Hi all! I'm new to posting on this site. I have been lurking for a month or so now, and have found you all to be such a great help!
To give some background, I was in a car accident in Oct. of '05 and got severe whiplash. To make a long story short, it took almost a year to even figure out what I have(after I researched everywhere and came up with the possibility of TOS), and then another six months to confirm it. AH! I have known for a year that I have had TOS, but my Doc and I figured it was just neurologic, until a vascular suregon confirmed that I have a combo of neuro/arterial TOS because of my subclavian artery being compressed. So, I am going to have surgery on Sept. 5th. (Which is freaking me out BTW). I will try to post after, as soon as I can.

Now to my question. Today I have been having this odd feeling in my chin. It feels almost like a pulse or spasm. It doesn't hurt, but more bothersome than anything else. Today I had a killer headache and my arm is being a bit problematic (coldness/tingeling/heavy), so I don't know if this is chin issue is TOS related or not.
Have any of you had something like this?

Much Thanks!

I was reading your post and your symptoms made me think, ecspecially the part about coldness... I have TOS and RSD... Now, I dont always know what symptoms are from what but i can say that i have RSD in my face it often affects my face with coldness, burning and general pain.... I would take a look and speak with you doctor about your symptoms... The coldness was the part that caught my eye.... My right arm is also effected by coldness.... Tempture change from my research is not a symptom of TOS.... I would defintaly consult with a doctor before your surgery! By the way good luck with your surgery i hope that it helps elevate some pain!!

Pain free days and gental hugs!!!

I've had symptoms in my face with TOS. Similar to what you explained, not painful but annoying. I've had fullness in the face, just like one with TOS might around the collar bone. I've also had this very annoying pulse sensation that was behind my shoulder blade. I was told that it was a neurological symptom of TOS.

Sorry for your need for surgery but hopefully it will minimize your problems. What kind of surgery are you going to have? Rib removal? Scalene complete removal or partial? I am wondering as I also have what I thought was mostly neuro but is now considered to be vascular. Did they tell you that surgery was an option or a must?? How was your vascular component diagnosed?

Be well!

I am thinking more and more that it is related to my TOS. I will bring it up to my Dr., but with me having surgery in a couple weeks, i'm not sure what advise he will give me besides just taking it easy.( I would talk to my surgeon, but he is out of the country performing surgeries up until mine). I could hardly sleep a wink last night because of my neck and arm (arm was heavy, coldness and my neck had sharp pain.). At 6am this morning I took a flexeriol to see if that would help and it did. It also took away the pulsing/spasm in my chin. Then at noon the chin symptoms came back, as well as the neck/arm.

Fern, as to the surgery questions. I had a doppler study done a couple of months ago because I was getting fed up and not getting any better, but not any worse with my PT/Chiro/Massage combo. I also wanted more confirmation on my condition. I've done botox injects a few times now and tried it once more in June after the suregon recommended surgery just to give it another go. (plus I really wanted to avoid a surgery if at all possible).BUT my vascular symptoms are getting more bothersome, and I now after two months I am getting worse yet again.

The doppler study is a combo of ultrasound and another test that i'm not sure what it's called. They positioned me in these not so friendly TOS positions and sure enough my subclavian artery on my right side is being compressed. That freaked me out a bit, but explained everything for me because I thought that I just had neuro TOS. The surgeon feels that I have a combo of both. He highly recommended the surgery, especially because I have exhausted all conservative tx and because of the artery being compressed. He said that surgery is more successful when it is not just straight neuro, but a combo.
My suregon does ~250 of these surgeries every year and uses the transxilarly (sp?) approach (through the armpit)where he will remove my first rib and detach my scalene muscles. He leaves the scalenes in and they will reattach to the muscular wall at a higher point so that they don't interfere with the brachial plexus. He has a high success rate and believes that he can get me to 85% pre-injury. He said that he can't get me any better then that because there is already damage that can't be fixed.

Thanks for the reply and i'll try to post more after the surgery.

Yep, it surely can be. TOS can linger w/symptoms into the face, such as what I have is facial pain, TMJ, and funny noises in my ears.

I for sure have with my vascular tos had cold and hot areas as well as swelling. before my surgery I got sausage fingers when I walked and they were FREEZING cold due to no blood flow to the area. So yah for sure symptoms sound like tos to me!!!!!!!!!!

hope all goes well with the surgery and keep posting we love to hear stories and help when we can!!

take care
love and hugs,
Victoria