Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/Brachial Plexopathy. In Memory Of DeAnne Marie.


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Old 10-03-2019, 02:50 PM #1
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Default Nervous about possible TOS...

Hi everyone. Sorry for the extremely long post. I’ll try to keep it in a neat format.

I’m not officially diagnosed with TOS but I’m fairly certain I have it. I have terrible posture ever since I was a child. Slouching was natural to me. I’ve been using the computer for 20+ years with that terrible posture.

This all happened in my left dominant hand first 2 months ago. My ring and pinky finger went partially numb first. It happened suddenly. In about 2-3 days my hand, wrist, and forearm along the ulnar nerve started to become partially numb too.

Dr. Google suggested that it’s cubital tunnel syndrome. A few real doctors said so too. So, I began splinting my arm at night and almost completely stopped using my left arm. My symptoms very gradually improved.. however about a month ago I started getting strange symptoms elsewhere.

So right now my current symptoms are:

Left side/arm

-Sensory issues with my ring, pinky, hand, wrist, and forearm on ulnar nerve side (tingling, stinging, electric shocks, slight numbness, etc.).
-Hand appears tanner than my right.
-Slightly swollen fingers.
-Elbow pain, mostly along the ulnar nerve area.
-While standing with my arm at the side, it is hanging at a bent angle, I say around 30 degrees. I can straighten it but my arm seems to be bent at an angle naturally.
-A click/pop feeling on the inside of the elbow when I fully extend my arm straight.
-A strange tugging/pulling sensation in my triceps from my elbow and into my shoulder blade area. It’s more noticeable when I bend my arm overhead, for example tying my hair up. I don’t think it’s a muscle.. maybe a nerve but I don’t know what nerve runs to back of the shoulder blade.
-Triceps feel weird... I would say very minor numbness.
-Not really noticeable, but if I concentrate there is a dull ache under my shoulder blade area.
-Pointer, middle, and thumb occasionally has a tingling sensation.
-Entire hand and arm feels slightly warmer and/or a burning sensation sometimes.
-Some days my neck/shoulder area feels tight. It’s very minor and it doesn’t restrict my neck movement.
-Clavicle bone feels extremely tight and uncomfortable sometimes.

Right arm

-Doesn’t happen often, but sometimes I get pain inside my forearm near the elbow bend area
-Pointer, middle, and thumb falls asleep when I sleep on my right side
-Slightly swollen fingers
-Hand feels warmer/burns sometimes.
-My skin around the elbow sometimes feels sensitive.
-Hand appears paler than the left (I’m just going to include this because I don’t know which color is normal).

I’ve been to a handful of doctors already. I’ve only gotten an EMG/NCV done on both arms from the elbow to hand. It came back normal. I mentioned TOS to an orthopedic and he doesn’t seem convinced. So now I’m seeing a neurologist. I’m going to get an MRI of my cervical spine soon.

Based on some of the things I've read on this forum, my symptoms seems very typical of TOS.... and I'm absolutely afraid of that. At first I thought cubital tunnel syndrome and the possibility of elbow surgery was bad.. TOS is a million times worse.

I’m already doing a lot of stretches and posture exercises on my own for about a month. It's still hard to keep a good posture for 24/7 but when I do, my hand/arms feel drastically better.

I’m considering just finding an expert PT but unfortunately it doesn’t look like my insurance will cover it. I don’t exactly make a lot of money so paying hundreds for an hour PT session is very steep. I also can’t see an expert out of state because my insurance only cover doctors within my area (NYC).

Anyway excuse my long post again. I'm not sure what I'm looking for.. I just needed to let this out. I'm just not really sure what to do at this point...
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Old 10-03-2019, 06:37 PM #2
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Hi, it does pretty familiar, and few MDs "know' much of TOS or they have a minimal biased info..

I suggest seek out some experienced chiropractors in your area, they can get more done faster than months of PT..
Many also use other modalities now, like ultrasound, IF stim, low level laser, for pain areas as well as posture help & adjusting..
The one I went to adjusted wrists, elbows, collar bone, top rib mobilization, also he did upper cervical (c1c2 adjusting- legs/hips /ribs /shoulders etc not level)
much more than the old crack the spine only treatments..

I searched recently and some DCs around here also use acupuncture & other alternatives in office.

check our sticky threads for trigger points & PT info..
The knowledge will help you to find best care providers..
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Old 10-03-2019, 06:38 PM #3
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oh and some simple things to try-
https://www.neurotalk.org/members/100-albums422.html
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Old 10-06-2019, 08:10 PM #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jo*mar View Post
Hi, it does pretty familiar, and few MDs "know' much of TOS or they have a minimal biased info..

I suggest seek out some experienced chiropractors in your area, they can get more done faster than months of PT..
Many also use other modalities now, like ultrasound, IF stim, low level laser, for pain areas as well as posture help & adjusting..
The one I went to adjusted wrists, elbows, collar bone, top rib mobilization, also he did upper cervical (c1c2 adjusting- legs/hips /ribs /shoulders etc not level)
much more than the old crack the spine only treatments..

I searched recently and some DCs around here also use acupuncture & other alternatives in office.

check our sticky threads for trigger points & PT info..
The knowledge will help you to find best care providers..
Thanks for your reply. I have been doing the foam roller stretch, along with other stretches. I usually try to do it 2-3 times a day for 3 minutes each. Not sure if that's enough or too much...

Unfortunately the PT list doesn't have much for NYC.. or maybe I'm bad at searching. I did find some that supposedly specializes in TOS. I might give it a try. I'm not sure about chiropractors though.. hard to find a good one and I don't want to risk them making things worse.
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Old 10-07-2019, 12:03 PM #5
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Web search for PT /DC in your area and look at their websites if they have one..
I like to see real information and articles on a site vs just a single page.
Your health Ins website should have a search function also and the list should expand to website link , or search the name if it doesn't.

When you find a few that look promising, you can call or drive by and stop in to chat..if not busy they will have time to talk with you..

Advanced training & studies mentioned is good.
My chiro didn't know about TOS , but he knew about the body as a whole & could see I was in pain and had spasmed muscles. He found me LOL

Chiro is kind of scary at first, but after going to 2 of them, it isn't really at all, quite gentle. I don't think there are many old style rough spine crackers out there anymore.. Most have a meet & greet/1st visit /assessment where you can get a feel for their knowledge first.
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