So I'm only 4 or 5 days into my new combo:

1. Neck massage
2. Neck stretches
3. First rib adjustment

And I'm feeling sooo much better. I've been doing 2 X per day (instead of my planned 3 X). I get better circulation through my TOS arm after doing this routine. Doing it proactively is the way to go for me. I'll also do it reactively if the arm starts getting funny between sessions.

It feels psychologically empowering to (a) have something I can do that improves my condition, and (b) to see cause-and-effect in action. I remember when TOS first kicked my butt in July 2011 and I could make no sense of what I was experiencing. Nor could my doctors.

We'll see where I'm at after a month of doing this.

:)

Still improving with this routine. TOS isn't gone, but the symptoms are milder.

I was on 2mg diazepam 2 X per day. I tried dropping to 1 X per day, but each day my muscles in my neck, jaw and shoulders got a bit tighter. My old symptom of getting light headed started to come back. Jaw started clicking.

So after that 5 day experiment, I'm back on 2 X per day.

Oh well.

I was hanging out with my Aunt on Saturday and lost the circulation in the left arm. I showed her how the left hand was red with bulging veins and looked totally different than the right when placed side by side. I then shoved my rib down and a few minutes later showed her how they were the same color. She was floored; she had never seen anything like that before.

Where can I find your self first rib adjustment?

There is one at the bottom of this page:
http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/thoracic_outlet

There is one I made up. Disclaimer: I'm only sharing what I do here. I'm not recommending this. I'm also not a doctor, PT, chiro or health care provider.

I tilt my head toward the rib I want to adjust in order to create slack in the muscles. Then I reach across with the opposite arm to put the edge of my thumb on top of the rib. It's a hard lump under some muscles. You get a feel for it after awhile. Then I use the other arm that is on the same side of that rib to reach up and grab the head. Now that everything is in place, I pull my head down while pressing down with the thumb pad. This brings my head all the way down to the side.

I then let go of the head and slowly bring the head up while still pressing down with the thumb. At some point the skin gets pulled too tight and I have to let go and press to let it move out.

On the down side, this technique is a little rough and can make the neck a little tender where I'm pushing with the thumb. But it's also handy because I do it anywhere and without any tools.

Another down side is that depending on how tight your neck is on the other side, you may overstretch or even hurt yourself.

At home I'm been using the towel/strap technique more because it seems gentler.

I overactive my upper traps too much. Just lifting a mug to my mouth, I will automatically hunch up.

This no doubt contributes to the hypertrophied traps.

Why am I posting this? Because this is my thread where I talk to myself! :)

The Intelliskin garment helped me greatly in this regard. Are you considering it?

I was. I had trouble pulling the trigger on an order because I kept thinking that "tight fitting" and "TOS" don't mix. But your comment here has renewed by interest.

I ordered one, think it is worth a try