Undiagnosed symptoms since March 2018
 

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a while now and it seems like there's a bunch of fantastic and smart people here.

Last year after a big move across the US. I became very stressed, starting a new job etc. The job had me doing a lot of repetitive motions out in front of me on a touch screen and it was a very busy work environment. I first developed an issue with my upper trap that felt very tight and a lump in throat sensation. Then I started to get pain under my armpit when I tried to pull my shoulders down. As time went on symptoms got worse, I had a terrible bad feeling in my right side chest which I know realise was my pec minor. I get a lot of shoulder blade pain and grinding.. winging scapula, cold hands, etc.

Like most of you my saga is probably too long to go into all the details in one post and I don't want to bore anyone. I'm just here for ideas and support. I have a feeling this is undiagnosed nTOS. I don't typically get the numbness tingling like a lot of people describe. For me it is typically coldness in the hands, and tightness in the chest, neck, and pain in the shoulder and down the arm.

I currently am doing PT twice a week. They have done a fantastic job so far of releasing my pec minor with massage and dry needling techniques. Right now my neck is extremely tight and that is what I'm going to have them turn their focus to.

I notice when my neck is really tight I get that lump in throat feeling, I also notice a bump right about my collarbone, not sure what that is, and I get weird popping feelings in my ear.

I just don't wanna be alone going through this because nobody really understands. I have had a head & neck CT with contrast and I should be getting an MRI and nerve conduction study in the next week or two. I feel like nothing is going to come up and the doctors are just gonna send me right back to PT. Which I am okay with. I would just like to get a diagnoses so that I am not treated like a crazy person with terrible anxiety..

Hope someone can relate...

Thanks.

Most likely the testing will be non productive , unless it shows an extra c rib or other anatomy anomalies..

Check out our sticky threads.. the trigger point & PT info will help you get the best and faster results..
If your PT doesn't know about any of the listed things below.. find more knowledgeable PTs.
no use staying with someone that can't help you fully heal.. waste of time.. and the wrong PT CAN make you worse...

things to ask about-
top rib mobilization -- (for the lump or stuck in throat feeling)

manual trigger point release - need to check for TrPs & resolve them- can't fully loosen muscles that have a trigger point in them

forward head/shoulder posture - weight of head forward of center line puts a lot of strain on the neck & upper back muscles

follow up with home care PT suggestions
and these are very simple home things to try-
https://www.neurotalk.org/members/100-albums422.html
I also got a IFc stim - Amazon has many 100.00 - got mine 2006
Chiropractor used IFC stim, low level laser, hands on trigger point & top rib - plus the regular adjustments.. I was having major upper body muscle spasms at that time..

lots more in our TOS sticky threads..
Our site search for specific keywords will save time for you..
https://www.neurotalk.org/search.php

also look up lymph drainage info or videos for that full/puffy pec minor feeling you can do it your self.. or ask PT about it..

I think testing & getting a DX only matters when you are getting into the serious stages.. IMO best to focus on healing & avoiding that stage..

Explore all the info as best you can in our stickies, even the older posted info can lead you to find new information.. then you will have the knowledge to find your best treatments & care providers..

Really appreciate you replying Jo*mar. I guess I don't really care if I get a TOS diagnosis at this point. More so just want to rules out anything more sinister ya know? I'm fairly confident what I am dealing with is TOS caused by repetitive strain and terrible posture from too many video games over the years. I'm only 27, but I've literally put countless of hours in infront of my computer etc. I've only really experienced probably for a little less than a year so fortunately I feel like I am somewhat ahead of the curve.

I am grateful to have you guys as a resource and I will try to be helpful with anything I learn as well. So far my PT is focusing on strengthening my back to pull my shoulders back and stabilize my shoulder blades. They do a lot of work on my pec minor, massage, ASTYM, ultrasound and dry needling, tomorrow I am going to ask them about loosening up my neck muscles and mobilizing the first rib.

I'll keep in touch with you guys as I progress, and I say progress because I am trying really hard to keep a positive attitude!

Anything I should try to avoid? I know some people avoid neck stretches and stuff. Should I avoid neck stretching until I get my neck muscles loosened up? Anything else to look into adding/avoiding?

Thanks again :)

I guess my question to you is how long did it take for you doing your conservative therapies did it take to see real improvement? I know every case is different but I would like to have a gauge so that I can manage expectations and stay patient. I will probably make another thread on this topic as well so we can all get a better idea :)

For me it took about 2+ yrs to get back to 80% and not working..
My version was from repeated /chronic RSIs and coupled with forward head posture/strain due to work postures & uses.

This TrP sticky thread has my past symptoms linked & updated in post #32 -
https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-o...rps-short.html

I had to deal with work comp rules & delays & they tried to keep me working w/ restrictions while having PT and then going back to work.. there is very little work you can do with a "no hand use" restriction.. even daily living activities at home & driving to work becomes an issue..LOL
So finally they couldn't fit me in at work ,so was off work and had time to study all this stuff..

But I got the best results after I googled & found this group long ago, and educated on all things RSI & then TOS and therapies.. professional & self care..
*1 hr of PT 2-3 times a week does not offset 40 hr week of accumulated issues.. *

So you must do the home care stuff A LOT..
opposite postures arms /head forward? work on arms & head back not forcing it gentle stretching
Sharon Butler has a lot of RSI/TOS info on gentle stretching - Repetitive Strain Injury Self Care
do not force damaged muscles into a stretch .. not good..

I try to do the home stuff at least once - twice a day 5-7 days a week depending on soreness. My back actually gets sore because I'm waking up these muscles and making them work, so I NEED rest days. I've decided my rest days will be my PT days since they basically just beat me up or stick needles in me lol. I do feel this is helping albeit super slow and costly!

This is likely a work related incident for me but I never put 2 and 2 together and now I'm at a new job new agency.. so it's kind of pointless for me to go down the WC route... You have a lot of good insight and I appreciate it. Are you able to work now? I try to constantly be more aware of my posture while at work and in every day Life, but I think I may just have to make a career change in the near future. Another terrible thing is using the cell phone, always looking down at them, it's terrible for TOS I believe, and will probably add to the amount of cases we see.

My PT was working on me today and she found several large TrPs in my levator scapula and trap areas. I think they are going to be putting more focus on those for a while. They have really done a great job at releasing my pec minor but as you probably know.. you release one and another pops right back up. The good news for me is my actually symptoms and pain down the arm aren't really going over a 4 on the pain scale without meds so I am very happy about that. It's the 7-8 where I really don't want to leave bed.

Anyways. Thanks a lot for the information, you have given me a good bit of homework :-)

I started getting TOS symptoms after a shoulder injury in May of 2019. I did have 14 years of bad posture working in front of a computer for 8 hours a day (and probably some more playing there too) working against me. I became bilateral from stress, nerve sensitization, and tight muscles.

Its taken 10 months of PT and massage, but I feel normal for most of the day now. Using the computer is still problematic if I don't watch my posture and take breaks, but its getting better. I responded poorly to stretching and direct massage of the scalenes. The thing that helped me to loosen my neck was to strengthen my back and deep neck flexors, be more mindful of my posture, and to use a lacrosse ball to massage my back and traps. I also pinch the edge of my trap to remove trigger points there.

I'm hoping that in another 6 months I don't have to be quite so mindful, but I guess if the worst thing that happened to me is that I now have to take good posture and mind my health, it's probably good for me in the long run!

I think everyone should follow this advice. Rest and inactivity is probably not the answer! Thanks for sharing.