is my blue thumb TOS?
 

Hi all. I haven't been around in a few months and hope that everyone is doing well.

I'm wondering if this is a symptom of vascular TOS (which I have in addition to neurological TOS) or something else. I am familiar with general swelling of my arm /hand when I walk but now I am getting pain in my thumb on the side that has the worst vascular TOS when I walk for exercise. When I look down I see that the painful spot is dark blue, as if there is a bruise there. I think it is vein backing up at it's lowest point because if I stop and raise my arms from the elbow the swollen blueness and pain subsides. Then there is no swelling but some blueness as if it's bruised remains for several days. I am going to ask my PT about it but I still don't have a current TOS doctor to run this by. I do get hand and fingers pain with the TOS but this is such a distinct issue. makes me wonder. thanks for reading and for any insights!:confused:

fern

It sounds like it could be, since you can effect a change by raising your arm/hand. does the whole thumb area swell also?

If you can make it happen before or at a time when your are at PT, or hopefully any decent vascular, osteopathic or physiatrist should be able to figure that part of it out if you can demonstrate it in the office.

hi,
i have thumb symptoms - on/off tingling and muscle wasteage....but no swelling (thats just my little finger). Im still trying to find a dr who can confirm whether i have vascular or neuro tos (although my pains cons says i have symptoms of both).

this may be of no help but i came across this condition a while ago whilst researching tos -

What is De Quervain's Syndrome?

De Quervain's Syndrome is an inflammatory condition affecting the tendon sheaths (tenosynovitis) that pass over the wrist joint.

The inflammatory response occurs following injury and leads to the symptoms of pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function.

Hope you get some answers soon!

my own experience
 

Hi,
before my rib resection when I used to walk all my fingers inc. thumb would swell up and turn a purple blue like a bruise. They were like fat sausages. Horrible to look at. They settled with rest and the pooling blood went away as soon as I took my arm up a bit and let it decrease in size. I was horrified by this but it did go away after rib surgery. Only happens now in extreme cases of swelling and compression....or if I do waaaayyyyy too much like we all do from time to time!!
hope my experience helps you figure out what is going on with you!!

take care
love and hugs,
Victoria:hug:

Fern, I hope you get it checked out soon! Let us know as soon as you have been seen by your doctor or PT to fill us in on the details ok? :hug:

thanks everyone; it's so good to hear from such wise folks - I've missed y'all. my PT said she would expect a generalized swelling of the hand vs. this very specific spot. she said to get it checked out as it could be a clot. I had been told that people w/vascular compression could "throw a clot" so I am going to phone the local vascular surgeon's office tomorrow and see what they say. the PT suggested to have a doppler ultrasound to check for a clot. I'll check it out and post again when I have info. cheers!

Hi There:

I noticed that in your post you mentioned hands swelling is a symptom while walking? Has anyone else experienced this as well. I noticed it myself and couldn't figure if it is related to TOS.

Thanks.

sunny, hands and entire arm swelling is a common symptom of TOS.

But what I am having now is limited to a vein at a particular location that swells. The doctor said that the vessels are smaller in the hand and that the veins build up pressure when I exercise due to the vascular component of my TOS. He said that the problem in the thumb is caused by a weaker vein engorging and bursting after pressure is built up in the entire arm. He said that surgery is "the answer" and didn't even want to see me to check it out. He said that the vessel walls weaken with age and get easier to burst. I'm going to get some material he suggested at the drugstore to put around my thumb while I think about the surgery (again). I'm just surprised that this is a symptom I've never read about assoc. w/TOS. The good news is that I don't seem to have a clot!

I am a regular walker and somtimes have a throbbing type feeling in my right hand (my tos side) and my little finger looks puffy and fingers go red colour....