Hi! I am new. Don't know if TOS is my problem, but after typing in "tight chest muscles" in a search engine, I quickly ended up on this sight and reading.

I have super tight chest muscles, along with shoulder muscles that make me be in a constant position of having my shoulders up toward my neck. When I think about it, I will 'willfully' relax everything--I can breathe easily again and my shoulders come down. But, one minute later I am back tense again. It is almost like you would be if you saw someone was going to throw something at you to hit you, and you couldn't move. All you could do was brace for it. That is my upper body 24/7 for the last few years.

I also have other issues that started 4 years ago. I get lightheaded when standing, so sit most of the time. When I stand, the chest tightness is worse, like I am having to support my upper body by 'bracing'.

I also have abdominal bloating that is made worse by this relentless tensing. Then it is a cascade of things: harder to breath, pressure in my chest and neck and face.

I do have cervical stenosis, diagnosed by MRI, but no outward symptoms from it.

I have some scoliosis and bad posture, but can't make myself sit correctly, because it makes me feel like my chest circulation is getting 'cut off'. It is very uncomfortable. I cannot sit straight up anymore, as I feel like I am being "strangled" from my chest upwards. I have to somewhat recline.

I was reading about the 'white hand syndrome' and realize I have been looking for years at my left hand being lighter colored than my right hand and wondering why.

Sorry this is so choppy. I just wanted to give you pieces of what might be relevant.