I copied your post from the TOS intro so we all can say Hi..

[ InterHat
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1

This has been a strange road...
Hi I'm Galen,
I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I'm 24 and male which seems a bit out of the ordinary for TOS. As a result, I can't get any sort of real diagnosis for my problem. Oddly enough, I was in really good shape when this all began about a year ago. I've gone from my primary care physician to neurologist to an orthopedist to PT to recently being told to go to a rheumatologist.

My problems started with poor posture at work/slouching. I started developing numbness in my pinky and ring fingers due to ulnar nerve compression from resting my elbows on the desk. As soon as I FIXED my desk ergonomics all hell broke loose. Long story short, my scalene muscles are now like iron and when I wake up in the morning if feels like I just did a back workout at the gym the day before. My biggest symptom is that my fingertips now have decreased blood flow. They get really wrinkly in water and cold. I have to be careful with what physical activity I do.

Hopefully I'm able to get some relief along with everyone else on here. Cheers! ]

Hi Galen,

welcome to our little haven of help and venting. You are in the right place for a very supportive and informed group of people suffering from TOS and some of us with various other conditions.

Always remember you can vent as much as you need to and as often. We understand pain. we understand frustration with doctors who don't get it, we understand the long hunt for the right pain control so that we can continue to live our lives with some sort of sanity.

There are no dumb questions EVER!!!! If you need medical articles we can get those as well. So ask always and never be afraid! There are a few other guys on the forum, hopefully they will poke their head in and say hello to you. If not know that you are not the only male here.

I had a work injury (nurse, lifted a patient the wrong way wrecked neck back and shoulder....also cursed with cervical ribs so that did not help the situation....had surgery 1st rib removed 2005 had 6mths of freedom then physio ruined the surgery...still in pain.....likely for life... and can't work since the last six years)

So post away and welcome again.

hugs,
Victoria

Hi Galen, welcome to the group!


Anne

hi galen....welcome, this place is fantastic for info and support (male or female!). im 27 and my tos symptoms also started whilst i was working in an office (i did have a fall down stairs 6 months prior but not sure if this is a contributory factor or not). Im also having problems getting a diagnosis - have seen 3 dr's now and am bouncing between a CRPS and TOS diagnosis (im personally more inclined towards TOS).

i hope you have left your office job if its causing you too much pain - no matter how much fancy 'ergonomic' items they gave me....the result was typing = pain.

Welcome Galen!

Welcome (belatedly) Galen!
I too am a guy, and you're right that it seems more rare in males. Work posture was a big issue with me, and I still struggle with it. Vic is GREAT, and right.... never any dumb questions, don't worry that someone may have asked it before, or any of that. Don't be shy to ask your doctors/PT questions or to tell them that X hurts.
I know for me, PT was a humbling experience. I was a ....... meat-head, and then PT came along, and I'm pretty much limited to 10lb weights, if that.
Sorry for rambling, and hope to hear from you soon!