[ozzy14]

Diagnosed with TOS 18 months ago. Had an slip and fall accident at work in 1997. Told by Doctors for 6 years that I have "muscular problems". Decided that I could stand pain no longer and asked for MRI of neck. MRI shows disc protrusion at C6 / 7. New Dr (sugeron) thought there was something more and sent me for ultrasounds on both arms. Tests showed bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome more prominent on left side. Have been off work (Workers comp) since that then. Ahhh what a relief! Im not going crazy I am in real pain! (sounds strange but 1 Doctor told me he finds it hard to believe what I was telling him, should send him new results hey?)

I have had physio for 1 year and have just started hydro pool therapy. I dont know if they help. Some days I feel o.k others I cant move.

Does anyone suffer from severe pressure in the head? I am so bad somedays that my ears "pop" and I have trouble hearing. I find this is usually after using my arms a fair bit, like driving. I have heaps of trouble when I bend over and come back up, laugh too hard, yell etc. I get a severe head rush (similar to ice cream headache but heaps worst) It only lasts a few seconds but is very intense. I dont know if these are connected to the TOS or neck probs. The Drs cant tell me either.

Also medication, I take Nurofen plus and panadeine forte. Should I be on any other meds? Any at times muscle relaxant when it's just too much. My GP doesnt seem to know a lot about TOS.

Is there anyone out there that has been "medically retired"????? My employer is sending me to see a specialist who decides if I should be retired? Can anyone tell me their story?

Thanks,
Ozzy14

[Jomar]

hi Ozzy,
I don't think anyone here is "officially" medically retired,
some are disabled and getting ssi or ssdi help that way.
I chose to "retire" myself for now - I'm not getting any comp or retirement pay or anything.

Are you doing any posture work?
Bowen work was originated in Aus you should be able to find some good help that way.

- good and bad days are what we call flares , and delayed pain - will happen hours to a day or 2 after a use that aggravates.

A good PT with advanced training should be able to evaluate and test for the c spine vs TOS symptoms.
Or even a expert chiropractor.
both of those have helped me much more than the doctors I went to.

[HopeLivesHere]

Hi Ozzy,

I have a friend on another forum whose husband is part of a Union, but works for the state I think. Anyway he is going to be medically retired. She doesn't know quite what that means and if he can get SSDI also.
I told her to check with his union.

Dizzy? Head feel full and pressure? Ears pop? Yes, all of the above.
Also hear my heart beat/whoosh very loudly in ears, so bad on left it keeps me awake. Happening for a couple years now.

I went to an ear doctor. He found infection and cleared it up but there is no change in light headedness or dizzy spells - however he did give me exercises to do and they help some. I even get dizzy and light headed doing the exercises.
Anyway, that doc said my case is too hard for him and is sending me out to another Institution that only treats Ear problems. Said I have a tumor that may or may not need operation. I don't plan to go anytime soon. I have enough on my plate and I don't think it is my ear, it is the TOS. I came when the TOS got severe and I had a huge hearing loss.
This probably did not help you, but
at least you know you are not alone.
{{hugs}} HOPE

[gibbrn]

hi will specifically ask for tanya......for you to see if she has more info!!

hugs,
Victoria

[ozzy14]

Hi, Yes I hear my heartbeat too! And the wooshing sound is all I hear sometimes, cant hear people talk or traffic noise. I hate the dizziness. I also have heart palpatations and after a few tests the Drs cant find anything wrong with my heart. What about face pain? I get pain in my sinus area but dont have any other sinus symptoms. Was given 5 boxs antibiotics for sinus and nothing happened. It eventually went away after 2 months. I believe it is all related to TOS.

With the medical retirement, in Australia it means that you receive a pension from what I can work out thru looking at other web sites is that it is about 70% of your current wage. I work for the state government in NSW. I dont know what the SSI or SSDi is.

Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it. I dont know anyone else here that has TOS. At least reading some of your comments I know im not 100% crazy, just a bit!

[gibbrn]

I had a pt who pushed me really hard past my limits as he had decieded on his own Doctors opinio....nhhmmmmmm that I didn't have it......with exercises arms above head I passed out and felt nausea as well as pressure in head. With blood supply blocked in that area thus lymph supply blocked I got pain and pressure in head neck, ears, face and migraines.....MASSAGE helped a lot as they can remove the extra fluid causing the pressure in the head but it only helps for a little while....muscle relaxants are amazing in my case as my muscles are like cement and hard as rock......if they don;t move neither does the fluid so I go to massage twice a month....depending on the month sometimes it is four times a month. I know if you have pressure on your scalene muslces or your SCM muslce in your neck, it will close in on your vessels and lympy supply in your neck supplying your head and neck so get that checked out!!!

take care..oh and with my physio experience I passed out on the floor due to no blood supply to my brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

take care,
Victoria

[Jomar]

ozzy did you find our useful links sticky thread?
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=84
-it has a lot of the TOS medical info links, therapies, regular & alternative, anatomy links , bodywork links- It 's a great way to get educated on TOS fast.
Then we also have articles and various topics posted on forum threads too.

the whooshing is called bruit - i had that bad too -but after the spasms and chronic neck tightness got resolved {chiro & PT}it is gone.
ditto with many other odd problems =-sinus, vision, voice, memory, dizziness, ear pain/stuffiness-- on and on LOL