I think I read somewhere Dr Togut calls the weak and dead arms we get as

POWER FAILURE!!!!

I think this is a great description to help people understand what is happening in my arms

Those injured nerves just can't get the signals to the muscles the way they used to.
Before my surgery I would get the "dead arms" like I had a stroke.
I wasn't able to move the arm at all.

When I got the POWER FAILURE if I was able to think straight I would go straight to the physical therapist. and she would always find a lot of "knots" in my arm all the way up my arm, that she would work on. In time I learned to do it myself. When I was in acute power failure I would always need the help of the physical therapist.

Thankfully, since my surgery I have not had "POWER FAILURE" in my arms.

When I had the dead arms I would always "lose my brain' . I would get sort of hysterical. I have always wondered if there was a chemical connection when my arm would die, my brain kind of got wierd also.

Usually I could tie the dead arm to overuse of my arm. When I say that it means that I did 4 repetions instead of 3 my arms were that touchy.

Surgery did help me with the power failure and I can wash my hair in the shower when before I had to lay down in the tub to wash my hair.

Hi Oc Girl,
I am just throwing out a thought as youi said this, got me to thinking.

If our arm muscle move from signals the brain sends to the nerves in the arms to move the muscles....and there is miscomunication and whacky receptors to do as they are told can it cause a short circuit that could affect the brain in a power outage of sorts too...Too many signals and they are not doing as they are told ?

With alodynia, the brain is having problems receiving signals from the chronic pain signals it receives and decerns the pain as hyper....A touch to the arm, has pain for extended time. Towel across the skin or a breeze can actually hurt.
So why not over use and the arms powering out in response cause the brain to react with a confused response reaction?/

But I did'nt go to medical scholl.

Tam,
I wonder if they are disectinging the tos compression and the nerve damage as two seperate issues, yes you have TOs yes tos causes a lot of problems, but because not every one with tos has numbness/power out...It seems to be nerve/brain related in signals.

I do strongly feel that if there is compressing it is not only compressing the vascular it is compressing the enrves to, and the inflamation can cause the symptoms you have.

Not sure if I am saying it right, if for but syndrom....If you did not have tos you would not have it, but not everyone with TOS has this reaction or symptom.

I have numb skin...but My arms do not power out. My son has had scary instances that his arms just died. Dead weight...he had started with face/jaw pain, into the chest, down the arm and up into a massive migraine.
Inflamation to the nerves caused the power out.

You know, when the body ahs a truma, the blood is taken from the limbs and sent to the organs...if the brain is overload from funky inflamed nerve with crazy feedback signals, can it shut down signals to the arms to try and regroup the brain power????

Ah, just thinking out loud...
Di

Thanks for the responses about hip pain. I agree that when one part of the body is in chronic pain, other muscles and parts of the body can be affected while "taking up the slack." If feel like my hip problems only occur when worsening pain has affected my posture or further limited the amount I can use my arms, thus other parts of the body start to suffer.

I wasn't trying to self diagnose or wishing to make my own conclusions about TOS to a doctor. I would not do that, I basically just wanted to be able to gather some thoughts about it so I could explain a little better when students or other teachers ask about my occasional limp.

Other ideas for better explaining TOS in brief to K-8 students would also be welcome. I don't make a big deal out of it, but many times they ask "What happened?" when I can't lift my arm up or when I sometimes wear an arm brace. I have a hard time giving them a quick answer that they can understand. Neurological disorder just doesn't do it :-)

If I need to give a simple & quick explanation - I just say I have shoulder & arm problems.
That should work fine for most students, parents and most people in general.

Hi Melissa,
To adults, I explained it by saying how some people get carpal tunnel in their hands; this is like carpal tunnel in the upper body down the arms to the hands.
Or Similar to having carpal tunnel from the hands up the arms to neck and shoulders.

Instead of nerves compressed in the wrist, they are compressed when the come off the spine.
The nerves are a songle cell traveling all the way to the finger tips. Everywhere there is a hinge along the way it compresses the sick nerve and limits movement and causes pain, and can affect posture from hunching and protecting the hurting nerves.

With kids, like Jo, just bad back and arm problems. I hope you find something that helps,

When I limp I blame it on the bum knee.
Dianne

I would just add...that when people ask if I have carpal tunnel I always start with "i wish" and follow with "it's like carpal tunnel, ulnar tunnel, and shoulder problems all in one" and if I am going on a little further...I add "in carpal tunnel surgery they cut a ligament in your wrist, for TOS they remove two neck muscles and your first rib"

Now, I am often talking to people I work with at a very ergonomically aware company....but this usually goes over quite well and gets the appropriate sympathy.



Johanna

bumping for momz...hope something might be helpful.

cheers everyone.

Hey Melissa....hope all is well with you.I too have hip pain.I had surgery for my TOS and now my hip on same side pains quite a bit.Not sure if coincidental .
Take Care!!
Linda....Ontario Canada