NeuroTalk Support Groups - Hi I am dealing with TOS and now I am dropping things.

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- - Hi I am dealing with TOS and now I am dropping things. (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/86654-hi-am-dealing-tos-am-dropping.html)

Gheezzzz, Tied, you typed my mind :D:D:D

deja vu all over again.

I've found a Tylenol PM will give me about another hour. It's making a difference. Yes, any extra sleep is bliss. I've had the same pattern. 30 minutes to 2 hours, with no deep sleep for too many years. It's been tough. I never would accept s Rx sleeping pill. I needed it but I had a bad experience on a prescribed sleeping medication one time. Not something I want to happen ever again. But sleep deprivation for that many years has certainly taken its toll too. Another double-edged sword. There's just no good choices sometimes. Just happy we're getting a little more sleep than we did.

I've also given up that evening cup of coffee. I'm going to get some decaf, because did enjoy that evening cup of coffee. Can't give up Pepsi. I'm addicted. I can cut down, but can't give it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tied (Post 508403)

before my tos diag, i was diag with bilateral carpal tunnel r>l and at that time i was dropping things. what turned it around for me was my pt teaching me nerve glides, doing a lot of exercises in the water, and basically not having a life with having to do all the homework you get with pt.

i realize what works for me may not work for everybody, just wanted to share.

another thing that really helped was not working nights. my situation turned around big time when i started sleeping again. although i still have insomnia, this is a matter of degree. i sleep 5 hrs a night now but back then only between 30 minutes and 2 hrs a night. so it is no wonder i had carpal tunnel, since the muscles heal up at night from the abuse we given them during the day.

I am dealing with major dizziness as well anyone experiencing this kind of thing. I lay down the hole room spins. I turn to quick and everything spins around me.I mean it is horrible.The last several days it has also gotten worse any ideas on how to stop that?

Thanks
Jeanie:confused:

lol.......yup, but you won't like my advice !

Don't turn too quick !

If you have TOS and the tightness over your jugular up to your chin/ear and trigger points in your neck and scalp, turning quick puts more stress on those inflammed muscles and constricted blood vessels, decreasing the bloodflow to your brain.

So, you know when they implied it was "all in your head" ? They were kind of right !

HAHA! Thanks for that news.lol

I'd say yes to your scar tissue question, it can cause a lot of problems.
do you think your body produces excess amounts of scar tissue?

Some people seem to do that. A good dr should be able to tell , I don't know if there is a test or imaging for it though.

Dizziness, I had it pretty bad when I was still working at the beginning of my rsi/tos - I was on modified work already by then, but the dizzy spells stayed with me for awhile.
I think mine were from spasms affecting the vertebral artery.

I had all of the symptoms listed in the vertebral artery section on this page-
http://tos-syndrome.com/newpage12.htm

DIPLOPIA, DYSARTHRIA, DYSPHONIA, DYSPHAGIA
has to do with vision, voice, speech, swallowing - might not be in the right order but I was wondering if you had any of those sx also?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hisbeauty4ashes (Post 508879)

yes, i have had the major dizziness. i guess i did something right because it went away. i have learned from my dad's balance problems that it is not always your ear. it can be caused by problems in the spine. it can actually have any number of causes. one thing i stopped doing was eating tuna. the dizziness stopped but i am not sure if it ever was the cause. now, however, when i even think about eating tuna i feel nauseated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Broken Wings) (Post 508278)

Yeah, it is crazy stuff, all right, and only my TOSer friends understands. :grouphug:

Let me clarify/explain myself a little more. I've had these injuries since Oct 2000. Been through a lot because of it, tests, doctors/experts, familyand friends, and work don't really depict nor appreciate the extent of my suffering with TOS and co-related diagnoses, treatments and failures and the disappointments I have endured. It has not been fun.

The history of my right thumb turning to a trigger state after an IV in my left hand is hard for the medical community to swallow. It happened just that way, so I know how crazy it gets. I told my sister who is a nurse, and she said "No way that could happen that way," meaning from one side to the other. I told my doctor friend and he just looked at me and grinned and said, "You already had problems and it just got worse." At that time, my thumbs weren't an issue, at all. Maybe a 2, if anything.

So when I got an appointment and got to the specialist in Louisville, they asked me, "What happened?" I said, "I woke up and it was hurting real bad and now it's doing this." The substitute hand specialist - because my specialist was out for his own back surgery - asked "For how long have you had this?" My answer was: "FOR A WHILE." It had actually been 5 1/2 months. (because of ins deductible-long story) He injected my thumb. it help for about a week.

So then I had to schedule another visit down there when my doc came back, April 15th. Thumb in a very painful, trigging state. He is always worth the distance. He injected it, hurt like hell, but lasted (until garden work got it exacerbated-under control now). I could tell the difference in the two doctors. so the doctor you choose makes a difference.

Dr. A asked the same what and how long and got the same answers. He chuckled and grinned, cause he knew he didn't have time for that story and the fix would be the same. I'm guarding my dignity at this point. If the few medical professionals I told didn't believe it could happen that way, then I'm not putting it out there, on record, so to speak.

So I never got it from the doctor that it was or was not related to TOS and/or scalenes. That's just my take on it. I say it's all connected and is related to my auto accident.

Two thumb injections is the limit. any more you risk an irrepairable tendon spilt and/or tears. By the way, the last injection has helped my upper body and arms too. Don't be afraid of the needles. They do help a lot, most of the time. Thumb splinting is okay, but not for the long haul, causes weakness.

PT did little to help my hands and thumbs. They tried and might have gained some, but not to a great degree. Not using them, allowing them to heal after the 2nd injection did help.

I pray you find relief. If you want to know anything in detail, just ask. :hug:

[/QUOTE]

I also used Kinesio Tape for my thumbs, hands, arms, neck, back, shoulders, leg, hip. It helped me with activities of daily living and to help me heal. It controls your flexion and extension so that you're not overextending your injured muscle, ligaments and tendons. It's worth Googling about.

Oh my goodness..it is so good to hear that I am not the only one that get's the cramping in my hand. It drives me crazy...I can't even cut up my own food because it will throw my hand into a cramp and forget about holding the cell phone in my right hand that makes my hand cramp up also.

I've had 3 neck surgeries so far. The first they went through the front took out C6 and fused C5 & C7 with a metal plate. Then I was in the bad car accident and they went in through the back..I've had nothing but problems since then. I am still waiting on the approval for surgery number 4 they are going in through the front and fusing C4 also.

I have gone through so many tests for TOS but still not diagnosed with it. I have all the symptoms just nothing showing up on tests. They haven't done the doppler test yet and probably won't because the other tests come back negative.

It is so depressing sometimes.....

I hear you my friend,

It can get depressing at times. If you read my other post above this one I ended up in the Hospital last week thinking I was having a heart attack,and with yet another problem with my spine. I keep looking up for hope that this will all end and know there is a better life out there for all of us.

Interesting I had the same surgeries as you have and then my C 4 had bulged. I hope all goes well for you my friend. :hug:

Jeanie

The dizziness can be an ear issue. For me it was. There are "crystals" that exist in the semi-circular canals. These can shift and become lodged in areas in the canals, causing dizziness. If you go to your physio or a good chiropractor, they can test to see if this is the case. The test is very non-invasive. Basically, they have you sit on a bed and "fall" backwards onto the bed (they catch you). Depending on your reaction, they can then adjust you so the crystals are freed up, thus curing the dizziness.
Not being a doctor, I don't know how this works, only that this is the way it was explained, and performed on me.
Tracy