Hello,friends Thought I would start a thread with everyones help.I guess I will start with reporting what my symptoms are,we could see how similiar they are:
First might I say sit @ stand up straight,Posture, Posture!!
Watch for forward neck posture!!
1. Pain and very tight muscles in my neck, feels like a rubberband, very, tight, limited range of motion up@down-side to side.
2. Burning pain from the left side of my neck down into my elbow and hand, cramping in both forearms.
3. Hands that are constantly cold and sweating,hands have white apearence
4. Numbness in both hands especially the ring and baby finger
5.Tingeling feeling in my neck,and shoulder's and arms and hands
6.pain in scapular area,starts with pinching,burning
7.a toothache like feeling in especially my left shoulder
8.I have to fight hard to continue using my left arm because of the pain
9.Arms that feel tired,useless because of pain,weakness
10.headaches from hell
11. clumsy hands
12. Activity with hands or arms reaching at any level, carrying, pushing/pulling, sitting for pro-longed periods,repetitive neck movement, bending down at the waist, looking down
Things that help:
zanaflex in the evening when pain is at it's worst
tens machine
stretching to open my chest area up
posture related stretches
changing position
laying down flat on my back with my water pillow supporting my neck
showers,very hot
icepaks
celebrex
pacing my activities, while avoiding some all together
lyrica
Things that hurt:
driving
laundry,folding etc
carrying(especially with elbows bent)
lifting(some days even a coffee pot or a glass or cup)
vaccuming @ dusting
doing dishes
washing my hair
blowdrying my hair
make-up forget it
sweeping
sitting
anything that requires your arms raised or extended
(shopping isn't fun anymore)
I can't hang laundry on the line,or hang drapes etc.
All repetitive strain injuries
de-quervains tendonitis
compression of the scalene on the plexus(tos),double crush syndrome
mild cervical disc compression c5/6
bilateral carpal tunnel release/06
trapezius and rhomboid regional pain
Presently trying to control my pain,with hopes of being able to work again,and become more active.








Please add to the list,maybe it will help others:

What image test confirms TOS and what were the results?

Hi there everyone ! I had a regular MRI amd then an MRA with the dye contrast and after 3 years, that test showed a subclavian compression in the neck on the right side... Hope that helps..

Bumping up for more symptoms to be listed.
I think the list is really helpful for newbies or any of us that get some new thing happening.

I still have most of the symptoms mentioned in the first post of this thread even though I've already had a first rib resection.
Don't have sweaty or white hands and no headaches.
Post surgery I've had a pinching feeling in my armpit that after several minutes feels like a bee sting. Usually only lasts 10 minutes all together.
Pain, like someone gave me a noogie (no clue how to spell that) on the upper right/center of my chest. Comes and goes.
Increased weakness. I usually hand wash dishes but seem to be having more trouble holding on to slippery, soapy dishes. Basically minimal grip strength.
Ulner nerve has been going beserk.
Burning in forearm and pain in wrist. Again, post surgery problem.

ummm!!!!

I've had similar armpit symptoms. I would blow up 3" balloons and place them comfortably in my armpits to help with that. seemed to provide noticeable relief.

I also learned from another post that keeping your elbows as straight as possible with your palms up helps tremendously.

I had that "can't hold on to anything because my paws don't have glue on them" scenario. It's just tough to do anything. At that time, I remember I did not like moving my arms away from my sides at all. It hurt and caused me to just kring (dont know how to spell that either) with pain on movement.

I had all of the symptoms but physicians were hesitant to acknowledge it, until I went to UCLA and saw Dr. Collins who specializes in TOS, he performed a brachial plexus mri, and it confirmed bi-lateral TOS without a doubt. After this the insurance companies had no choice but to recognize the diagnosis. Best of luck to you.

Good idea- we used to have a thread on this at the other place.

my symptoms now {they were much worse during 03-05}
If I'm at the computer/desk position - or lift or pull heavy objects -
or use arms above my shoulder/head height
{for all of the above if too long or too often}

My symptoms seem to be more vascular & fascia related than nerve pain related-- more of a positional & uses cause now.

soreness and/or triggerpoints in upperback
tight neck muscles
soreness across shoulders
tightness/pinching in armpits
fingers lose coordination
cramps in back of hands
triggerpoint/pain spots on top of head at times
still get the watery right eye
voice still is weaker and cracks at times

************************************************** *

compare with my old post from the BT cache:
December 16, 2004

Roos/EAST/Stick'em up test= 10 sec L hand white, 40 sec L gets out of sync with R, 1 min- have to drop arms.

PAIN & SYMPTOMS

Hands
Sharp cramping pains in back of hands- with use - like writing, holding small objects, picking up small things- pins, tweezers, toothbrush
Clumsiness of fingers
Fingers stiff sometimes
Loss of strength
Tightness in back of hands
Sharp stabbing pain sometimes when reaching around or twisting wrists = pockets, zippers, buttons
Occasional swelling and color changes esp. if arms elevated very long
Cold weather increases discomfort

Wrists
Sharp burning pain in wrist joints after use- handled large engineering documents–9/30/03 - OK now
Bracelet feeling - topside 2”- 3” from wrist, Left > Right Tightness/pulling in that area now when forearm gets tight
Fine sharp pains lengthwise 2” from wrist, underside only- minimal now
R wrist bone sticks up higher than L? Different shape ?

Forearms
Tightness and a deep ache on top side of forearm -elbow to wrist-
Deep ache is gone – tightness comes and goes with use
Mid forearm underside aches- minimal now
Tingling/ tight/pulling/stinging sensations just under skin- with use
Hypersensitivity sometimes on top side
Left worse than Right -usually

Elbows
Spots of tenderness above and below joint after moderate lifting or use
L > R - elbow puffy and slightly numb at the inner crease area – minimal now
L > R - sensitivity to fabrics and light pressures – minimal now
Ulnar nerve symptoms 11/03 – 2/04 –upper body therapy {neck/shoulders} resolved most sx
Point of both elbows get sensitive and have a small sore spot sometimes --NEW -11/04 - mostly gone now 1/05
When arms are extended palm up- wrist planes and elbow planes don’t match ??
When R shoulder is very sore can’t rotate R arm fully to extend it forward –1/12/05

Shoulder- R & sometimes L
Sharp pain and a pulling pain when reaching to the side up/out and to the back -less now but still sometimes after any moderate use
Crunching noises sometimes- minimal now
Stiff, sore and tight some mornings after sleeping on that side

Neck
Tight, strained, sore spots – usually have to stretch daily to keep loose
Crunching noises - minimal now
Sometimes feels like I’m wearing a tight necked shirt
Sometimes feels like my collar bones are getting pulled upward into my throat
At times it felt like I could hardly hold my head up
Whooshing pulse sound was on right side of neck –summer/fall 03, now more on left side - positional / tightness combination? Bruitt?

Upper Back & Upper Chest
Tight, burning and achy spots in upper back when head has been in a forward or downward position for any moderate length of time- better now since off work but starts if I read a book for too long or do gardening
Tight, strained, heavy feeling if arms are forward/elevated very long
Sharp pains or dull aches at times under shoulder blades and in various muscles in upper back—after moderate use
Armpits/Pecs get tight and strained feeling at times

Misc.
Vision changes {comes and goes}= Double/blurry, light sensitive, more floaters, very watery
Dizziness / lightheaded problems mostly occurring in 8/03 – 2/04 Headaches at back of head same time frame- none now
Memory fades same time frame
Concentration problems- fluctuates with symptoms
Stuffy ears and sinus- fluctuates with symptoms
Weak voice – cracks and scratchy throat- fluctuates with symptoms
Trouble swallowing - fluctuates with symptoms
Over doing of activities causes trigger points or spasms in upper body
Weakness, fatigue and heaviness of arms, shoulders and upper back when holding arms out or up- while driving I need to change arm/hand positions frequently
Delayed pain after use
Hypermobility is an issue also

My self treatments

Rest, Heat, Ice, Stretching, Hydration, Self massage
Trigger point therapy, Acupressure, Relaxation/ Breathing
Walking/Yoga, Postural awareness & ergonomics
Vitamins & mineral supplements
Chiropractic care

annhere- do you mind if I make the testing for TOS a new thread?

Hi there..

Just recently got DX with Artierial TOS

My hands swell, and pain the ring and baby fingers
Back of neck is sore to the touch
Right shoulder, collarbone area feels like someone sitting on it
Left forearm just started hurting
Left hand swells
Left armpit/shoulder area is now hurting
Left arm is useless ! (kidding)

What do I do ?
PT ( not helping)
Take meds
Heat

But an MRA MRI with Contrast dye is how they saw the conmpression of the subclavian artery. It took me 2.5 years to get a Doc. to get the test done.