[mtnmom]

I'm new here and pretty new to this whole TOS thing as well. I was diagnosed with venous TOS (effort thrombosis) almost 5 months ago - since then I have been hospitalized, undergone more medical tests, treatments and procedures than I care to even mention and had one rib resection surgery. Funny how life works, one day I feel fine the next I'm laying in ICU. The good news is, I'm fine once again.

Sorry to see so many of you going through this. Although, many of our situations are different, I'm here to offer support and encouragement to anyone who needs it!

[johannakat]

welcome Mtnmom glad to have you among us...and hopefully your surgery helped you?

[holhar]

Hi. I've been lurking a while and decided to join. My son was diagnosed with venous TOS about a month ago. Since we are close to Hopkins, I talked to Dr. Freischlag's office and they got my son in immediately. He is only 10 and her youngest ever patient. Dr. Freischlag said my son needs surgery. I was just wonderinghow other people made out with first rib resection and/or Dr. Freischlag. It's been comforting to know that we are not alone out here.
Hope to hear from you soon.

[ihtos]

I've heard good things about Dr Julie Freishlag. Good Luck to you and your son!

[Dena]

Hello All

I am very new here, and to TOS as well. I am not yet diagnosed. I would like to tell my story, because I am scared and feeling very alone right now. IF you'd like to read it, I welcome comments, opinions, suggestions and your experience.

Here goes...

Years ago I was a high school cheerleader and pom-pom girl...this was 1990 so picture big bangs, frosted lipstick and jelly bracelets.

I was performing a routine to the classic tune of "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer when one of my bitchin' moves knocks my arm out of socket. That is the kind of injury that you can't help from just poppin it right back in. I kept cheering cuz we were winning, I was co-captain after all.

Fast forward to the turning of a new millenium. The whole family gets in a 45mph car accident....our Tahoe versus the 1997 Nissan Sentra. I had moderate neck and shoulder pain for 10 days after that.

Between 2000 and 2007, I had what I call "episodes" of shoulder and neck pain. Sometimes, I'd sleep wrong and my hand and/or arm would be numb upon waking. These episodes typically lasted a week to ten days, with moderate pain until I went to the Chiropractor. His adjustments helped tons. So much so, that I never went to him for his recommended follow-ups. I only took the time to go to him when the pain got bad. He consistantly suggested that I make weekly (or more) visits to correct the issue with my neck and posture.

Now comes the divorce. My husband of 12 years leaves, all kinds of bad things happen to my family; financially, emotionally and otherwise. Before the demise of my marriage I was self-employed, able to contribute to the finances of our upper middle class suburban home in various sales jobs and MLM success.

After he left, not only was I depressed, but my three children and I were completely destitute. In a matter of 6 months, we lost the house, the car, and our dignity.

After trying car sales and making no money (can anyone say recession?), just over two months ago I took a job as a waitress working third shift (9pm to 7am) at a diner style restaurant called Steak-n-Shake. That's when things went from bad to great to worse.

The "great" was that I loved the job. I loved interacting with people, helping them and being a good waitress. I took pride in my work, cleaning and stocking and waiting on people, repetitive motions on that shoulder and neck. I made pretty DAMN good money too. Not rich-type money, but a decent take home to survive. Then the numbness started.

The "worse" was that after about a week of serving glass after glass of tea, cokes, coffee, shakes, chili, burgers, etc...I started to frequently awake with the fingers in my left hand tingling painfully and "asleep". I figured I was sleeping on my bad left shoulder and tried to ignore it. Another month into it, I was taking as many hours as I could, working 10 days in a row frequently. The money was needed and earned doing something I loved, but the numbness was creeping up my left arm, and sometimes woke me in the night.

Now, for the past five days...I wake up, and my whole left arm is numb, except for the burning pain in my inside forearm. From time to time, the right hand has numb fingers as well, but never as bad as my left.

So I Google "numb fingers pain" and wind up on some forum (don't remember which) where a poster suggests TOS to an inquiring mind. I look it up, and read the smptoms, my jaw dropping. The poster was supposedly a doctor at one of those "ask a doctor" sites and he recommends that I list my symptoms to ensure a proper diagnosis. So I have. I've listed them below because I want to know if my symptoms are similar to what you all feel...and how on earth we are supposed to deal with the pain (exercise? I really hate exercising). Again, your comments are welcome.

• Extreme Pain and severe numbness in L arm when laying down
• Whole arm aches with activity (like typing, serving, etc)
• Left shoulder frequently cracks
• Left shoulder markedly lower than right one
• Consistant pain localizes more intensly at the wrist, elbow, shoulders and finger joints (in that order)
• Entire hand, wrist and arm ache and are numb up to the elbow. SEVERE pain in the inner forearm, makes me cry sometimes
• Mild to moderate upper back/lower neck pain
• Weakness and shaking when handling even very light items
• Continual swollen feeling to the left fingers
• Compensating by slouching and over using right arm/hand

What I have tried (five days into the extreme pain):

• Heating Pad (helps)
• Posture (don't know if it helps yet)
• Muscle Rub (feels good, very short term)
• sleeping sitting upright
• trying to stand and sit with a better posture

800mg Ibuprofen (barely touches it)

MRI Results:

• C Spine: No Nerve Impingment
• Shoulder: Tendonitis (Supraspinatus Tendon)

Thanks for reading. Glad to meet all of you,

Dena

[Dena]

btw, my first othopedic consult is tomorrow morning. wish me luck

[tfall]

I have been a member for a few months. But decided I'd better intoduce myself. My name is Terri , I'm from a suburb of Dallas, TX. Dr. Urschel is my doctor and by the way the only doctor in TX. I'm having surgery on March 25th. They are doing a rib resection on the right side. And then in 8 weeks we will be doing the left side.

I look forword to getting to know everyone by joining in on some of the other discussions.

It's nice to have others that understand my pain.

[pianoplayer]

... in order for anyone to read/reply to my posts? Not too familiar with the protocol on forums, sorry if I offended by posting "out of turn".

I'm a professional pianist, injured in a car accident three years ago. Had ulnar nerve transposition and arthroscopic shoulder surgery two years ago. The shoulder pain never went away. Elbow pain has returned worse than before.

My doc now thinks I have TOS, and from what I've read it seems like a good diagnosis.

So, my question - if you have nerve entrapment in more than one place, can you need to get the nerve decompressed in both places at once? Should you?

thanks

[thursday]

So I want to re-introduce myself. Hello! I'm threading the waters of TOS/ RSI and the workers' comp system in California. I really love this forum. Its a wonderful resource. I am trying to expand the resources in the cyberworld (), I have started a blog addressing questions I've encountered along the way. If anyone is interested, please check it out!! http://rsi-wc-california.blogspot.com/

Thanks guys!

[Noxy]

Good day all.I have right sided TOS and had surgery for it in Dec 2007.All went not to bad.Rt.lung was not fully functional after surgery.Had to do the breathing exercises for couple of weeks. Came back thank goodness.
Work tried to force me back before I was seen by my surgeon for follow up.I waited for my surgeon and lets say.....the return to work has been worse than being freshly post op! Surgeon wanted result of a certain exam before seeing me for follow up but work said did not matter and took my pay from me for 3 weeks! Doc note said to remian off work but they say they do not accept doctors notes!!The fight goes on about that.
As for post op...was very painful for about 3 weeks.Just to lift my arm made me feel sick .Just got some of my range of motion back.Arm still weak to the point I cannot lift much. I am an xray tech/mammographer so all my hours are filled with lots of lifting.My neck feels very tight on rt side.incision under arm healed nicely...still numb though and sore at some points.Hand still goes blue when used. NO one at my work even knows what TOS is let alone what a rib resection involves ,so kind of get feeling they think I am lying.
Hope you all are doing fine.I hear you and feel your pain!