Wow, Thanks Ladies!
My GP said he could not order a MRI or a CT scan I would have to get a neurologist to order it or if I wanted to pay for it I could have one in a week. I would gladly do if it would give me a clear diagnosis, but if the GP can't be bothered to send me to some who could answer my questions. Is crampy, sore forearms something you see with TOS? I still have strength in my hands (like opening jars) but I don't have the stamina with them, like giving a long massage is harder now.

"crampy sore forearms" with striking pains on the underside... ouch.... for years I suffered with that. I have found keeping my upper body warm -- but not with heating pads - too much heat promotes swelling, especially on a microscopic basis -- helps with the arm pain. Thursday replied to "arms socks" from PT to real arms warmers/socks at looks of accessory shops. Guess what I got for X-mas? "Snuggies." (Blankets with arms sewn in) My husband got me 4 for Xmas. I just have them at all different places so I don't have to drag my nest around anymore.

My EMG/NCVs X3 sets and a shoulder MRI did not confirm my diagnosis of TOS. It did show other things, but not definitive for TOS. A good doctor will order what tests you will need.
Later

My TOS started out as RSI injuries and then spread into my neck , upper back and shoulders. {lots of repetitive assembly work, long hrs and fast paced - plus type A work ethic}

I had sharp cramps in the back of my hands at one point, then it was elbow pain, and then tight buzzing forearms, then the tingling and buzzing ring & little finger for a short time {I got my next batch of PT at that time}, then into the burning in the upper back and chronic tight and then finally spasmed neck & upper back muscles.

The forearm symptoms lasted the longest for me, but when I finally got advanced PT and chiro working on the neck muscles and upper back much of the forearm sx went away.

a rough time line for me -
RSI injury 1999 - recovery took about 1 yr
shoulder "strain" in 11/2002 - PT and light duty
shoulder & neck "strain" in 1/2003 - PT and lt duty again
All the previous injuries started gradually reappearing quite soon after I was released back to full duty work in 4/2003 and then lt duty til 10/2003
2004 off work and found a really advanced PT and chiro who knew enough to really be of help to me.
2005 was really when things improved a lot for me with arm use & stamina.

The best things that helped me -
Sharon Butlers stretches
top rib mobilization
self trigger point work with tennis ball, golf ball, finger what ever fit the best to put the pressure on the knots.
chiro visits - he does PT therapies too
far infrared heating pad
home electronic muscle stim { IF stim if you can get one}
posture work - laying over one of those large exercise balls or a foam cylinder {videos in our sticky thread} basically to let the shoulders drop back and down and chest open up is a very good one.
a rolled towel will work too, or just the floor with arms out if that's all you can start at. then progress as you can.

My stuff was mostly muscular and probably the sticky fascia that Sharon Butler talks about. And head forward postures.

Discomfort can cause increased bad posture.
The theory is -
In trying to relieve the pain you hunch or slouch - but that is the totally wrong thing to do as it stretches the already over stretched upper back muscles and shortens the ones in front of the body.
So your body starts to see this as the new normal, but it's not a good thing.

Point me to Sharon Butler's stretches. I'll do'em. stretches are good for TOSers. Need some new. bored with old.

I'm studying and researching and treating with infrared and LED lights. Didn't know that had heating pads. They also have Mingu (LED & infrared) massage beds that some massage therapists use. Google your area to see if there's any within your comfort zone of travel.

There should be some threads about her stuff too
http://www.selfcare4rsi.com/rsi-articles.html

she has a book {in libraries} or you can get her TOS program online- the program is more consolidated & focused for TOS , where the book you look up the stretches by symptom/location as it covers all RSIs.

hey, need to add to comment.

in re: "YOU HAVE BILATERAL TOS. I'LL CUT YOU BUT I WON'T TESTIFY FOR YOU." I didn't even ask this surgeon for causation. I was hurting so bad and his bedside manner was so cold, there was no way I'd lay down for his *** to cut on me. I bowed up right there.

oh, yea... and his typedwritten report was very vague but not too damaging... just vague... but there was a neatly handwritten note on that report that read something like, "the patient didn't obliterate in either direction." that was it. no signature, date...... liars... no doctor has neat cursive handwriting like that. He got someone to write that and mail it out as part of my medical record with records request came through... remember "I won't testify for you" well, I wasn't able then, and my attorney didn't pounce on it because he didn't think about it or he would've been challenging and impeaching "my own doctor" on that neat handwriting. I just wasn't able to deal with the legal side of it, although I work in the legal industy. outcome not too good but I was holding a lot of bad cards. preexisting, still working (self employed-couldn't do a regular job then if my life depended on it.) oh... and Dr. Powell ---- strike 2 for my doctors helping me out with anything. I didn't really ask them for legal/causation, but they didn't have to hurt me like that either... I am very disappointed over many things through this experience.

I do understand.

Do you fing hot baths make your hands and arms tingle worst. I hate washing my hair. Is this typical?

yes. washing my hair was very exhausting. I have just let the showerhead beat the creme rinse out. You must get a stand for your hairdryer.

I have dropped the curling iron out of my hand when I'd raise my hand up. I burnt my leg a couple of times and decided to quit using those.

I have let my hair grow longer so I could pull it back or up and maybe look okay without washing it.

and hot baths and showers, I couldn't have made it without those. heat does promote swelling of tissues on a microscopic basis, though. that could increase tingling. I have turned the hot water down a run cold water shower on my lower back especially, for 5 or 8 tolerable minutes. Use heavy robs to absorb water. couldn't towel dry for a long time either.

do you have any neck issues? ... causes tingling too. carpal tunnel? tennis elbow?

I have to keep my upper body snuggly warm or pain level WILL increase. otherwise it's very tolerable. amazing.

(I don't use a heating pad anymore burnt 3 out)

hey, hot (but not too hot!) baths warm up and loosen my muscles, making me feel . however try washing my hair in the bath and i dont have the neck strength to support my head leaning back and using arm to rinse out the shampoo....could almost drown myself that way!

My neck muscles became weak very quickly (perhaps due to the interference to my nerves) a physio did some test on me by lying me down and asking me to bring my chin down towards my chest - she said that my outer neck muscles pop up very quickly and are doing the work that my inner (core muscles) should be doing. My head often feels too heavy for my neck!

Like broken wings i also let the shower do most of the hard work in rinsing out the shampoo suds for me.

Well I see I need to be more careful with some of your advice!

Jo55 Was talking about these stretching exercises, and I thought to my self, hey the kids have one of those exercise balls in the basement. They got it a a garage sale and love tossing it around. I brought it up to the launder room to clean it with comet. It was still usable with the permanent marker snowman drawn on it. Of course the 3 Christmas kittens thought this was too much fun and had to join in on a game of chase the towel while I cleaned it. That only took me about half an hour, now I google some exercises and I watch this guy on you tube kneel on one and hold his balance, next he starts bouncing a ball, then finishes up with lifting weights. I am impressed. it looked so easy to do! (not) so I go to the ball and I decide it it's a little flat, I pull out the pin and blow it up manually, this was my first mistake, I blew my brain out I think, almost passing out, I get it as firm as I am willing to go, and not have a stroke!!. I then thought well "just put it between your knees and roll on it like this" well good luck! I had to hang on to the dresser to not fall off. I time my self I hung on two minutes, Mistake number 2. My legs are still wobbling and I hope i can walk tomorrow. But then!!!! I decide to tone it down and just have some light stretches. Mistake number 3. I lie on this thing on me back but my hair clip sticks in to my head, so I remove it. I am not noticing the ball is rolling backward over my long hair pinning me backwards on the ball unable to move with out riping my hair out!!! I havd gone to far to get back up! Well I started to laugh which is hard when you are stretched in this unusual way. I fell over sideways and excaped the "murder ball". I am still laughing. Thought I might share one of my new experiences with you!