Hi. This looks like a great forum. I am desperate for information... I have two quick questions, and then a long intro story...

Do any of you ever get redness in your hands? I have had it for a while, off and on, and I thought it was a rash, but now I am wondering if it is related to this TOS stuff.

Also, if you have the extra rib thing and vascular compression, do you always have to have surgery, or can PT work? I'm so scared of neck surgery...

Forgive me if this is too long... Here is the story. 2.5 years ago, I was rear-ended, typical whiplash symptoms, felt much better after 3-4 months of chiro, massage and acupuncture. About 4-5 months after the accident, I started experiencing numbness in my hands. It got worse and worse, also complicated by the fact that I was now pregnant. It was so bad that I couldn't write or wash dishes, among many other things -- my right hand was so numb and tingly it was often useless. Everyone told me it was preg. induced carpal tunnel syndrom, and it would go away after giving birth. I tried chiro, massage and acupuncture again, which did not help.

6 months after the baby was born, I was still miserable, and now no one could write it off as a pregnancy symptom, so I started seeing the chiro again. I would feel briefly better after each chiro visit, but then it would relapse very quickly. After about 9 months of chiro, I was no better.

Now, 2.5years after the accident, and 2 years after this numbness/tingling began, I finally hired an attorney to deal with the auto claim, and he suggested I see someone for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. It was worth it to hire that attorney if only for that information!! He directed me to a TOS specialist, who raised my arms, etc, and diagnosed my with TOS on both sides. I've had the ultrasound of my vessels, with X-Rays, MRI and nerve study scheduled over the next few weeks. They suspect both vascular and nerve compression, as well as carpal tunnel. I may have the extra rib thing too.

I can't believe how relieved I feel to have a diagnosis. There is a reason for all these things that are going wrong... I thought I was losing my mind. I was even dropping things. Like dropping a cup of tea... It was almost like I forgot I was holding it. The blood vessels in my hands even started popping out (very attractive...). I also get the worst headaches, to the point of vomiting... Lots of other symptoms, and I'm just now starting to realize how many of them could be related to TOS.

I'm so mad at my chiro for treating me all year long without knowing exactly what was wrong, especially since I wasn't really getting any better...

Thanks for letting me tell my story.

I look forward to posting on this forum!
Shannon