Hello Group,

My name is April and I am looking for more information on TOS.
I have two extra cervical ribs which have caused me problems on and off through my life. I have seen a chiropractor for about 18 years who was incredible, but he passed away last summer. Now I have something new, a crunching in the neck, along with the numbness down my left arm, and the usual headaches. I went to a new doctor, an osteopath, and he didn’t do any adjustment at all he just sent me home with several bottles of pain meds and muscle relaxers. They are also giving me an MRI on Friday.
I took 1/2 of one of those flexerile and it took me out for 2 days. There is no way I could follow his advice of 3 flexerile a day, the anti inflammatory, and vicodin on top of it. I would be comatose and drooling in my chair. I work 50 hours a week and in my job I am required to be on the ball and sharp witted. I can’t take daily meds like that.
Tell me, of those of you with TOS what other than meds has helped?
Are there any exercises, or massage, or anything that works?
I noticed when I took the flexerile the numbness in my left arm was worse.
They said they could remove the ribs surgically, but I could have partial paralysis and that’s just not worth it to me.

What has helped you folks deal with it and yet function in every day life?
My activities at work seem to make it worse, such as sitting at a bench or the computer for long periods of time. Are there any exercises specific to this disorder? Are there any people on disability for it? Are there any support groups?



April
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