Found this old stuff I had written during my wc acute injury phase -

My problems started with my hands & forearms in 1999, severe bilateral wrist strain/overuse/tendinitis, I had PT and some time off from work and
Modified work for about a year.
Then went back to regular job and was able to regain 85% of prior strength {active assembly work}had minor problems on and off depending on job rotation.
A year later started having shoulder/neck problems, PT again, back to work full duties again
1 yr later same problems, PT again and sent back to same work
2 months later = It ALL started coming back - but moving around, hands, arms. wrists, shoulders, neck, upperback pain - got 2 sets of
PT for all of it.

I was feeling pretty good but 2 wks out of PT { 11/03} then my elbows flared with ulnar nerve sensations of numbness, tingling,
hypersensitivity-these were new to me.
My pecs and armpits and neck were tight again = more PT on those areas & Sharon Butlers stretches {Her TOS program}.

Was feeling better again after upper-body PT. Back to work no restrictions at first- per Doc {don't ask me why- a test -I guess}
ended up in same job - lasted 3 1/2 months at it.
Started to hurt again at times - had restrictions added { 2 hr rotation & no overtime} .
HR dept decided they couldn't support my 2 minor restrictions- but I was
gonna see if I could reduce my hours anyway as I was still hurting and it was increasing.
Took me months to get loosened up and if I just do too much here at home I get a flare up.

So looking back-- famous last words!
If I knew then what I know now--I would have taken a different path to
protect my body and health, or at least been more outspoken for major ergo changes.
I really liked my coworkers, liked my job, was very good at it, and did have a Type A work personality.

NOW-- ( this was mid 2004)
I'm still off and just doing my best to get healed as much as I am able to. I think most of my problem started with the work postures, positions, tools and my slightly competitive speedy nature {at work}. So for me it made sense that if my work postures caused TOS - working to fix my posture and rebalance the weak muscles should reverse it or most of it. The pains have always decreased quickly for me esp. with ultra sound, heat, resting, and triggerpoint when needed.

I credit a lot of this recovery to my chiropractor too- because I was very misaligned {C1 & C2 not centered} and my neck was "hung up" in a couple places and losing the proper curve- plus he was the one to get me out of the severe spasms. (I had no clue what was wrong with me at the time. Just that I was all locked up in my neck & upper back)


Just some of my notes-
When I had PT during ulnar nerve flare up some of the stretches they wanted me do were a bit intense- they said to push it {the stretch} but I had read Sharon Butlers book already so I just did it to a slight tingle sensation stretch and release with slow gentle reps.

If something feels not right for you, just modify it to what you can do, the main ideas for most of these books is to keep the blood circulating and slowly keep or increase range of motion.

I also got a video {from library} of Alexander Technique and it did help with whole body use, Feldenkrais, Hellerwork are similar.

Modified Yoga, Pilates-- do only what you can & change it or make it easier to do until you can increase it. Think Baby steps.

This part was the biggest piece of the puzzle for me so far-
If you happened to read my thread awhile back - about the
"Best PT "
that found my top ribs were stuck in a raised position. Esp. if you have or had spasmed or very tight scalenes and SCM- they attach to the ribs and collar bone.

For me that is what was causing the "choking" feelings as they were pulling up on the ribs and crowding and pulling the collar bone up. That caused more pinching of the nerves and blood vessels that run between the two.
Since that PT was able to mobilize and get those to drop down -I have felt sooo much better, plus with the spine program of PT carefully strengthening of the shoulder girdle.
My pain was very low{ 1} for weeks before starting the program. I've been able to do tons of yard work- digging, moving plants, rolling stepping stones around to make a walkway, stacking firewood...no pain increase.

Just to let you know that sometimes such a simple thing as getting a rib dropped down can make a world of difference, at least mention it so your PT evaluator can check for that. Especially if you have the "choking" feeling like your collar bones are coming up into your throat.
The only PT that caught it was one with a lot of added training and spine specialist. After I mentioned it to the regular PT guy & chiro { left side had popped up} they were both able to get it back down too as needed.

Aw, I can only hit the "Thanks" button one time.

Thanks Jo*mar for this valuable info.

I hope it can be helpful to someone.

I found my old post -

top rib mobilization -by excellent PT guy-

He just took the time to do a full hands on evaluation - and I had mentioned the "choking feeling" like my collar bones were being pulled up into my throat - so he said "let me try something"

He stood behind me while I was sitting on the table and pressed with steady firm pressure down on top of my shoulder close to my neck {1 side at a time} just a short time then stepped back and yo see how far that area had lowered {1/2"}- so he did the same to the other side too. it didn't hurt a bit & I immediately felt looser in my neck & it relieved that costoclavical sp? compression. the "choking" and very strained neck feelings.

He also told me how to tell if it popped up again and it did during my PT exercises at a different place.
I had told this other PT about it and he mobilized it with a different technique- diff position but same pressure & area.
He had done eval on me 3 days earlier and didn't check for that even tho I told him of the choking feelings and collarbone pulling into neck feelings.

You might have to just tell them {PT?MD?DC?DO} to check for elevated top rib - they may not check it on their own.

And the chiro did a top rib adjustment a couple times after that but it would feel weird/tilted for a couple days - but then fine & still now.

my old symptoms list --from 2006 -- it's weird to read how many symptoms I still had back then...

my symptoms now {they were much worse during 03-05}
If I'm at the computer/desk position - or lift or pull heavy objects -
or use arms above my shoulder/head height
{for all of the above if too long or too often}

My symptoms seem to be more vascular & fascia related than nerve pain related-- more of a positional & uses cause now.

soreness and/or triggerpoints in upperback
tight neck muscles
soreness across shoulders
tightness/pinching in armpits
fingers lose coordination
cramps in back of hands
triggerpoint/pain spots on top of head at times
still get the watery right eye
voice still is weaker and cracks at times

************************************************** *

compare with my old post from the BT cache:
December 16, 2004

Roos/EAST/Stick'em up test= 10 sec L hand white, 40 sec L gets out of sync with R, 1 min- have to drop arms.

PAIN & SYMPTOMS

Hands
Sharp cramping pains in back of hands- with use - like writing, holding small objects, picking up small things- pins, tweezers, toothbrush
Clumsiness of fingers
Fingers stiff sometimes
Loss of strength
Tightness in back of hands
Sharp stabbing pain sometimes when reaching around or twisting wrists = pockets, zippers, buttons
Occasional swelling and color changes esp. if arms elevated very long
Cold weather increases discomfort

Wrists
Sharp burning pain in wrist joints after use- handled large engineering documents–9/30/03 - OK now
Bracelet feeling - topside 2”- 3” from wrist, Left > Right Tightness/pulling in that area now when forearm gets tight
Fine sharp pains lengthwise 2” from wrist, underside only- minimal now
R wrist bone sticks up higher than L? Different shape ?

Forearms
Tightness and a deep ache on top side of forearm -elbow to wrist-
Deep ache is gone – tightness comes and goes with use
Mid forearm underside aches- minimal now
Tingling/ tight/pulling/stinging sensations just under skin- with use
Hypersensitivity sometimes on top side
Left worse than Right -usually

Elbows
Spots of tenderness above and below joint after moderate lifting or use
L > R - elbow puffy and slightly numb at the inner crease area – minimal now
L > R - sensitivity to fabrics and light pressures – minimal now
Ulnar nerve symptoms 11/03 – 2/04 –upper body therapy {neck/shoulders} resolved most sx
Point of both elbows get sensitive and have a small sore spot sometimes --NEW -11/04 - mostly gone now 1/05
When arms are extended palm up- wrist planes and elbow planes don’t match ??
When R shoulder is very sore can’t rotate R arm fully to extend it forward –1/12/05

Shoulder- R & sometimes L
Sharp pain and a pulling pain when reaching to the side up/out and to the back -less now but still sometimes after any moderate use
Crunching noises sometimes- minimal now
Stiff, sore and tight some mornings after sleeping on that side

Neck
Tight, strained, sore spots – usually have to stretch daily to keep loose
Crunching noises - minimal now
Sometimes feels like I’m wearing a tight necked shirt
Sometimes feels like my collar bones are getting pulled upward into my throat
At times it felt like I could hardly hold my head up
Whooshing pulse sound was on right side of neck –summer/fall 03, now more on left side - positional / tightness combination? Bruitt?

Upper Back & Upper Chest
Tight, burning and achy spots in upper back when head has been in a forward or downward position for any moderate length of time- better now since off work but starts if I read a book for too long or do gardening
Tight, strained, heavy feeling if arms are forward/elevated very long
Sharp pains or dull aches at times under shoulder blades and in various muscles in upper back—after moderate use
Armpits/Pecs get tight and strained feeling at times

Misc.
Vision changes {comes and goes}= Double/blurry, light sensitive, more floaters, very watery
Dizziness / lightheaded problems mostly occurring in 8/03 – 2/04 Headaches at back of head same time frame- none now
Memory fades same time frame
Concentration problems- fluctuates with symptoms
Stuffy ears and sinus- fluctuates with symptoms
Weak voice – cracks and scratchy throat- fluctuates with symptoms
Trouble swallowing - fluctuates with symptoms
Over doing of activities causes trigger points or spasms in upper body
Weakness, fatigue and heaviness of arms, shoulders and upper back when holding arms out or up- while driving I need to change arm/hand positions frequently
Delayed pain after use
Hypermobility is an issue also

My self treatments

Rest, Heat, Ice, Stretching, Hydration, Self massage
Trigger point therapy, Acupressure, Relaxation/ Breathing
Walking/Yoga, Postural awareness & ergonomics
Vitamins & mineral supplements
Chiropractic care

I have not been on this site for some time. Just trying to get myself back from ACDF on 12/9/2010. I read through your symptoms and it is scary how many of them are similar. The watery right eye ... down to the tightness in areas such as under the arm pits. Anyway. I have been to a hand surgeon 2x and now going back to the vascular surgeon for some testing. Noninvasive vascular lab studies of both upper extremities including DBI and PVRS. The tests need to be done also with cold stress testing and also either Adson or Brace positioning of the affected left arm. The test is on friday, not sure how long before I or the hand surgeon get the results. This has been a long road. Not sure if the symptoms were prior to ACDF surgery or a result of the surgery or my post surgical positioning and the manner in which I am carrying myself. The spine surgeon felt I had RSD while the hand surgeon was leaning toward TOS. Not sure what it should be called. I just want to be able to take care of the symptoms and deal with the cause of them.

Regarding some of these symptoms, which I also have, I've been interesting in extending my reading past TOS to include non-TOS neck issues. I found this interesting:

Sternocleidomastoid syndrome: a case study
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1769463/

Among my neck muscles, my scm gets the tightest and when it's really bad I get lightheaded.

Anyway one of the symptoms for neck issues is "increased lacrimation"--you know the medical community can't just say "watery eye". So I thought I would share that for you two and others.

I'm currently exploring what neck stretches I might do now that my chiro has mobilized by first rib and I'm comfortable doing it myself with a strap. I found this which I thought had some good points which ran counter to what I usually see about neck stretching:

Houston Chiropractor Shows A Great Neck Stretch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XlxMuuGIvI

HTH

that link you gave for [Houston Chiropractor Shows A Great Neck Stretch]

His stretching idea makes a lot of sense