[TraceyW]

Hi everyone,


For the few weeks i have noticed that the veins in my forearm (the inside, whiter bit) have become much more noticeable - not poking out, just brighter in colour i suppose - and i can also see the vein which runs from my chin down to my clavicle. This has been happening when i have been using my arms. It is also only on the right which is the side im symptomatic.

Now the last couple of days i have noticed that the veins on the front of my hand are becoming swollen (distended?, think that means swollen?). They kind of look like worms and feel a bit squishy when i touch them, again this seems to be happening when im using my arms and generally goes away when im not - they can be up and down very quickly though.

Im worried about this latest change - could it be a sign of a blood clot?

The last couple of months i have been working with 7 year olds and everything is minature in size!, so im having to lean over a bit to help them with their work.....not sure if this has been the cause of these new symptoms - before the vein thing started, i was starting to get a bit of pain in my right arm pit too.

Any insights you can offer would be great!

[Jomar]

The leaning over and doing fine finger work was a major problem for me- still is sometimes.
I would get a deep burning pain in the 'hump" of my neck & across my upper back , then it would spread into my shoulders if I kept doing the activity - and my fingers wouldn't work normally.
I did have slight swelling but not veins showing more than normal.

Did you happen to see the videos links in the useful sticky thread- or my description of laying on a foam roll or rolled towel - or even just on the floor if that is where you need to start?

I'll find the ones I am talking about-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post87845-21.html
tos dx flow chart-
http://www.deelight.com/images/tos5.gif

[TraceyW]

thanks jo,

Im looking through all the posts you mentioned - i just find it so hard to look at the screen too long, even if my neck is slightly forward it is affecting me badly at the moment with my veins swelling up and little finger turning a purple-ish colour. I will get through them all eventually, they are all so useful!.

I took your advice of laying on the floor which has been good after a long day with the kids at school!. Im going to move up to using the rolled up towel soon.

I think im probably over-reacting to my new symptoms - its just i find each new symptom quite depressing and it worries me that things seem to be slowly getting worse and i am feeling weaker and weaker as the months pass. I actually think im getting depressed over it - waves of a feeling of hopelessness keeping washing over me....

Im sure that i have some sort of vascular compression as my symptoms match others on here. Im waiting to see my Dr to get the results of my MRI with dye (MRA) to see if that shows anything up.....but have to wait until mid july for an appointment!!

[finz]

It sounds like vascular compression with increased activity.

Normally with a clot, the symptoms would not improve with rest. Of course, those with constant vascular compression are usually the ones who definitely need surgery, because of the risk for clots. I only get arm/hand swelling if I've really been naughty (laundry, wrapping presents, scrapbooking) and I've been told that I don't need TOS surgery....most of my pain is from the nerve root and RSD

Definitely get it checked out

[mtnmom]

Hi Tracy,

Glad to hear you are indeed seeing a doctor in regard to this. Let me know what he says.

I have vascular TOS and will always have distended veins in my arm, shoulders and upper chest due to my subclavian vein (that is the main vein that allows blood to leave your arm) that was damaged beyond repair due to the initial blood clot. When this originally surfaced due to the blood clot I had, there was extreme swelling in my arm (double its normal size) however, there has been a case or two out there of people developing blood clots without swelling. When I am using my shoulders and my arm alot, due to sports, yard work or whatever the veins are definalty more pronounced due to the extra work they are doing to compensate for my subclavian vein that is no longer allowing blood to flow through it.

Anyway, Im glad you are getting it checked out, just to rule out nasy blood clots.

[TraceyW]

hi mtnmom!,

thanks for your reply....

what test did you have that confirmed your vascular TOS?. I have a feeling that the MRA (MRI with contrast dye) isnt going to show anything and that perhaps a doppler ultra sound is going to be better...or even an angiogram?

Was your subclavian vein damaged beyond repair due to how long it took for them to find the clot and diagnose vascular TOS?.

So the reason my veins are swelling up is due to the blood not being able to leave my arm quickly?....my little finger looks slightly swollen pretty much 70% of the time at the moment - i can also see the vein from my chin and into my chest when i overuse my arm....i keep getting temperature changes in my arm too - mostly cold but sometimes an odd warm feeling - i think these are all vascular symptoms?

[TraceyW]

Originally Posted by finz

It sounds like vascular compression with increased activity.

Normally with a clot, the symptoms would not improve with rest. Of course, those with constant vascular compression are usually the ones who definitely need surgery, because of the risk for clots. I only get arm/hand swelling if I've really been naughty (laundry, wrapping presents, scrapbooking) and I've been told that I don't need TOS surgery....most of my pain is from the nerve root and RSD

Definitely get it checked out

Thanks finz,

My symptoms do improve with rest so hopefully its not a clot....that has put my mind at rest as was starting to worry that it was something like that!.

My veins pop up when im doing simple things like just moving around the kitchen during cooking - stirring things etc....nothing that you would deem strenuous in any way!.

So would they generally not surgically treat someone with on/off vascular compression? - i have symptoms everyday but it comes and goes.

[johannakat]

tracey- to know how serious yoursymptoms are, you shouldreally see a vascular surgeon, preferably one who is familiar with TOS. I would not play around with vascular compression...having some is what eventually leads to the clots which can be life threatening.

i don't think you can take the opinion of anyonew online for that sort of answer and you will certainly benefit from seeing the surgeon even if he does not want to operate just yet. He may be able to suggest other treatments or procedures that can help.

I know that my surgeon was worried about the distension in the veins in my arms when i was being examined. I priarily have neuro symptoms at this point, but he was clearly aware of and unhappy about the veins.

Originally Posted by TraceyW

Thanks finz,

My symptoms do improve with rest so hopefully its not a clot....that has put my mind at rest as was starting to worry that it was something like that!.

My veins pop up when im doing simple things like just moving around the kitchen during cooking - stirring things etc....nothing that you would deem strenuous in any way!.

So would they generally not surgically treat someone with on/off vascular compression? - i have symptoms everyday but it comes and goes.

[TraceyW]

Originally Posted by johannakat

tracey- to know how serious yoursymptoms are, you shouldreally see a vascular surgeon, preferably one who is familiar with TOS. I would not play around with vascular compression...having some is what eventually leads to the clots which can be life threatening.

i don't think you can take the opinion of anyonew online for that sort of answer and you will certainly benefit from seeing the surgeon even if he does not want to operate just yet. He may be able to suggest other treatments or procedures that can help.

I know that my surgeon was worried about the distension in the veins in my arms when i was being examined. I priarily have neuro symptoms at this point, but he was clearly aware of and unhappy about the veins.

Thanks Johanna, i totally appreciate what your saying and im going to be keeping a very good eye on my veins until my next dr's appointment (it is 4 long weeks away though!).

Im in the UK and fnding it difficult to find any good TOS dr's over here....the guy im currently seeing is a professor in nerve surgery so perhaps he isnt the correct person for me to be seeing!. However he does have TOS experience and is the one who sent me for the MRA.....

this is the link to his website with details about his experience...i would appreciate any comments if you think he may not be appropriate - i just dont know what to do anymore!

http://www.londonnervecentre.co.uk/t...carlstedt.html

[Noxy]

Hi Tracey. I had vascular TOS.Was confirmed by dopller ultrasound and venogram. Trans first rib resection dec 2007 and doing great.My veins were distended and still are today...except when at rest.I did not develop a clot. A lot of pain and numbness.Hand would swell up and still does a bit to this day when overused.Also my hand and arm would turn a nice shade of bluish tint.My only option was surgery which I am very pleased with.My surgeon was a specialist in TOS.Arm still fatigues esily at this point but still much better than pre-syndrome. All the best to you!
Linda...Ontario Canada