[lithographica]

I guess I'll first start off with a little bit about myself.

One day about 6 years ago I noticed I was developing a feeling of tightness in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. That night, I laid down to sleep and was wracked with enormous pain in my right shoulder, as if someone stuck a knife in me. I went to the hospital and had some x-rays done but nothing was really found. I was given some pain patches and after a week or so the pain went away.

So I thought. For the past 6 years I'll be fine most of the year but about once or twice in the year I will experience tightness in my neck and chest on my right side, making it painful for me to breathe and engage the muscles on that side up to my jaw. The pain will extend into my arm to my hands. Many movements are unbearably painful, particularly getting into bed and laying down, which can leave me gasping for air in pain like a stranded fish, sometimes with bonus panic attack. While I may get small twinges of pain throughout the year, it only becomes what I consider full blown once or twice in the year, usually lasting about a week or maybe 2 weeks.

I have had X-Rays, MRI, and catscan but nothing has been found. I don't know if any of the Drs ever tested me for TOS, I have only heard of it today while I sit here at 4am in excruciating pain. Normally I'd have dosed myself up on 900-1400 mg ibuprofen right now, but I'm pregnant so that's out of the question for me. I'm due to get an MRI of my brain to check for brain lesions.

Reading about TOS, its the closest thing to my symptoms I have found, except for the fact that for you guys it looks like the pain is constant. Would this be correct? I am also wondering since many of you have gone through tests for multiple types of conditions with similar symptoms if any of you had recommendations for other conditions that could cause these symptoms?

Thank you very much for your time.

[lithographica]

Quick correction: the problem has been occurring for almost 8 years, and the pain and tightness spreads into my neck to my jaw, into my chest and down my arm to my *hand* (not hands) on the right side. I swear, I have only one hand on the right side. :P

[Jomar]

It's possible to have a mild form of TOS, my RSI type TOS is chronic but mild now.
I had multiple repetitive strain injuries and after many years of returning to the same work duties they became a chronic thing. I didn't know any better back then..


Can you tie these flare ups to any activity or extra stress at the time?
Any previous whiplash or upper body hits, falls, bumps?
These can get you out of alignment and set you up for musculoskeletal injuries/symptoms later on - even many yrs later.

Have you considered a evaluation by a few expert chiropractors?
Sometimes they are helpful when MDs can't see a problem- but seek out ones that are very good.
Advanced PTs would be able to do in depth evaluations also.


If you haven't found our sticky threads above the main TOS thread list {green circle Icon w arrow} do some reading in those - kind of a crash course for TOS in those.

[lithographica]

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions.

[B]Can you tie these flare ups to any activity or extra stress at the time?[B]

I cannot tie the flare ups to any particular activity. In the beginning I thought it was triggered by my heavy arm bag filled with my college textbooks, or from lifting heavy stuff but over time I came to realize that the pain happens on a fairly regular basis regardless of activity.

Any previous whiplash or upper body hits, falls, bumps?

About 7 days before the first occurance, I had lifted a heavy suitcase and tried to put the strap on the shoulder. I felt a distinct "pop" but no pain. 7 days later is when the symptoms first began, but there has been no indication of any dislocation.

Have you considered a evaluation by a few expert chiropractors?
Sometimes they are helpful when MDs can't see a problem- but seek out ones that are very good.
Advanced PTs would be able to do in depth evaluations also.

I am quite leery of chiropracty so I have not and do not intend to seek out their assistance. I did not realize I could just up and visit a PT without a diagnosis, so maybe I will investigate that. I have another appointment with my neurologist on Monday, however. He'll probably insist that I schedule my brain MRI right away, I've just been avoiding it since I am pregnant even though it is safe, it just makes me nervous.


QUOTE]If you haven't found our sticky threads above the main TOS thread list {green circle Icon w arrow} do some reading in those - kind of a crash course for TOS in those.[/QUOTE]

I have been doing some reading but so far while the symptoms seem quite similar I haven't found anyone yet that has no pain most of the time, except for 1-2 week flare ups once or twice a year.

Thanks again!

[Jomar]

I was leery about chiros also, but the one I met at a health fair was so nice and caring and he could tell by just looking at me that I was having pain.
I was in severe spasms at the time , but didn't really know what it was back then.
He has helped me more than any MD.
He also does PT type modalities so I don't need to go to a separate PT for those when I need them.

I did a lot of reading about chiropractic before I even considered looking for one, and I wasn't really looking when I met the one I go to.
Sometimes fate or whatever you want to call it steps in and what you need is right there.

I found a local PT guy that had advanced training as well as being a PT teacher for a university. He also had studied ergonomics & repetitive motion injuries as an added specialty.

[Sheri_TOS]

Lithographica -

I'm pregnant, too. An MRI is safe during pregnancy. They may not be able to use contrast. I can't remember if they used contrast for my brain MRI's that were done outside of pregnancy. I've had an MRI in both pregnancies and may need another one.

Chiropractors are like any practitioner. You can find good ones and bad ones. Don't be leery of them but also if you're not comfortable don't go that route. I've seen a chiropractor since 4 days post injury (7 years ago now). He didn't pick up on my TOS. It was a regular MD who finally listened to me, had me do a few tests in the office and then sent me to a physiatrist suspecting my problem was TOS. My TOS was diagnosed 10 months post-injury by a physiatrist (physical rehab medicine doctor). He actually apologized that it took so long for me to get diagnosed given I was the "most classical textbook case of TOS" he'd ever seen. It all matters who you see and sometimes what day you see them - are they having a good day, are they distracted, are they open to TOS, etc.?

For me, the pain wasn't constant. I'd do something that set it off but I couldn't trace the source to any one item. By the time I opted for surgery (10-11 months later), the muscles of my hand had atrophed and fingers curled up. I couldn't grasp anything and the arm/hand was useless. Now, I can use the hand and write, pick up my son, wash dishes, etc. The muscles and nerves have recovered and I'm thankful I opted for surgery. You will have problems taking care of the baby with these symptoms. I've been there and will be there again as I have TOS on the other side due to a cervical rib/shoulder injury.

Distinct pop - Has anyone looked at your shoulder? Shoulder problems can cause TOS like symptoms, too (personal experience with this, too).

[lithographica]

Thanks Sheri. Perhaps I will get an MRI. Its something of a struggle with my family right now, I'm at "that" point in the pregnancy where I can barely walk out the door without a relative warning me off against some thing or another that is going to harm my baby. My mother in particular can't seem to differentiate between an MRI and an X-Ray. Unfortunately, the neurologist proscribed me a drug the other day while I was extremely exhausted and in a lot of pain the other day that I didn't realize was a Class C pregnancy drug until after I began it (medrol) which has upped the paranoia level in my family and myself. But... like I said, I know MRIs are safe I just keep thinking "If there is something wrong with my baby will I be thinking of this decision forever? Is it worth not just waiting for a few more months?" (of course, now that I've taken the medrol-- which worked like a goddamn miracle drug-- maybe I'll already be thinking that anyway) I am thinking more now that I will get the MRI or at least discuss it. I will wait if a contrast is necessary.

Sigh, I really want to have a baby but man this pregnancy part is lame! XD

That sounds terrible for you, with the muscle atrophy and all. How long did that take to happen? So far, I've had my symptoms for 8 years but haven't noticed and weakness or problems other than the pain itself coming from time to time, about every 5-7 months or so. I've had my shoulder X-rayed several times and an orthopedic specialist looked at it and had me get an MRI for my spine to look for a slipped disc or something but nothing turned up. My bones and everything that's seen on X-Ray is fine. No sign of shoulder dislocation. I also had CAT because one Dr. thought I might have a... I forget what its called, some kind of bubble or clot in my chest? Didn't find anything. Can you remember the names of any of the conditions that could cause TOS like symptoms? I would like to investigate all these possibilities.

Thank you!

[Jomar]

Part of it may be that during pregnancy your ligaments get looser, maybe that is playing a part in the increased problems.

If you can find a very good PT or even a body worker of some sort {Alexander, feldenkrais, hellerwork etc} they may be able to get you back on track. Or at the very least, they might help to alleviate any postural issues that might be a factor.
I'd make sure they are knowledgeable about the pregnancy aspect.

[Jomar]

I don't know if you found the videos or my posts about laying on a foam roll ?
{PT places, sporting goods stores and online places sell them - or you can test it first with a rolled up bath towels}

I did quick sketches of the roll & exercise ball stretches that I do.

LOL don't laugh at my drawing - MS Paint has limited options - I was in a hurry.

[lithographica]

I'm sorry I must have misspoke somewhere. I haven't noticed any increased problems that can't be attributed to not being able to dose myself liberally with ibuprofen although I have been having some round ligament pains. Although one thing that is surprising me is that when I have now stopped taking the medrol it feels like the pain is coming back, although normally for me once the pain is gone, it's gone until the next flare up. Although I also do lay on my right side much more in the past year because of the arrangement of the couches since I've lived in this house........ ugh, so many factors! I will see if the ball and the foam are of any help and I will speak to my neurologist on Monday. After that I will see about consulting a PT.

Thank you!