[Shadow1]

Originally Posted by chroma

Thanks for sharing. How is the PT going?

Also, where did you take the Alexander Technique classes if you don't mind me asking? I'm in the LA area as well.

Well I really only started PT in earnest this week due to some scheduling conflicts with my therapist. So, after two sessions I definitely feel less tight in the upper body but still feel tight in all the usual places (scalenes, pecs, below clavicle). She has given me some breathing exercises (basically lying on back doing deep diaphragmatic breathing). She has also incorporated some very light theraband resistance for my upper back. When I do these exercises, I have to focus on my breathing so as to minimize incorporating my scalenes and SCM. It's quite an effort to do this and I find that looking in a mirror really helps. I also lie on my back on a foam roll to stretch my pecs but this seems to really bring on he coldness in my hands so she will probably have to modify this. I have bilateral subclavian artery compression and ulnar nerve compression. My symptoms are still about the same, they have not flared from all the manual therapy and light exercises. They also haven't improved but at least they haven't gotten worse!

As for the Alexander Technique lessons, I'm in Orange County, and found a lovely older woman who has been teaching for 20+ years. Her name is Phyllis Gilmore. She has an amazing ability to sense tightness in the body. Her hands could be on my arm and she'll know that I'm tense in my left hamstring (or somewhere nowhere near my arm!). I can ask her for recommendations in the LA area if you'd like. Is there a particular area in LA? I'm still taking lessons about once a week and they really have taught me a lot. I am still amazed at how, with her guidance, I am able to inhibit my tension when I'm in a lesson. The lessons have taught me to become more aware of the overall tension in my body. While I'm still working on how to inhibit on my own, I've learned quite a bit. I highly recommend taking a few classes and have an open mind and be willing to "let go." It's hard at first but you will get the hang of it.

I've also had a few massages over the last few weeks and they've helped as well. Make sure to ask your massage therapist if they've worked on TOS. I found one that has slight case of TOS herself as does her significant other. She spends a very heavenly hour massaging pretty much every muscle in the upper body with a heavy emphasis on pecs (minor and major), scalenes, subscapularis, traps, rhomboids. She also throws in a little active release when I can tolerate it. In case you are going to get a massage, I think it would be awkward if a man was massaging my pecs/chest region the way she does so I would request a woman.

Anyhow, I've rambled on...off to do some deep breathing!

[Jomar]

Hello Shadow,
I'll place copies of your posts here on the main TOS thread area for more hellos & sharing.

[tracieg]

Hi! My name is Tracie, I live in Santa Monica CA. I amfinally having surgery on my left side tomorrow.I can no longer deal with the chest pain....just found this forum by accident will checkin after surgery. I wasnot able to post a picture

[jodini]

Had surgery for TOS Rib removal and muscles removed 16 years ago. This was from a card accident. Did ok after a while and 2 days ago some idiot rear ended us while we were stopped at the light. Here comes the paid shooting down the arm. Pain under the arm and hand killing me. Thought I finally was out of this. Don't know where to go or what to do at this point. We to urgent care they havn't a clue.....

[Capricorn1]

Hi all,
I was hurt at work in 2007, diagnosed with TOS in 2008 have cervical ribs on both sides. I hit the jackpot and have venous and neurological TOS. Had TOS surgery, removal of 2nd rib surgeon couldn't reach 1st rib in Sept. 09. Relieved some symptoms, still have numbness, tingling, right sided weakness, someday's have blurry vision and migraines that continue off and on. Have major flareups that cause a lot of pain in shoulder, neck, and arm. Also have back pain and right leg pain. Had an ovarian venous thrombosis in February that doctors claim is unrelated to TOS. Workman's compensation in California is not good, everything gets denied therefore limited treatment in form of physical therapy, or chiropractor. Have had steriod injections for pain relief, no botox yet. Surgery did help as i no longer get dizzy, or have symptoms of a stroke. Hospitalized twice in past with stroke symptoms because my arms were lifted over my head. Unable to work full time since May, was on partial work schedule off and on for over year and a half.

[michelestefanie]

I have been diagnosed with bilateral TOS and it is destroying my life and fast. The pain is absolutely horrible on both sides....plus at 31 I jave cervical disk degeneration. I really think the chiro messed me up more. He was using an activator gun on the my back and neck before I even had mri's done to tell me that I have a herniated disk at c5-c6 and degenerative disk disease on multiple levels. You would thing that I was rear ended by a mac truck. What brought this all on was me walking up almost 100 steps with my 13 pd. daughter in one of those frontpack carriers...it straps on your back and you carry them in the front...don't know what I was thinking...thought I would get exercise I guess...but instead of taking the elevator I decided to walk up 8 long flights of steps with her strapped to my chest...horrible, horrible mistake because when I got to the top I seriously almost passed out, was sweating and in pain. As the weeks and months passed and several chiro and PT visits later I got much worse. I am not sure what to do now

[cmg1121]

Well i have TOS in both shoulders. My TOS was caused by large pendulous breasts. I had a reduction mammaplasty in July of this year to try and relieve some of the symptoms. It helped alot. But symptoms are still there, just not as bad. It seems some symptoms are better but some are worse. I have had TOS for a few years. I always new something was wrong, just didn't know what. My collar bones (both) are deformed. They are pulled down From the weight of my bra straps. I have dents and scars on my shoulders from my bra straps. My neck is curved weird. So the orthapedic surgeon told me. He says from the back view, it curves to the right? He was the one who told me i had TOS. My left shoulder seems to hurt alot, along with my arm and the last 3 fingers and part of my hand. The pain is worse in my left side. I also get the burning sensation in my left side. My right side hasn't done the burning thing since the surgery. My left arm is extremely weak. Now my right side has the pain in the last 3 digits of the fingers, part of the hand and a spot right in the middle of my forearm. Those same places also feel like someone dips them in ice water. My right arm is always cold and icy feeling. When i go and pick something 15lbs or heavier up from head height my arms stop working. IT is the only way i know how to describe it. One minute i am holding the object, the next it is on the floor and i cant move my arms. They eventually start working again it takes a minute or to. I avoid picking up anything that triggers that nowa days. I guess i will quit jabbering. But that is part of my story.

[Stewy5]

My son has YOS and is scheduled for surgery Nov 15. Looking for some info on what to expect. He is a competative tennis player and wants to return to the game to play college tennis

[boytos]

Seriously stopping tennis is not so dramatic, i mean if the only thing he can't do is playing tennis he is lucky, for me :-)

Regards

[Texan0204]

Hi all!
So here is my story...
Went to the doctor because I had veins showing in my chest down my left upper arm. They did a sonogram and found a clot in my arm, so I was sent to the hospital. They ran a WHOLE bunch of tests. It took them a week to diagnosis me with Paget Von Schroetter Syndrome (effort - venous TOS). They did a TPA/Heaprin IV which put me in the ICU. Doctors did a 2nd venogram which showed that the thrombolysis didn't work as well as they would have liked. Rib resection was done Feb. 2010, on warafin until May 2010 (Scars above and below clavicle) I still have random pains (warmth and coldness in the arm) from time to time. I have to go to my see my surgeon ever year now and have a sonogram of my arm every 2 years. FUN!