Fair points but I learn a lot from what you guys bring up.
I think we just have to hit pretty much everything since a lot of us have similar dysfunctions mostly due to having some sort of RSI element worsen things.

Yes my clavicle sloped down and my shoulders rolled forward
I went to my teams physical therapist and she pointed out that the bottom and inside edge of my shoulder blade rests in such a way that it sticks out of my back. This implied that my shoulder blades were unstable which is a main cause of "shoulder impingement syndrome" which they are sure is my problem. So the plan was to strengthen the upper traps and serratus and lower traps to stabilize my shoulder blades and stop my shoulder pain. My body responded to the upper trap shrugs extremely well and I improved by about 45% over the course of 6 weeks. I now do a couple sets every couple days to maintain strength but any of my upper trap problems I would consider managed/solved. It was a huge help and I recommend it.

The serratus and lower trap stuff isnt doing its job however. I cant flatten out that shoulder blade. This is probably an issue with my medial scalene putting pressure on my long thoracic nerve. Maybe not though, who knows.

Im positive if I fix my shoulder blade position, whether that be from physio, botox or surgery to free up my LTN, I will be 100% cured.

Im ranting a bit but what im trying to say is that there is a lot of focus on changing the first rib position and adjusting the first rib, when in my opinion, the clavicle/scapula complex is much easier to manipulate with upper trap/serratus/lower trap strengthening

Hi

Can you please describe the shoulder shrugs?
I am back to work but have had several flare ups and have had a miserable week.
I think Ozone shots may have helped me a bit. I can't get out of the pain cycle enough to strengthen, but i do roll on the soft roller and ball quite a bit. i want to try Edgelow-Did you buy a kit? And Where from?

Thanks,
JKL

I did not do edgelow and I dont know what it is sorry. Heres a video though! Hope it helps!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WvFhnUWjMVA

Thanks JZP.
So from your post it appears you had overstretched, weak Upper Traps and probably LT was already strong to begin with. By strengthening the Upper Traps, stress is being taken off the clavicle by the muscles below.
In my case (I think), I am already Upper Trap dominant (a very common phenomenon) so Upward Shrugs should be added only after I manage to make my UT:LT ratio dysfunction less. Otherwise the strong Upper Traps will overpower the LowerTraps again.

Exactly! Thats what a lot of people miss, the whole lower trap/upper trap relationship is about balance, at least thats what I think. So the shrugs definitely wont help everybody!

This is why TOS is so frusterating. It has different ways of manifesting in different people, so my TOS is different from your TOS. I wish there was a magic surgery that solved everyones problems and it was universal for all of us.

Chtam- keep trekking man, there's still options.


Yes yes Yes!
(Loving this thread btw. )
This is part of why surgeries, even conservative treatments etc are not successful if they are not tailored to the specific individual and their specific set of issues. It's very easy for new, or busy, or uninterested medical providers to just follow the flow chart of treatment and then get peeved at you or failing to arrive at the correct conclusion.
There are 3 types of 3 TOS (veinous, arterial, neurogenic) in some combination that typical exist in 3 main points of constriction (interscaelene, costoclavicular, subcoracoid).
http://www.physio-pedia.com/Thoracic_Outlet_Syndrome
This little section of the neck/shoulder/scapula is intensely interconnected and messing up one part tends to really throw off the rest.
For whatever reason, interscalene TOS is the most common form of treatment and typically only around the anterior portion when it comes to injections and surgical release. This makes no friggin sense to me if the nerve pathology is causing a clavicle droop, especially of there is a chronic winged scapula involved!'

Balance balance balance!
Finding the right PT may be the answer, and I'm going to be looking up all these names (thank you!) as the docs argue if the clavicle is a shoulder, neck, or thoracic dr's problem.

I have lived with TOS for over 20 years and still work full time. I am lucky that I have moved into management, because there is no way I could still be an electrician. My arms get worn out just removing the screws to change a light switch cover.

I am having more and more trouble functioning, but still work 50 hrs a week and drive 45 minutes each way. But the way it is going I think at the most I have 4-5 more years of working in me.

My normal pain level is 4-5 and it hits 8-9 regularly. I get PT every 3 weeks, massages as needed and on 2 prescription pain medicines and 1 muscle relaxer.

Can you tell me the frequency and dosage/weights for the Upper Trap shrugs? I just read that many folks think that Upper Traps are basically stabilizers and strengthening them is mostly a plus.

Thanks