Found this picture explaining how we can have a positional problem from TOS causing a low back problem


http://www.whiplash101.com/ribtos.htm
The ribs make up the floor of the thoracic outlet with the main nerves that go to the upper extremity (brachial plexus) sitting on top. When the ribs are shoved up, as in the diagram below, the result is irritation of the brachial plexus and numbness down that arm. In many patients, direct trauma to the ribs is not required. A one sided, cervical facet injury (indicated in red on the right) causes the neck to tilt away from this painful joint. The brain then rights the head to keep the eyes level, thus forcing one side of the ribs up (black arrow) and causing TOS on the opposite side (numbness indicated by yellow arrow).

Hi DiMarie,
I have been gone for a long time but hopefully not forgotten. You are always so good at finding info for people and putting it on here.

I was glad to see this picture. I am trying to figure out how to send it to Susan so she can copy it for me. I have been off of the internet for a long time due to the black hole we know as depression.

I was just talking to my Dr. last week about this very same thing and also my right boob is hanging lower. Imagine your nurse and Dr. looking at your naked body and trying to figure that one out. LOL I have to pull my bra strap up higher on the right side.

That's the side I had the surgery on and I have fell hard twice since and messed myself up again. In the past 2 months my shoulder has fell again. I am not going through the surgery again for now. It's one of the roughest surgeries I had. I am dealing with other issues now so I take them as they get worse.

Thanks to you, I now know for sure what is going on again on my right side. What I don't understand though is if you have TOS on both sides why does just one side fall?

Anyway thanks for that great info.

Love,
Ada

Ada, it is so good to read you, The monster of depression is a strong beast and wants our lives, tough battle.

I think my personal thoughts, not professional ones are that TOS is worse on the injury side, or the weakest side. The one we have most symptoms in, so that is more dominate side to fall into spasms and poor posture.

The loss of shoulder girddle stregth, rounding of shoulders, reverse curve of neck, causing the counter reaction of the hump of the neck, looks like a dowers hump. We should look like a S if the neck is pulled into spasms and reverses, it will look upside down,picture upper part as the reveersed neck curve pulled into spasms and the hump part as our back...

Ada, I am not sure, but De had a breast reduction to try and help her TOS symptoms, she had a much larger breast on one side then the other too. But, I still wonder when we loose mucle mass and shoulder strength due to atrophy, maybe the breast falls from the chest wall were muscles previously held it tight.

For me gravity is taking its toll, I ahve been tryiong several types of bras lately for support but not weight onto the shoulder.
I found a few, In the Avon catalogue, Campain 27 went in by Oct. 27, 2006, BUt I think can be back ordered for sale rice there was BALI, back wrap support, front closure, with wide straps and a gel like weightless shoulder pad.

I also bought a similar one in Platex; not a sport bra, but it wraps in a slight criss cross in the back and then front has about 6 hooks. Tough to see them over the bulk of boob's in my case, but lots easier then the back closure then swing them around.

Dr. T referred us for corsetts to a woman local, But with corsett's I once told him, that to truley understand that battle in its own, he should have one and try it...LOL.
IF it is full length, then how do you close it and turn it around, it kills you, if there are stay's they dig, if you are large chested it is like wearing the boob's on a platter! Leathal in appearnce!

I do think and some have found that Walmart has a bra that is strapless, and half type, not long line. I can't remember . but it may hook in the front.
I am going to find something close and ask the woman in Kingston, Pa. to help make, or find a similar style, easy on, bandue, front closure no strap.

Recently on vacation I found a bra at Target that had a ffirm soft cup, that the straps removed so I could wear a skinny strap tank on those near Hundred degree days. But I had to use it with the straps criss crossed not to dig, and without the straps it fell from the wieght of my own "goobers' (as mark calls his tos monster).

But to the picture, if you right click on it, there is a link to the picture, copy and past it. Or if you have a printer , I get an icon of a printer to print, or if you right click the mouse perhaps it gives a menue to send to the printer.
Write the address of the link:

http://www.whiplash101.com/ribtos.htm

Then they can find the information, include it in an email, or hand write it for their use. Hope a mystery of this is unraveled and hope for the problem to vanish!

Ada, while the forum was crashed, I had missed so many and wondered how they were. I missed how weather it is a need for a receipe, or support for an upcoming proceedure, our family here always were here.

Glad to see you back, and hope for all things to improve with the New Year.

My hugs to you friend,

DiMarie,
Thanks for that info. IT makes sense. It just seemed odd why my right shoulder is lower and my right side is the worst again. In the past 2 months I am having more trouble wearing a bra.

In the summer I wear those blouses that have built in bras but I'm wondering if that might have added to my problems. I just never thought it might at the time. Like you I cannot find a bra now that doesn't hurt my arm.

I cannot find a strapless one that I feel comfortable in. I'm always afraid it won't support me. I am a 34C and I have wanted a breast reduction for a long time. Dr. Sanders told me he could link me up with a surgeon that would do it but I'm just so busy getting other surgeries. I had a kidney stone removed a month ago and now I'm seeing a surgeon next week to get a laproscopy done to see what is going in in my pelvic area. Then I am going to have hand surgery. Now though I'm dealing with the TOS more so I don't know how long I can wait on getting that done.

If you do find out about a good bra please let me know. I have tried several but you know when we are boob heavy then I just don't know if we will find any that will be comfortable.

I did finally figure out how to send this to Susan to copy. My printer went shot and I just never got another one but she runs everything off for me. I just buy her paper and ink sometimes.

I am glad we have the forum to help each other. Can you imagine how little we would know on TOS and RSD and other problems if we didnot have each other to help. Some like you have more then others but that's ok, I know we all have a time with this. I just can't seem to get my head on straight to do the research that you and others do.

I hope your daughter is doing better these days. I remember what she's been through also and I feel bad for each and everyone that is going through this. It's even worse for the younger ones in a lot of ways. She's lucky she has you.

Thanks again for the help and I am going to try and stick around this time. I love this place.

Love,
Ada

Hi

The bra issues....like you I cannot stand the straps on my bra as they just create more pressure....pain...
I do have to wear straps at times and I have some from Triumph..they have smooth gel type straps that aren't too bad . Now onto the strapless one..I spent a while (90mins or so) at a lingerie shop and an excellent lady helped me out. she found me a strapless (or strapped if wish --clear straps) bra made by wonderbra. This stays in place and never moves. It is bliss...holds the 'girls' up well and good support.
Hope this helps..
H x

Just a bump up...

Ladies, may I relate appologies unto all... at one time I was the typical male "PIG" until I worked with this woman that had to order bras special to fit and in no unsimple term she told me about all the problems she had due to the insurance company would not do a reduction because they thought it was cosmedic... wonder what they are going to do once she develops multiple spinal herniations which could of been taken care of years before! she even showed me once how the shoulder straps dug in and I have to say these were at least an inch!!!!

GOD BLESS ONE and ALL! Mark-n-GOOBER

I was diagnosed with TOS when I was seventeen, I am a gymnast. I had blood clots and had a first rib resection on my right side. I had painful scar tissue but for the most part, everything is fine, beyond some permanent numbness and a stent in my right subclavian. I am now 20 however I have had some numbness and pain in my left arm now. Also, because of my removed rib, I am slightly uneven which causes pain in my neck, back, and chest. Has anyone experiences any of these symptoms after surgery ( way after...)? Do many people suffer from TOS on both sides? Would surgery correct my uneven ness and possible TOS on the other side or just make me more weak? I appreciate any response thanks!

Hi and Welcome- Abbymsu3!
As a gymnast I bet you had your share of falls and bumps.
Is it your collarbones that are uneven mainly or the whole upper body, or even the whole body? {like in Dimaries post-sketches}
I am tilted quite a bit like the sketches - from horse falls, sports & tomboy roughhousing. An expert chiropractor and 2 PTs {with advanced training} greatly helped with my TOS.

I'll post a couple of links for you to read.

Chiropractic care info- a very good one can help with many symptoms:
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://www.uppercervical.org/subpag...b/about_faq.php
http://www.spineuniverse.com/displa...article796.html
http://www.coloradochiropractic.org/.../glossary.html

Hello,

I am a new memeber and not quite sure how to start a thread but wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I am a fellow TOS sufferer. I have TOS on both sides and have been working with PT (great PT) and CHiro for last 9 months. Thanks for reposting the diagram, it was helpful.

I am scheduled to have surgery this week and was getting nervous. Do you know of anyone that has had surgery with a Dr. Filler?

Thanks and look forward to being a frequent visitor