TOS is costing me my thesis
 

Hi all,
I have had TOS since birth and several flare ups in my life and I dont't know why now as I've been writing all year and only half way. The stabbing in my neck is so debilitaing adn nothing is really helping. I go to my Chiro and he needles me which takes up to aweek to worka nd excersize made me ten times worse. I love beein gfitt and nee dot do something beside sit and writ my thesis. Any suggestions? I know i haven't gone ito it too much but half the day is gone and I've just registered and written here and need to achieve some writting for the day.:( Bit lonely as well have a partner but he doesn't understand and has his own issues (back pain - which he dosent't really deal with). Life sucks at present..

Hope this forum will help....:)

Which type of TOS do you have? Vascular , neurological, or even pec minor- all or any of those?
Do you have the extra cervical ribs?

Have you had x rays and MRI showing all is fine in the cervical spine areas?

Oh yes, I didn't even think of suggesting voice recognition software for Michelle.

If you have a Mac or Wndows7 it should be included , you just need to set it up and get a good mic.

And as tshadow mentioned Dragon Naturally Speaking is another option.

Michelle - Have you ever had TENS therapy? If you haven't, you might want to look into it, any physician can prescribe it. I actually got started on it with my PT. I have a home TENS unit that sometimes takes the edge off. Back when I was having flare-ups rather than constant pain, it enabled me to get through most tasks. Sigh, I miss those days...
"Life sucks at present." I know how you feel.

Oh, another thing that might be helpful, does the chiro use ultrasound, or LED light therapy or low level laser therapy?

But since you've had TOS since birth it makes me wonder about extra cervical ribs being the problem.

I haven't really had it narrowed down like that but..
 

I have a extra rib and I think it is neurological. Only on the left side. I had xrs and a CT scan ages agoe and the dr's had no idea, wanted to refer me to a psycologist next. Then the chiro diagnosied me. It feels like someone stabs a knife in my neck and then takes it out but behaves like a guitar string buzzing away. I can sit perfectly still and the pain will come but will always come when I do certain things. At the moment it is a over wheming pain that is coming a going every 1 to 2 or 5mins .. not sure I don't time it. But it is hard to mask from others at present as it is bad when it happens and not drugs really affect it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)My Chiro uses needles amd lazer he is very good! I damaged my nerve a few years ago and had reacurrance of my pain for 15 months and finally I got rid of it completly and have been pain free for about 2 to 3 years but it's back niggly at first and then I got rid of it almost. Then did a full aerobic session followed by a pump class the next day and have been in agony ever since. Also I've gone gluten free and trying to limit my dairy as being lactose free in the past has helped.. but not really helping at present been a week and not much has changed.:(

Will look at the voice reconition on the computer..