NeuroTalk Support Groups - Has anyone found MRI neurography of the brachial plexus helpful in diagnosing TOS

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

- - Has anyone found MRI neurography of the brachial plexus helpful in diagnosing TOS (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/210414-found-mri-neurography-brachial-plexus-helpful-diagnosing-tos.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hope526 (Post 1101395)

Sorry to hear that JKL. I totally understand your frustration. I know the feeling of wanting and hoping so badly for something to take the symptoms of this awful syndrome away. I'm curious to know what they are using for your trigger point injections? Do they think that your TOS is due to your scalenes? Which muscles did they do the botox in?
Have you tried chiropractic before? I have been doing it for a few months. It hasn't helped with my nerve issues but it has given me significant relief with my mid-upper back pain.

Hope you find some relief soon:)

I do cortizone every few months and lidocaine with vit b and traumeel inbetween.Today I had injections in my rib joint near my scalpula. I dodnt think my TOS is due to my scalenes but who knows? I had botox in about 8 different muscles. had a bad reaction to it. What kind of chiropractor do you see? What type of adujstments? Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hope526 (Post 1101394)

Thanks cyclist. What you said about the botox not working due to scarring makes perfect sense to me. I did see a TOS specialist who originally diagnosed me with it but after the botox injections failed to help he said he can't definitively say that I have TOS. Another symptom I have that doesn't seem to be as common with TOS is mid to upper back pain. I'm not sure what that's all about.

I'm pretty desperate right now and willing to try anything. I'm going to try rolfing next to see if that will bring any relief. I'm curious to know what type of treatment has worked best for you?

I appreciate all of your input and I am going to have the MRN in a few weeks. I'm curious to see what, if anything, it will show.

Take care:)

Upper back or shoulder pain was one of my main problems for the first ten years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkl626 (Post 1103269)

I called around until I found a chiro in my area that has had success in treating TOS patients. My chiro uses the activator method. He is only allowed to work on my thoracic area and right arm. Those are the only areas that the insurance have authorized.

So chiro can't work on your neck , arms, elbows or pec minor at all?

Is that a work comp ins restriction or who set the restriction ?

If you need an adjustment somewhere else to help overall healing that restriction is going to limit your progress..:confused:

Did chiro try to send his own evaluation/assessment to get restriction changed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo*mar (Post 1104671)

Yes Jo*mar unfortunately it is a work comp restriction:( I have been trying to get my neck and left arm added to the claim for 2 1/2 months. I am still waiting for an answer. It is extremely frustrating for me and my chiro because it is obvious that I need those areas to be worked on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hope526 (Post 1100847)

I'm wondering if anyone has had success in diagnosing compression sites with a Neurography of the brachial plexus? I was told that it is ineffective because without compression the nerves have a normal appearance.

I have not been given an official diagnosis of TOS although I have been exhibiting all of the symptoms for more than a year. The thing that is keeping my docs hesitant to label me with the TOS diagnosis is because I did not have significant improvement of my symptoms with the botox injection to my anterior scalene and pec minor. Just wondering if it might help in the diagnosis and with treatment.

I ended up having my MRN and it showed "increased signal in the right proximal and distal plexus and increased signal in the posterior left plexus." It does not give any indication of what muscles are causing this constriction. My understanding is that the increased signal is showing there is edema. Is anyone familiar with MRI and can help me with this. I would really like to know what is contributing to my TOS. I'm going to see a new Dr in the seattle area in a few days. Does anyone have any suggestions on treatment recommendations?? Thanks for your help:)