Does anyone with tos have elbow and forearm problems? I have neck, shoulder, and chest pain, but the worst pain is in my arm especially the inner elbow area. It feels hyper sensitive and burning at times and then other days it feels like my forearm is tight.

elbow and forearm problems?

Yes, those were some of my main symptoms in 2003.

check out this thread on all our symptoms -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread5618.html

Yes! I get the tightness right where you described. I used to have it really bad when my symptoms were at their worst.

Many of my symptoms including that one, came down significantly after I started propping up my symptomatic arm in order to take weight of the collar bone in hopes of reducing the compression of the thoracic outlet. Results have been great, although it's an annoying habit to keep up.

Also, the Egoscue stretches helped me with various pains, especially the forearm, shoulder and pec minor.

Also, I now treat all such pains as warning signs that I'm headed in the wrong direction. So when my inner forearm by the elbow gets tight, or anything else, I do something:

- Scan for muscle tension and release it.
- Get up and pace.
- Or was I already up? Then sit down and relax.
- Change/fix my posture.
- Self massage or stretch.
- Take a break of any kind.

I've also started taking Magnesium after reading "The Magnesium Miracle" due to people in this forum mentioning this supplement.

So those are some things you can try.

I just looked at your list and it was really helpful. I am in the process of looking for a diagnosis. i just went to the university of mich. hospital for some test and will meet with a vascular surgeon next week. I am frustrated because i have had so mant test: emg mri, x-rays, dopplers and they always come back normal with the exception of one of the dopplers. I am convinced that it is tos because everything else has been ruled out some i am hoping this appointment next week will confirm it or point me in the right direction. My question is that my biggest complaint is pain and burning and muscle tightness. especially in the arm, but everything i read seems to talk about numbness and problems with the pinky and ring finger which i dont have. Any thoughts?

I forgot to add, my forearms were being treated by PT (work comp), but nothing was really making a difference, only short term feel good from the massage, ultrasound ice etc.

They finally did a full upper body evaluation since I did have neck, shoulder & upper back tightness also...
Most of the arms & wrist sx were caused by the upper body tightness.
It was being transferred down into the arm.

Eventually got PT & chiropractic for upper body and many of the symptoms resolved.


I only had ring & pinkie sx for a very brief time - it only shows that that specific nerve is being affected.
elbow pain shows the ulnar is being affected.


What brought on your problems? Any ideas?
Desk work, repetitive, previous whiplash, long time poor posture???

Not really sure what brought on the problems. It was gradual but now the pain is constant. My posture is bad from being on the floor with kids. I am a speech therapist so I have down a lot of hunching over. Also I had been swimming for the past 6 years about 3 times a week and I'm wondering if that has brought this on. Do you have a diagnosis of tos and if so what type of dr. did you go to for the diagnosis. I am planning on waiting for my test results but i expect them to come back normal as always and then i was going to try a combo of chiro and pt. Do you know if you can have TOS but have normal test results (mri, emg etc.)?

those are helpful suggestions. Do you have a diagnosis of TOS and what type of dr. did you see? Also did your pain vary at all with location or intensity?

Titus,

Are you going to see Dr. Criado at U of M? He's the TOS guy there. He will take a long time with you and answer any/all questions. He does a very thorough evaluation. Did you get all the tests at U of M per his instructions? If not, there is a specific way he likes the CT to be done so you may have to repeat. He expects the EMG to be normal, so don't be surprised if it is. He also pays more attention to symptoms than test results. So if you are having symptoms he will go through them with you. Don't be concerned that you don't have the "classic" symptoms.

[Do you know if you can have TOS but have normal test results (mri, emg etc.)?]

Yes, it's one reason many drs don't know a lot about TOS - it doesn't have any specific test that will prove it easily and undeniably.

And a very good reason to seek out the best expert PT /DC / bodyworkers that you can find.

What kind of swimming laps with the same stroke style (very repetitive) or varied recreational swimming - lots of breaks and floating?

Swimming was very repetitive and did breast stroke but mostly front crawl/freestyle. Never realized you should rotate head to each side when doing the front crawl to breath. I always turned to the right and that is the side I have pain. I haven't swam in 6 mos. but nothing has gotten better. Thanks for the information.