Sorry so long getting back to you.

I take acetaminophen Extended release 650 mg 2 every 8 hours and 1000 mg of moltrin as needed. I also take Skelaxin. I usually take the acetaminophen and moltrin as needed for the shoulder pain and neck pain that I have from TOS.

The main thing that helps my TOS nerve pain is soaking in my Hottub. The hottub is on that I purchased for $1000 on QVC and is not fancy, but it is 104 F and soaking in it with the water level to the bottom of my chin, relaxes my muscles lowering the pain from TOS.

I also avoid anything that will cause the TOS to flair up. I know I have to watch how I sit, drive, pick things up. I also have found that most of the time I have to keep my arm in motion most of the time to prevent the TOS from flaring up. I am not talking about alot of motion, just slight movement. I watch what chair I sit in at dinner, movies or anywhere I will be for a while. I make sure that my left are is not going to be restricted in motion for any reason.

If you want to know more just ask.

Marc,

I am new to the forums, but this comment struck me as it appears very similar to what my friend is going through. Her issues began with a car accident about 10 years ago. Whiplash and trauma left her with neck injuries that have resulted in years of horrible neck pain and headaches that seem to move around in her head. PT was no use, as it only made things worse for her. She has been getting trigger point injections with minor relief, and has also underwent rhizotomy procedures that provided good relief in her lower neck, but she still suffers in the C2 area with severe pain and headaches consistent with occipital neuralgia. Last week her Internist detected TOS symptoms, which were later confirmed as TOS by a vascular surgeon. The surgeon and neurologist she saw last week told her that the pain she is experiencing could not be caused by TOS. As I look through the forums here though, it seems there are many that have been able to attribute similar pain to TOS. Much like you described, I am suspecting the TOS is causing severe muscle cramping in her neck and shoulders (her trapezius muscles simply will not ever release). It stands to reason this muscle cramping could be compressing the occipital nerve causing the pain in her neck as well as the strange headaches that seem to move around. Would you be willing to share with me a bit more about your symptoms relevant to this, and to how you were able to obtain diagnosis connecting it to TOS? It seems her neurologist and the vascular surgeon could not see past the brachial nerve, and are therefore discounting TOS as being related. She is not quick to want surgery, but if it offered her any pain relief she says it would be well worth it and we don't want to let the doctors just ignore this new diagnosis.

~Christopher

I think my TOS has taken a new turn. I now am having numbness and burning pain in my left index finger and left thumb. I am also starting to have numbness and burning pain on the outer part of my left upper arm.

I have had these new symptoms since Saturday it is Monday now. I think I over did it at work on Friday. I did not follow the restrictions that my Doctor had given me (posted earlier in this thread).

I hope that these symptoms are only temporary and not the new normal.

I hope you see this.
Have you seen information on the atlas/axis or c 1c2 adjusting?

check this out for more info on it- explore that whole site
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm

MDs do not study this or it is very rare if they do..

To simplify, my facial symptoms disappeared after rib resection surgeries. However, occipital neuralgia returned 9 months post op and was determined to be cervicogenic. If you have no existing c-spine issues, TOS surgery may resolve headaches and accompanying symptoms. If neck tension is not brought under control, c-spine issues may develop. See also - http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1057904-3.html

Art Ando DPT, CFMT performs these adjustments. CFMT therapist should be equipped to perform these adjustments. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...d.php?t=189915

Marc,

I have similar headaches and I also have problems with my cervical spine but they are not severe. Like you, I'm trying to puzzle this out.

I'm wondering: if your occipital headaches were resolved for 9 months following your first TOS surgery, wouldn't that suggest that the headaches are related to the TOS? I understand that headaches can be caused by both TOS and cervical issues, but what lead you to conclude that they were not related to the TOS?

Thanks,
Kelly

Hi Marc,

I'm wondering the same thing as Kelly about the headaches.

The 2nd bout of headaches differed from the first in that I didn't have the same facial pain and now had pain coming directly from the high cervical spinal joints and stabbing pain at the base of my skull. I initially benefitted from cervical medial branch facet blocks and RF ablation initially. Also, the pain was unchanged after undergoing a repeat TOS surgery to clean up scarring.

I have been having a lot of nerve pain in my left all the way to my shoulder. I think that I did to much at work and aggravated it. This is the worst it has ever bothered me. It was hurting so bad Friday night when I was trying to go to sleep, that I was thinking about going to the ER and asking them to give me something that would knock me out cold.

I have never had it bother me that bad. My left side has been bothering me more and more for the last 3 weeks.

Anyone have any luck reducing or stopping TOS nerve pain?