Your SO welcome.....I know where your coming from!
Relax as much as you can, hot baths, relaxation music, stretching, massages, meditation... whatever works for you. Just keep in mind that stress tenses the body making our symptoms worse. Take plenty of "me time"

Thanks again
Will try. I am just so anxious about evrything I do at the minute as I dont know what the risks are. I have 5 children, 12, 5, 4, 3, and 19 months and consultant told me to try not to lift anything over 14 ilbs and to hold baby in left arm. However dopller ultrasound results as above would suggest arterial compression on left side as well. I am getting so frustrated with myself and kids when they want me to lift them. Do you remember the results of your ultrasound was the compression only on arm elevation positions or was there indicators that there was a problem in resting position as well. Also had your surgeon performed many of these operations before?

before I found out about this TOS and my 2 spare ribs as I call them I went to a neurologist who made me feel so bad and (on requesting copy of my file) basically wrote 5 kids - stress.

Sorry now I am just letting off steam.
on a positive note I actually hugged the new doctor who immediately suspected that I had cervical ribs.

thanks
Thanks again

You let off as much steam as possible!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeap, my compressions are in various positions. Unfortunately despite my op I'm still having issues with sleep. Both my hands still go numb at night????????????? Strangely more so on the operated side ( both pre and post op)? Not sure why, so that's why I'm due to undergo further testing, EMG ( nerve tests) aaaaaggggggaaaaaiiiinnnnnn!!!!!.
I understand fully how anxious the not knowing makes you feel. I also have gynae issues too and at the moment missing periods. RELAXATION is a must, sometimes you just have to give yourself that " timeout". Even if its just for 15 minutes.I know that I experience a certain degree of stress that aggrevates muscle tension but not enough to bring on vascular compression and such, Doc's just have to accept that sometimes there are things that they don't understand. Don't you just hate it when they play the stress card!!!!!! VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!
I feel for you not being able to pick up your little ones. Try and compensate by plenty of cuddles and having the older kids help you out?????????
SORRY... I know that doesn't help.
Be easy on yourself...... as much as possible in "MUM" world
Take care x

I don't know how you might feel about chiropractic care??
Since you got hit like that it could be a few things are out of proper alignment..
if the foundation is weak, the house will fall...or fail...

http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://tos-syndrome.com/newpage12.htm


An expert and highly skilled one , also one with extra upper cervical adjustment training might be of help.
Also one with soft tissue skills.

Even if for a consult only - same for looking for expert/advanced PT people - get an evaluation first and see if they seem to be knowledgeable before committing to them.

Get a comprehensive evaluation - they should spend time asking about symptoms, helps/hurts, pain levels etc.
Then they should proceed to the physical assessment part, overall posture, ROM, strength assessments.

They may not know it as "TOS" but they should be aware of all the body parts affected when you describe the symptoms.

*most doctors just don't have the time or the skills to do a complete eval..*


post # 1 of the useful sticky thread - kind of a crash course and then more in the rest of the thread
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post388-1.html

Your symptoms sound so familiar and I had trouble as well getting doctor to believe the symptoms were all related. The dizziness was really bad before my surgery and I always felt like I was going to pass out. Since the surgery, I still have dizziness, but I no longer feel like passing out. During compression of subclavian artery, my vertebral artery would stop flowing completely. I am still having issues with both side, and don't know which side is worse. I did not have cervical ribs, but did have 1st rib removed on left. I wish you the best of luck.

I just wanted to stop by and give you a belated Welcome. I am glad you found Neuro Talk. There will be some people here, that can help with the test you had and the numbers. You found a good group of people, who will talk to you any time you need to. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Thank you for your advice. Will go back and talk to my doctor after he gets to see my recent doppler ultrasound results. (he is away on holidays at the minute)

Thanks for your reply. Did you elect to have surgery or were you advised to have surgery. I believe from my doppler results that I do have arteial TOS and am very anxious that over time with repeated compression that I could end up with blod clot and be in serious trouble.
For instance immediately after the doppler ultrasound I felt so ill, I felt dizzy, spaced out and my eye sight was not clear. I had to lie down for the rest of the day.
Also at dentist 2 days ago and had to have fillling on left side and my head was slightly tilted to left for approximately 20 minutes and afterwards I felt really dizzy and both my arms wouldn't stop shaking and i felt totally spaced out of it. Really freaking me out now as up until the recent (1 month) when i found out about the cervical ribs and TOS I used to keep pushing myself physically ( 5 kids) despite the excrutiating weakness/pain in my arms. Now I am afraid to do anything as I feel that I could do seriuos damage as arteries are being compressed.

What test did you have done to show up the problems with your vertebral artery?

Thanks so much for your support

Thank you so much

The doctor order the techs to check them during the ultrasound. I went through the dizzy spaced out feeling for over 3months. I could not get off the couch. If I raised my arm or turned my head to right, it would get really bad. I had found vascular doctor on my own, thank god. I had one doc tell me he knew problem and not to go to any other doctors. I am so glad I did not listen to him. He was a very arrogant doctor. I totally understand what you are going through. I only have two kids, but I use to work 60hrs a week. I have been unable to work since April 2011.