If lying flat on your back with arms at your sides causes you to lose blood flow in an arm (or both arms), is that diagnostic regarding having pec minor vs. VTOS vs. ATOS?

This happens to me and the longer I lie there, the more it feels like the pinch point is over the armpit.

Also, has anyone overcome this particular problem with conservative treatment (and which treatment(s) if so)?

I'm doing pec minor stretches, but I just recently started again so it's too early to tell how much they'll help.

I am having the same issue which is frustrating as it prevents me from sleeping at times, do you have trouble with this?

I am about to start physical therapy hopefully it will help.

Yes, it was making to hard to sleep! However, I've been doing pec minor stretches 2 X per day and it has really helped. Took about 3 - 4 weeks to kick in. I sleep better now.

Also, I often use a pillow to prop up the left arm (my bad side). I'll fold my arms, which brings the should forward, and then get a pillow into the side.

HTH

Ic thanks... do you have like pain, tingling, and tenderness around your scapula... I've been experiencing this. I'm trying to sleep with a folded towel on my spine to see if it'll open up my pecs while sleeping and lessen the symptoms.

Yes re: scapula. For that, I like a couple things:

- Spiky massage ball against the wall. Press your upper back into it and then roll around. This was a breakthrough improvement for me! Here are ones that I like:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C4CQQ2C/
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECASXAS/

I guess that first one is not available, but search for "massage ball" and you'll find them.

- Loosen up the neck and improve posture. This reduces my "downstream" symptoms whether shoulder blade or chest & intercostals.


It's up to you on the folded towel, but personally I wouldn't want to stretch an abnormal amount of time. In addition to stressing the stretched muscles, that stretch brings the collar bones closer to the first rib. As a temporary stretch, I don't have a problem with that. But I wouldn't do that for hours or even more than a few mins.

When I stretch my pec minors more than a few mins, I get symptoms in my hands. YMMV

Things to try-
we all have various causes & factors so it may or may not help , but might be worth gently testing these.
* slow & easy works better than going all out and then backwards.. due to the delayed pain factor*
Sharon Butler's website explains why gentle stretching is better than hard core forcing stretches.. I found the info very helpful.
Repetitive Strain Injury Self Care

https://www.neurotalk.org/members/100-albums422.html
I spent a lot of time on a soft rolled up towel then got a foam roller & large exercise ball - they all worked for me..

Trigger point work- we have a sticky thread about it..
Top rib mobilization - was a big plus for me --a forum search or web search will find info on it

My version of TOS was due to work postures 15 yrs, past whiplash, past shoulder injuries, plus hyper mobility.. mainly soft tissue based.

Physical therapy has been life saving for me. I spent two years trying to figure out what was wrong. Once I was diagnosed, my doctor started me with physical therapy. I've been going 2x per week since September 2019 and have noticed a big difference.

Hope your physical therapy has helped.