I thought I would give you a little health history. I developed type 1 diabetes at 27. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel in 2007. Diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease in 2010. I am currently 36 years old. I have also had a host of female issues which resulted in three different surgeries, and ultimately I wound up with a complete hysterectomy. I am on HRT at this point and am doing well.

Awhile back I told my neuro that I was having difficulty getting comfortable in bed. I told him that I had this strange sensation and that I could feel my heart beat pulsing through my arms and hands. He explained that because my muscles are so tight from the PD, it was basically like pinching off a hose in my thoracic outlet. As a result of being pinched, I could feel the pulsing of the blood through my arms. It made sense and I didn't really question it. He prescribed more Flexeril and suggested Botox. I looked into the Botox, but I just couldn't afford it. I am only working part time right now because I just haven't felt good enough to do more. That will be changing soon because we just aren't making it financially. Anyways, recently I have had a lot of increasing pain and numbness in my arms and hands. The best way that I can find to describe it is that it is like having a toothache in my arms. When it's bad, it's really bad. There is absolutely nothing that I can do to get comfortable and I feel like literally crawling out of my skin. It seems to be the worst first thing in the morning when I get up. I sleep with my carpal tunnel braces on and once I fall asleep, I pretty much sleep like a rock. I have tried wearing them throughout the day, but I just can't. I take care of children and am constantly washing my hands.

I have been told that I have a very high pain tolerance, so this miserable arm pain is just really unusual for me. I had both of my babies without drugs. I experienced an ovarian torsion and went weeks in pain that was at times miserable, but most often pretty tolerable. That incident won me an emergency surgery to remove a dead ovary and major clean up effort inside of my abdominal cavity! My colon was twisted up in adhesions and so was my bladder. No wonder it hurt to tinkle or TRY to go #2. Guess that is what happens when you have a dead ovary inside of your body for three weeks!

I guess what I want to know is if this toothache, throbbing type type of pain, and complete numbness in my hands at times is typical with TOS? When I take a deep breath in and out, it causes tingling in my arms and hands. The rest of the time, I feel like there is something pinched on the tops of my shoulders. That results in the deep, throbbing and sometimes shock like pain that I get in my arms. There are times when both of my hands go completely numb. I also have TMJ and the right side of my jaw is really tight right now as well. There is a lot of popping and there are times when it sort of locks up on me. This is the worst it has ever been in the 15 years since I was diagnosed with TMJ.

I am 36 and feel like I am way too young for all of this. I just need to know if this is typical TOS stuff. If so, what do I need to do about it? I need to talk to my Neuro and am planning on making an appointment soon. My pain level is off of the charts and I don't take anything for pain except for Aleve or Advil. I have a friend with RSD and she has a prescription for medicinal marijuana. I am seriously considering asking her for a "special cookie", and I have never done an illegal drug in my life! Feeling at the end of my rope here. Looking for advice.

Thanks!

Hello,
Have you had a MRI recently to rule out any cervical or T spine issues?

We also have some threads on testing for TOS or more ruling out of other causes, their is not 100% foolproof test that will show TOS - unless there is extra cervie rib or other bony anomalies in the area.

How is your upper body posture?
When you look in a mirror for a side view is your head forward &/or shoulders rounded , hunched or forward of the body?
These forward of the body postures can close up the Brac Plex area and cause vascular or nerve symptoms.


Can you get a full & comprehensive evaluation from an advanced physical therapist?
Or an expert chiropractor that has additional knowledge of soft tissue problems?

Also check our sticky threads for much more info & other medical TOS related websites
post #1 on this one is loaded with a crash course of info -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html