Hi everyone, I'm new to this site and having been reading your post. It's so amazing how my life has revolved. Since the 1980's I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue syndrome or various pain syndromes. In 1992 I was diagnosed with bilateral Thoracic outlet syndrome. I had a first rib removed on the worst side with was the left. I didn't have an extra rib. Anyway, the removal of the rib helped some on the blood flow but I continued to get worse on the muscle spasms and the high variaty of symptoms many of you post here. The only way I could slow the progression of the problem was to stop working. As years have gone by I have pushed to find out what was really causing my problems. As I know, many doctors use Fibromyalgia as a waste basket term when they really don't know what's wrong with you. Finally my symptoms progressed to the point of having really bad balance problems and falling, along with drop falls and many other often brain related symptoms. My headaches I dicovered was originating from the back of my head as well. In august of this year I had an MRI of my brain and cervical spine. Finally the answer came. I have a Chiari 1 Malformation. This is where a portion of you brain drops down in your spinal canal. The radiologist missed it in 2005 on other MRI's and this is VERY common to happen. Even the best Dr's, Radiologist, neurologist, neurosurgeons, etc. know nothing or very little on this condition. To make a long explaination short. It can cause so many symptoms a doctor will think you are crazy. The more I have researched this problem, it has come to me that since Chiari makes neck muscle and shoulder muscles spasm due to nerve pressure in the brain, the chiari condition was very likely the cause of my TOS. Some of you may already know that many people with fibromyalgia are often diagnosed with TOS. The real clincher here is in recent years many people with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue, etc, are being diagnosed with Chiari 1 malformations. Now, the Erlos Danlos comes into play for possibly those of you that have hypermobility. Erlos Danlos can cause Chiari 1 Malformations and I am reading that it also can be a cause for TOS. A tethered spinal cord which is found at the bottom of the spine can also cause Chiari 1 Malformations. (This also sometimes being a cause for spinal deformaties and/or increased lower body problems). Chiari can also be caused by literally having too small of a skull for your brain. There are many reasens this condition can happen. If any of this sounds interesting to you and you would like to follow it up more, do searches on the internet for Chiari 1 Malformation. The symptoms are never all the same in every person. Thus making it harder for Dr's to diagnose. Even if it's seen on an MRI, radiologist or Dr's often dismiss it as an incidental finding. In recent years Chiari specialist have discovered much more about this condition. They and many others are trying to educate others in the medical profession, but it will take time. If you find through more research you symptoms are very simular to Chiari and you have had an MRI of your cervical spine and/or head, you may consider having it looked at by a neuroradiologist that is educated on Chiari. Be aware that many doctors will even dismiss Chiari as a problem. This is because they are from the old school and not up to date on it. I hope this post might help many of you that suffer. There are surgeries that can help this problem and sometimes make all the symptoms go away. If I had known in 1992 that I had Chiari, I would have never had my left first rib removed. There are support groups on the internet for this condition as well and many people there that can be of help with those of you with questions. I am having a decompression brain surgery done soon by a Pediactric Neurosurgeon that is not with one of the specialty clinics but is with a University hospital. He is well educated on this condition. For those of you that's heard "It's all in your head" It may very well be. Dee