NeuroTalk Support Groups - TOS or Something Else? Need Guidance

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- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/)

- - TOS or Something Else? Need Guidance (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/201795-tos-else-guidance.html)

ATOS is arterial
VTOS is venous
NTOS is Nerve

disputed TOS is usually when not a clear cut option of the above, usually related more to past injuries or repetitive issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atl_Golfer (Post 1056505)

Thanks.... I had someone new (ie more qualified to say the least) look at my MRI and they indicated "Right Foraminal Stenosis at c6/ c7 and I'm now scheduled for an injection this Friday that he feels will help this.

What is ATOS?

What did YOU do to alleviate the numbness? Wait it out? PT? or did you do an injection? or what else? Trying to determine the likelihood that an injection will fix this up for me for a while/ forever.

I guess everyone is "wired a little differently" and this occasional pain under my arm might also be a "projection" of the pain coming from the c6 / c7 issue?

Hello! I had Arterial TOS on my left side. As I said there, upper plexus which is also a bit rare (arterial TOS is also relatively rare I heard). My case was hopeless. First of all, it was correctly diagnosed only after many years of different types of symptoms which progressed over time (I was basically born with this anomaly). I got botox injections every 3-4 months since 2007, this only made my TOS worse. By the time I had my diagnosis, PT could not save me anymore although I really tried it. It gave me bad flare ups. So, surgery was my only option, especially since it was arterial and I had many problems with blood circulation, heaviness of arm, even though most of the physicians I saw would not believe me. I had first rib resection and scalenectomy in Dec 2013. So far I am doing well. Most of the symptoms are gone. Nerve pain is still an issue but this terrible numbness is gone (have it very rarely, but nerve related). PT 2 x a week with just scar treatment. In a few months, I will be able to slowly do work out to get my strength back.

So just in case. I hope that the injections will work for you.

All the best!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwissMiss (Post 1056759)

Hello! I had Arterial TOS on my left side. As I said there, upper plexus which is also a bit rare (arterial TOS is also relatively rare I heard). My case was hopeless. ... By the time I had my diagnosis, PT could not save me anymore although I really tried it. It gave me bad flare ups. So, surgery was my only option.

According to the vascular surgeon we used, with Arterial TOS, PT does make it worse. The body naturally moves to a slumping position to help restore blood flow.

To the OP, I, too, wish you the best.

To Nelly: But, aren't you getting surgery soon?? What happened?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwissMiss (Post 1056196)

Numbness index finger can indicate compression of the upper plexus (C5, C6, C7). I had upper plexus ATOS on my left side with numb index finger and thumb. Right side was lower plexus TOS with numbness ulnar side of the arm and pinky finger.

This is interesting.

First, I had a pec minor release, six months prior to any botox. With this I got feeling in the ring finger which stayed. I got feeling in the pinky and middle finger, but it faded. Forgot fingers felt so much prior to this.

When I got my anterior scalenes Botoxed, I got feeling back in my little finger, more in the ring finger, and middle finger. I got some feeling in the index finger and thumb, but it went away.

Six weeks after that I got the middle scalenes Botoxed. Then I got zinginging nerve sensation and some feeling back in the index ringer and thumb.

Does this mean one could determine if they have ATOS and/or ntos based on which fingers are numb?

I thought I just had ntos, but it turns out I have both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nellyzen (Post 1055560)

I have recovered about 70% with PT and some medication. I take 20mgs of Pamelor per day for nerve pain.

At this point my dr thinks it's pretty the maximum improvement I can get the non surgical way and I tend to agree, I have reached a plateau with PT and chiro. Going forward is mainly maintenance, I take a muscle relaxant when I feel really tight and do my daily exercises. My dr told me I need to them for life. So I guess this is not going anywhere unfortunately. :cool:

Which muscle relaxant do you take? Are there any effective ones safe for long term use? I used Celexocib (antiinfllammatory) but its linked to several scary diseases when used constantly.