
One of them is something you can do on your own.
a small % of "normal" folks do lose pulse like this too - but will not have TOS or TOS like symptoms...