[cppoly]

Can someone describe your neck aches / discomfort / pain from TOS?

Is it actual pain, ache, or just discomfort?

I have unexplained neck ache / discomfort that's dramatically affecting my sleep and the only explanation at this point is from TOS. All imaging and tests are negative. Muscle relaxers, sleeping prescription, pain blockers, etc. have not worked. Does this sound like TOS is the culprit especially since NO medication, over the counter medication, or other have worked AND there is no evidence a disc problem in the neck that would be causing this symptom? It's not pain, since I would describe pain as something sharp and can scale "pain" from 0 - 10. It's more like aches, discomfort, and possibly numbness. I only get this from sleeping.

Thanks

[Jomar]

I had what I would call very strong discomfort when I had my severe spasms in my neck & scalenes.
Also had the whooshing/pulse like bruit sounds going 24/7 which really was annoying and affected my sleep at the time.. Sound was due to spasms compressing on my neck arteries... that sound resolved when spasms were treated and resolved..

Have you gotten any expert PT or chiropractic care?
Good one should be able to feel muscle spasms and use various modalities to treat those.
*Strengthening attempts on a spasmed muscle is a very poor idea, so if they suggest that run and find another place/ treatment provider.*

Trigger point information {TrPs} for short-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread125577.html
useful sticky -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

[dmentzer]

Loss of sleep has been a horrible cycle for me as well. My pain varies in the neck from burning to horrible ache...head, shoulders, back are usually the knotted up spasm achy pain. Arms kill me at night and so hard to get back to sleep. A few things that help me, and I mix it up depending on type of pain and sometimes i just don't know what to do. These all before bed...
- Shiatsu back and/or neck massager
- muscle relaxers - Flexeril works well but I take it a couple hours ahead to offset the groggy mornings it causes
- arms elevated on pillows
- soft cervical collar
- electric neck / shoulder heater with automatic timer
- I'm odd in that stuff like diaudid is great for daytime breakthrough pain but keeps me awake and/or bad dreams...T3 takes the edge off without keeping me awake
- I mix up OTC and prescription sleep meds to vary and melatonin
These are all in addition to my baseline pain and anti-spasmodics.
Good luck...hope something helps you.
David

[cppoly]

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried chiropractors, muscle relaxers, muscle massages, sleeping medications, elevated pillows, cervical pillows, heat, ice, and other things.

Have you tried injections in the neck? I'm thinking this is my last shot at this point.

I will try PT, but I'm not that hopeful. Also am trying deep tissue massages and even though these are expensive I haven't had any benefit from these. I'm thinking injections might be my only chance for relief.

[brisco71]

Originally Posted by cppoly

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried chiropractors, muscle relaxers, muscle massages, sleeping medications, elevated pillows, cervical pillows, heat, ice, and other things.

Have you tried injections in the neck? I'm thinking this is my last shot at this point.

I will try PT, but I'm not that hopeful. Also am trying deep tissue massages and even though these are expensive I haven't had any benefit from these. I'm thinking injections might be my only chance for relief.

I've tried the injections in the neck(cervical epidurals) with no luck. I tried it a few years back and just recently had two within a month of each other. It did not do a thing for my neck pain

[dmentzer]

I've done various injections.
Ablation of multiple nerves helped some neck issues a while (I have major cervical and TOS issues like many).
Had steroids epidural - they didn't help much.
Trigger point injections do help me in shoulders and upper back when it gets tight and I can't break the cycle on my own.
PT has been a challenge - treat the neck and makes TOS worse ... treat TOS and neck is worse.
Massage does help, but finding the right person / technique is hard. I find a deep tissue but ask to stay away from posterior cervical (side for scalenes is good) but deep in shoulders and back helps. Sometimes I do get surprised the next morning after I thought a previous day massage was good to find I can't get out of bed...so hit or miss.
I was warned by multiple docs to avoid the pain docs recommended approach to do the cervical saline or dextrose solutions injection (intentionally created scar tissue strategically done...forget name).
I scar pretty bad based on previous surgeries so I put off anything invasive since realizing that...trigger point injections probably the only exception when I'm desperate and can't stop them solo.
David

[Eight]

Do you sleep with your arms at or above your shoulders? How do you sleep?

Have you been diagnosed with tos?

Where do you live? Check out the sticky thread with tos doctors and physical therapists by state.

[cppoly]

Originally Posted by Eight

Do you sleep with your arms at or above your shoulders? How do you sleep?

Have you been diagnosed with tos?

Where do you live? Check out the sticky thread with tos doctors and physical therapists by state.

Unfortunately because of TOS, I have to sleep with my arms below my shoulders or better put with my arms fully extended by my thighs. I've tried every possible sleeping position I could think of. I've tried sleeping on my stomach, side, and back.I tried to 20 pillows in a span of 3 years. I've tried sleeping with arms underneath pillows and arms wrapped in towels. It always ends in the same result, me waking up 30 to 60 times per night. The best way I can describe it is that I'm conscious of the wake up and I know my neck is bothering me so I change positions with my pillow by rolling over or adjusting my head. I fall back asleep in 2 seconds or less only to wake up 5 minutes later with the same neck discomfort, aches, or numbness. The fact that my arms must be fully extended only forces me to sleep in awkward position on my stomach and this puts extra pressure on my neck. I can't sleep on my sides because either side I try my arm will go numb underneath. I can't sleep on my back longer than a few hours because I get same symptoms in my neck so I am forced to roll onto my stomach always. This only makes things worse for me.

[Eight]

Nice description, lol. I am a side sleeper. I use 1-2 regular cheap pillows, and this to support my head/neck to sleep on my side:

http://www.amazon.com/LapGear-35058-.../dp/B00FZM92UW

Bought it for my iPad, love it for side sleeping. The foam beads seem forgiving.

Often I put my heating pad between my neck and the iPad pillow as well.

[kellysf]

I sleep sitting up. I've always been a back sleeper so it's been easier for me than if I were I side or stomach sleeper. But I have to elevate by shoulders and head or I get horrible neck and head pain and head pressure. It's not very cozy, but I've managed to come up with a system that mostly helps me stay asleep, though it can still take several hours to fall asleep.

Good luck.