My EMG showed normal as well. I had 1st rib resection in Sept. 2011 because an ultrasound showed compression after 8 weeks of therapy. The compression on the sub clavical artery was causing the vertebal artery to stop flowing completely on the left and right, but therapy starting working on the right. I am still in alot of pain and have trouble sleeping. Pain in arms, neck and shoulder area. I get tingling in arm, hand, and neck at times. I am having real difficultly using my arms and have been out of work since May of this year.

Was your subclavian artery compression on the left, the right or both?

What kind of symptoms did the vertebral artery flow stoppage cause? I can guess, but would like to hear from you, in your own words.

I have arterial compression on both sides, with the left being worse. Therapy seemed to help the right side, but surgery was needed on the left. I had the surgery on the left in Sept. 2011. I could not get off the couch. If I turned my head or raised my left arm, I felt like I was going to pass out. My verterbal artery would completely stop flowing. The doctor said it was very rare, but had seen it before and actually thought I was going to have reverse flow which she seen only once. Still have a lot of pain and spasms in muscles and dizziness on occasion, but I can function a little bit better. Still can not work.

I'm unilateral and for me it was turning my head away from the symptomatic side that produced feelings of faintness. Although this has improved much with physical therapy and a muscle relaxant.

After your right side improved with therapy, which side or sides would turning the head to cause you to feel faint?

I don't know what meds you're on, but for me, diazepam worked well on relaxing my muscles, afterwhich my symptoms came down. I also found out that I had TMJD (aka TMD aka TMJ) which was/is causing some of my symptoms. Something you might want to check for.

Pain with therapy
 

So I still don't have any diagnosis, but I have started PT. Right now they are doing massage, heat, ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Unfortunately, after therapy it always hurts worse. I did start on another dose of steroids, but it's not helping like the first dose did. Also, went back to work last weekend and it was horrible. I had to take pain meds at work every 4 hours just to stay at work and then I was in constant pain for 2 days after work. The pain eased up on the third day, although it cam back that night. I have noticed pain in the rib cage now on the right side. I'm getting to the end of my rope. I just want some type of diagnosis so that everyone doesn't think I am crazy and just making this stuff up. Thankfully, my PCP states he will keep sending me to doctors until we can find out what is wrong and get a diagnosis. He doesn't believe in just giving up.

I do have a question though: whenever I am up walking or sitting for long periods of time (even grocery shopping) I notice the pain gets worse. Does anyone else experience this?

PT some days causes me a lot of pain which usually decreases a day after. I do experience problems after sitting for awhile. Walking use to, but I have learned that if I hold my arms in certain ways and not let them swing when walking, I am better. I can only push a shopping cart with right arm, if i try left I get bad.

If I turn head to right is when I have problems, especially if I turn head to right and look down.

I'd like to offer a ray of hope that after a lot of PT, stretching, diazepam, relaxing, making adjustments and so on, I have improved a lot. I'm not as sensitive to arm position like I was before.

I used to get dizzy from simple household chores and grocery shopping. But I haven't been dizzy since Nov 20th. Conservative care is not a guarantee, but it can work for many of us.

Hang in there.

I've had an EMG, nerve conduction study, CT scan and vascular ultrasound. Those tests all came back normal. I've been to two physical therapists, both concluded they were unable to assist me.

My symptoms are mostly strength based. The muscles in my left hand and arm are quite atrophied and my right side is quickly catching up. I do get pain and aching, but it doesn't seem nerve-based.

I've been seeing one the top surgeon in the north east, Dr. Donahue, at Mass General in Boston. He said that there is no one test that can confirm a TOS diagnosis, and he will never be able to 100% guarantee that is my condition. Unfortunately, he feels that bilateral surgeries are my only option left.

My point being is that apparently even though tests come out normal, it would not automatically rule out a specific diagnosis.

I know you are in NC...have you tried seeking out anyone at Wake Forest's Baptist Medical Center or at Duke University's hospital in Durham? I lived in NC for four years and those are the two primary med centers I am aware of. I'd also check out the sticky list of doctors on this board for ideas.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons at Baptist Med

Hang in there!