So a while ago I went to the doc and explained my symptoms of raising my left arm and my vision going black and getting dizzy, fainting, the pain from the back of my arm to my fingers and the numbness and tingling and extreme cold. No discoloration. Went to cardiologist for POTS. Nope. I went for a TOS test with PPG and it showed flatline when I raise my arm, so no blood flow to my fingers. Went for a CT scan, no compression shown. Vascular surgery cancelled my appointment. Went for an EMG which was normal. Went for an ultrasound Doppler thing with duplex and it showed high PSV in my proximal subclavian artery and low PSV in my distal radial artery. Went back to the doc and was sent to Ortho to check for brachial plexopathy and Vascular to check for subclavian steal syndrome. Ortho did X-rays this morning and saw I have cervical something where my neck is completely straight. It only bothers me when I look up for extended periods of time but no other neck issues. He ordered an MRI that I have next week because he said I had a positive elbow flexion test and positive adsons test and everything aligns with TOS and usually it’s physical therapy but my other symptoms are not aligning so they want imaging of the whole thing. The vascular doc I was scheduled with for Monday was then changed to another doc that specializes in venous after the MRI because the doc I was scheduled with specialized in arterial like TOS and she’s not seeing TOS. Gabapentin does nothing so we ruled out nerves. The low PSV and positive adsons test, according to my doc, points to an issue with my radial artery but everyone is tossing me around and one doc says TOS but the other says no and I just can’t get a diagnosis of anything but it’s getting worse. I dropped my coffee cup the other morning because my arm and hand went completely numb and that’s never happened. The pain is also getting worse no matter what position I’m in.

Hi , Yes , it is often a big mystery, unless something like an extra rib shows on imaging..

Are you working still? desk, repetitive, ect?

Have you found our useful sticky threads at the top of the TOS page?
https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/

There is a ton of saved info there, some links might be expired, but there could be new related info online to give search ideas. Don't try to read it all at once tho..


I found Sharon Butlers website to be very helpful for me, as well as a very good chiropractor that used multiple therapies , along with adjusting.

A PT teacher tried a rib mobilization on me that worked amazingly..
I had spasms in my SCS and scalenes that pulled my top rib up and it was stuck , then chiro followed up on that when it happened again..

Explore past post threads or search the site for specific topics to save time..

Thanks Jomar, have you posted your story/history anywhere? I came across an old post talking about sensitivity on the underside of the forearm/ulnar nerve and I related to that as well

Thank you for the resources. I ended up seeing Dr. Darren Schneider and will be seeing him again in June after my MRI to discuss the surgical options. I had a positive test across the board (Adsons, Roos, EAST, EFT, Wrights, etc.) and with my symptoms he’s 100% sure it’s nTOS. Unfortunately, it’s getting worse and my desk job is being affected. Thankfully I have a great support system at work and have the ability to work as I can so long as my job gets completed. The numbness is beginning to interfere with daily tasks, like putting a case of soda in the car. Along with the numbness comes shooting pain on top of the constant pain I already have. At my best day, my pain level is a 4. It’s beginning to rise and Dr Schneider was the only one I have seen that truly listened and emphasized with me. Fingers crossed for some relief soon!