Hi, I'm maxbe, new to this forum. Been struggling with TOS, diagnosed in January but had a few flareups last couple years. Also probably have pec minor syndrome, but have had new physical therapist since July who helped me start to return to painting and swimming. Flareup last few weeks. Two weeks ago had pretty bad pain in right shoulder blade. Now it is in outside edge of shoulder blade. Lats have been sore but we thought it might be from the swimming. Now I am wondering how much art I will ever be able to do. I am just seeing PT twice a month now, but go back to see neuro in a couple of weeks.
I know I need to continue to make adaptations and I can live with that, I think.
It would be helpful if I could contact some other artists who have these issues.
Thanks!

If you have no headaches and neck/shoulder pain it may be pectoralis minor only

I'm more of a hobby artist, so I am able take plenty of breaks and time off when I need to.

Holding the arms up/out for very long {easel} & the detail work does take a toll - Leaning over /forward when I work on a lower table top gets my neck /traps burning.

Has your PT worked on any posture imbalances & posture awareness with you?
What PT modalities have worked best for you so far?

Well, art has been an avocation/passion for me, not a living(but a good way to live).
Yes my PT helped me to realign my posture, I wasn't putting weight on balls of feet. After I changed my posture it felt like I was leaning forward too much. I've started to get used to it. Also my rib cage was tilted back, changing posture has allowed it to drop. Stretching and heat for relaxation have helped. It has been very hard for me to understand when to move, how much, what kind. How to add in different activities, substitute one thing for another throughout the course of a week. Humbling, really.
It is good to hear that you are painting(drawing?). Gives me some encouragement. Thanks for responding.

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I am an artist too, with alot of experience with printmaking.
I am not doing it "now" but I did a major of it in art school.

I wonder what kind of printing you do? Silkscreen?
Xylol, which is used in some inks is very hard on the nervous system, and oil based print inks as well have solvents which over time you inhale during clean up.

Over time you can develop a peripheral nerve damage from exposure to the various solvents.

Many of the inks contain heavy metals, and these too, you may become toxic from. Cadmium, lead etc.

Just a thought.

A good thought, too! I do use oil based inks, but stay away from cadmiums, cobalts, also I think chromium green not good. I'll check msds on the presence of Xylol - thanks for that. I use vegetable oil to clean up inks off of tools, and isopropyl alcohol to clean up oil. Sometimes I use SoySolve on glass inking plate and acrylic monotype plates. I tried some collagraphs, but the wiping of the plate was too much for me at the time.(I don't hand wipe, use telephone book pages). I have done some photocopy transfer prints of drawings, sometimes combined with acetate stencils, and I like that process. It doesn't take me too long. I went to art school a million yrs ago, painting major w/a couple of prntmking classes, then more prntmking later on. Good to hear from you.

I didn't know that. I have neck and shoulder pain too, and get migraines, although I think there could be other causes for the migraines. Thanks for responding.