anybody have a suggestion for me? i have a terrible amount of burning above and below my elbows. It seems to follow multiple locations around the arm as opposed to just one pull. it's much worse w/use of my arms and lasts throughout the day and into the night. It's gotten really bad the past few months.

I'm ready to try some new PT but I still haven't found an MD. And when I ask I'm referred to a pain clinic or pain doctor but still haven't found one that recognizes or knows about TOS. A recent MRI showed some new compression on the nerve roots that may also be contributing but it feels more like the TOS. (I do have some levels of degeneration in my neck as well but that problem is a long standing thing that in part led to the TOS.)

I did start the Sharon Butler program again (never made it past week 2 before....that's all my body could handle) and I'm amazed how tight my upper body has become. I'm using meds and a few topicals and avoiding the computer but I'd like to find a way to work the burning sensation out or at least decrease it's severity.

thx,

fern

Can you check out some local PT places and ask them if they have any advanced PTs that you can meet with or have an evaluation with?

I found that some of the more experienced PTs will have a good idea of what Drs might be best. I learned this after the fact.

So if a PT place seems good and has some dr names for you to try, if you need to have a Dr to Rx the PT then try one of the drs, basically to get the PT rx... and go from there.

I found it's better to not call it TOS or thoracic outlet syndrome, they may know it by another name.
Or just call it a chronic problem with { name major symptoms}

maybe call it a chronic upper body musculoskeletal problem

I had lots of tension from spasmed muscles pulling on my elbow and wrist joints, it stemmed from the upper back & neck muscles and trigger points in them too.
my elbow pain was more sore spots where the tendons/muscles attached with lots of puffiness.
the wrist just was very tight and cracked on movement.

Finally with some really good PT and trigger point I did at home and Butlers stuff got rid of most of that tension.
I found my chiro after most of that problem was resolved, but if anything starts to flare up he can usually take care of it if I mention it at the next appt.


I've been noticing much more restrictions in my whole body , like it's just under the skin, most likely fascia restrictions I think.
so I pulled out a beginner yoga cd and did some of that this morning.
I warmed up with Butlers torso twists.

I can do most of the yoga poses, but really do feel pulling/restrictions so i think i need to stick with it. I sure can't bend or flex as far as the people on the cd..

fern, the best thing you can do is nerve glides, learn them and do them just as often as you possibly can. it is just like flossing is for the teeth. get ur therapist to show u, but until then maybe u can use my descriptions below.

i just copied this from another post i did way back:

feet shoulder apart, knees slightly bent.

the waiter - arms at sides, palms face forward. bend both the elbows and the wrist and bring hands up until you are in a position to be holding a waiters tray. (then reverse this and do it again)

tennis elboe - arms straight ahead, make fists with palms down, rotate so palms are up, rotate so palms are down, bring arms down. (bring them back up and start over)

scalene - one arm hangs down. bring other arm up to the side, that hand is a fist pointing down, rotate it (fist) to point (the knuckles) up, bend the wrist up, and tilt the neck away from the up arm. rotate wrist down, lower arm. switch arms.

do all these really slow. dental floss for the nerves.

Jo*mar is sooo gooooooood.

We'll have to make a pact to do something of the morning, Jo*mar. Wanna? I've been slacking There's an Hawiian Yoga instructor on in the early a.m. She's good. more fluid in movement and softer touch. I'll try to find her the next early morning I'm up and about and get the name of her program to pass it on to you.

Just keep trying with the yoga. Next time try to go a little farther. Do what you can; don't worry about what you can't. cat/cow is always good.


well, fern, a few little things that's helped my arms were realizing I needed to keep my arms, hands, neck, scalenes, yea upper body fleece warm. It cuts down on the pain. I just that was why I needed the heating pad and hot showers. Heating pads can cause swelling on a microscopic basis. I've found arm socks in various forms. they work well.

LED and infrared light therapy pads have helped tremendously.

Trigger point therapy - Jo*mar can POINT you to the right link for that if you ask her.

Less irritating your neck and TOS. I had to give up a lot. God takes care of me in spite of my fool self. Lots of travel with my job. I couldn't drive over 45 minutes without problems, so I avoid that even today. I've found work locally that I didn't have before the MVA. I thank God for that. It just happened that way. I give up the joy of the phone. Don't know about you fellow TOSers but holding that receiver up to my ear is a problem, so I don't do that very much. Got a headset on ONE phone. What about all them other phones conviently placed around? oh, well... don't like it; like pain less.

Hair dryer on a stand.

Kinesio taping helped me with ADLs (activities of daily living)

Laser hair removal (for dark hair) so I didn't have to attempt shaving.

Lidoderm 5%. You numb me an I'll move.
(they have flector now -analgesic +anti-inflammatory) might be worth a try.

Celebrex, OTC Tylenols... took way to many... don't want to know the liver results. Had to do what I had to do. Could've been a lot worse. Suggest reevaluation of your pharmacological regimen. What I done for 1 to 2 years changed from time to time.

Water... inhale it like a fish.

Good nutrition. Not asking for much, am I?

do it for the rest of your body too.

ugh... bring other arm up to the side, that hand is a fist pointing down

didn't quite get that.

in the useful sticky thread both posts # 8 {have nerve glides info} & #18 {a mix of articles & video links}
a couple of trigger point sites listed in #1

the scalene one - ur hands are fisted, but if they weren't the positions would be

arm is at side, palm faces hip, slowly raise arm to horizontal out to the side, rotate arm so palm trys to face up, when u have rotated as far as u can, bend the wrist so the fingers go up, then start to slowly lean head to opposite shoulder, bring head back up, and reverse everything u just did till the arm is down facing hip. switch arms. 10 reps ea side.

if u can't get arm all the way up go as high as u can

I can't "do" anything but occasionally walk, soo,

for another possible help,

Lidocain patches (if you have insurance or medicare) are really good for that burning elbow or the knots we get.

I did phone a few PTs and ask for suggested MDs again. I am going to see a wmn neurologist who is supposedly nice and understanding even if she doesn’t deal w/TOS. Next step is a diff physiatrist if that doesn’t pan out.

I do use Lidocain patches but so far only on my neck, shoulders and upper back. I will try them on the elbow and also look into the lidocain crème. I did try the “Voltaren Gel” and also their patch but I don’t use them much as I was told that they deliver the NSAID into the blood stream and that it would be necessary to lessen the amount of oral medication I take-as I am v. sensitive to NSAIDs.

BTW-I use some interesting topicals. One is a an Asain anti-inflamatory and analgesic salve that smells like menthol that I bought from a Thai massage school and the other, more obtainable is Sombra warmtherapy. They will send you a free sample of both the warm and cool one I think at http://www.sombrausa.com/

I am starting the nerve glides. Thank you for listing them and for pointing me to the stickies. I had been doing the ones I got fr Peter Edgelow but I like that I can do these w/o lying down. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to not have to lie down to do an exercise. (It may just be me.) I see that Sharon B. has one called a “forearm twist” where you sit on a bench and place your palm as best you can flat next to you, fingers racing away fomr the body.. Then you rotate your elbow to the rear.. It sounds kind of strange and is way into her program but I can see that there are several exercises I can incorporate.

Yes, not holding the phone is key for me to avoid a lot of pain and burning. And not driving much too. I do v. limited Yoga and one thing I learned fr a Yoga teacher was to stand and lean a bit to one side; then lightly swing that hanging arm like a pendulum, first in one direction, then the other. The other thing I do is to stand and lean a bit and then shake out that arm. This is v. helpful to temp. ease some of the tension away and I do it several times a day when my arms feel cramped or during attempted exercise like Qigong.

Where do I get a hairdryer stand?
Where do I try the LED and infrared light therapy pads?

TShadow, FYI when I take a stroll my elbow pain often does work itself out temporarily. So walking, even limited can offer several benefits. I hope it may for you as well.

Thx again for all your suggestions. It gives me a sense of control to have things I can attempt on my own!

infrared light therapy -
http://www.google.com/search?q=infra...ient=firefox-a

I'm sure some of these sites will having pricing info
some natural/homeopathic drs or therapists might have infrared light therapy available to see how well/if it works for you.

No Rx is needed to buy - infrared light therapy, LED light therapy, EMS {muscle stim}.
Rx needed - TENS, Low level laser, IF stim

differences between electronic stim devices-
http://vitalityweb.com/backstore/Muscle-Stimulator.htm

I don't know of any walk in stores than carry these items and you'd see a much better selection & comparisons online.

amazon is good for price checks and comparison, reviews