I'm looking for some insight to a new development of my TOS or??. I have long term fairly severe neurovascular TOS and pec-minor syndrom on my non-dominant side but so far have avoided surgery. My dominant side has tested for only mild TOS (I've had all the tests.) I am now experiencing a lot of intense elbow pain on the dominant side now precipitated by even minimal use. I've had what was considered a bad case of "tennis elbow" on this dominant side many yrs ago but it was brought on with excessive use at that time. I 've learned to keep it at bay with techniques that many of us TOSers and RSIers are familiar with But I din't have this overall body feeling of tight tendons before.

Besides the elbow pain (and above and below) which I get from almost no activity (barely type, no work, minimal life) I feel that suddenly my tendons are too short for my body. Mainly the tendons in the dominant arm but also the other arm and overall in my body. I'm trying to decide what KIND of doctor to see to get it checked out and what style of hands-on PT to try. I have recently moved and don't have current docs and realize that whatever kind of dr I go to will determine their diagnosis and their suggested course of action. I do the Sharon Butler program as best I can and also Edgelow's but this feeling of shortened tendons or nerves has come on kind of suddenly. It is possible that the pulling syptoms are related to changing my exercise routine due to moving. But at any rate I am extermely limited at this point and am looking for some feedback or ideas.

Has anyone else had this experience? I do know that my own attention is most valuable and don't rely on docs for so much but I would like to get a handle on what this is and try appropriate hands-on work. I do know that each case is unique and that we aren't doctors or med. profs. but any thoughts or insight on similar experiences most appreciated.

Wishing everyone a pain-free day!

Fern,
I have occasional pain in my right elbow but my worst TOS side is the left. I really don't associate this pain with TOS anyway but who knows.....It feels like what I'd think tennis elbow feels like (although I've never been acquainted with a tennis racket ) and comes and goes. I can't tell that I do anything in particular to cause it, although it seems like it tends to happen when I keep that elbow bent for a long time. I wonder if a physiatrist (sp) would be helpful with it? Maybe someone else will be along who can shed more light on it.

1. Need more specifcs. What exactly hurts and where?
2. If you moved recently, were you carrying heavy boxes? This may have caused you to bend forward more due to fatigue and just the heaviness of the boxes...this may then pull on your anatomy which in turn irritated the BP and hence the compression signs. How is your posture? How is it during exercise? During normal every day stuff? Pay very close attention to YOUR anatomy in and around your left and right BP at all points from the neck to the hands as you do activities. As you stand. As you sit. As you talk on the phone. When you relax are you bent forward, is your head out in front of your chest instead of in line with your back bone...simple things like this. Are your shoulders "rolled forward" learn what that means. For ME, it made a HUGE difference. I dont' catch myself as often as I should but I am catching myself more and more. But that's is ME...I don't know if the same applies to you.

Fern- My PT is best for helpign me sort out nitty gritty problems like this. She'll ask me to move certain directions and then ask where it hurts, or what part stops me from being able to go further. She asks me to do lots of movements i never do on my own (because I am so used to cheating and correcting for my limitations)

I'd say PT or body worker would be able to help you loosen things and identifiy what feels the most out of whack. I have had some really awesome success asking for myofascial release massage at different massage places now. Those particular kind of massueses seem to have the best understanding of anatomy and how to get me moving again. The experience is closer to what the PT does on a good day than a relaxing massage.

If you need to find the most efficient doc to send you to PT, I'd vote orthopedic. Every one of my family has gone to our ortho, he says "try a few weeks of PT then come back and we'll see how you feel"

my arms get really tight all the time-mostly computer related, but I can see how boxes might do it, too. It does feel like what you are describing. Make sure you are drinking enough water- and if that isn't working on it's own, maybe do a little sea salt (~1/4 teaspoon in a 16 oz glass) in the water for electrolyte balance (sea salt has the same balance as humans need + trace minerals- better than gatorade)


good luck, sorry i can't give you anything more specific.

Johanna

PS- if you are worried that it is some kind of condition that causes connective tissue problems, a rheumy would be the kind of doctor to see.

thanks for your insight. No, I haven't been involved in any packing/un-packing so it's not that. I do now use a laptop and need to tend to better ergonomics... also need to hook-up a better keyboard. I suspect it is mainly a change of routine as I am doing more walking instead of yoga and tai-chi/ chi-gong style stretches in and out of the warm water. I suspect that my practice kept my body more limber than I realized. It is interesting though to see how the overall body suffers from the tight tendons or nerves. The suggestion of a Rheum MD is a good one. It is difficult to find doctors to treat TOS in a new place. I did find 2 surgeons who treat TOS and have asked for names of treating docs and PTs from them.

wish all a pain free day.

Fern

weak and painful elbows were the first daytime symptom I had that alerted me that something serious was going on. I hadn't noticed how my 2 end fingers were getting numb. Only that my arms fell asleep at night a lot.

I held out for 8 years before I did the surgeries.

best of luck to you and a pain-free day to all,
Anne