Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Support Group
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) consists of a group of distinct disorders that affect the nerves in the brachial plexus (nerves that pass into the arms from the neck) and various nerves and blood vessels between the base of the neck and armpit.
Hello everyone,my name is Jelena,I'm 25 Years old and I am from Croatia.I was playing tennis since I was 8 years old.When I was 17 I noticed that I can't make my pinky connect with my other fingers( on my left hand,ps.I'm a righty).After that I couldn't get a good grip on anything and my hand was atrophied and started shaking because she was so weak.The thing is, at the beginning no one would believe me because i didn't feel Any pain Like most of you guys do, and it only got worst. After two Years it got to a point I couldnt grip on to anythings, i felt so weak with my left hand so at 19 I went to a neurologist and he couldnt figure out what was wrong with me, even after an MRI(The cervical spine) and multiple tests.So she eventually gave up on me and told me to give up on tennis.After that I tried with other doctor who gave me calming pills.Also I tried with some alternatives who did not help.Three years later, I was sent to a phisyo therapist. She gave me a few exersises to do and got me on "electric therapy"(30times in a year), and that went on for about a year and half. With no good results she sent me to get a DOPPLER test. At this point I am 23 years old, and with the result of the doppler test they saw I have a bad blood circulation to my left arm. And with that they sent me to get an MRI of my chest. And finally, at 24 years old, they found out I have thoracic outlet syndrome. With that, I went to a surgen who told me He will have to operate and remove my first rib. Fastforward to today Im still thinking about the operation and trying to figure out a few ways to get around that. For now, im only going to therapy and it actually improve my strength a little bit but I feel like I wont get the result I want. What I want to ask you guys, is there anyway I could get my full strenght back to my left hand without going through the operation? Thank you so much for reading and I hope to hear from you guys soon.
If you've fixed your problem (I hope), congratulations. If you're still suffering from TOS without pain maybe you can do what I did.
I had TOS for 15 years before I discovered that I had it. I had seen neurologists in my hometown almost immediately after coming down with symptoms of TOS like weakness/soreness in my arms and hands, tingling/numbness in my fingertips.
Like you I had no pain.
I found out poor posture is strongly related to TOS. After reading about that I worked on my posture for a month. After a month a miracle (it seemed to me) occurred and I almost returned to 100% health.
Unfortunately, because of the jobs I had requiring duties that involved lifting heavy items, I had lapses.
After I retired I came close to 100% health again thanks to maintaining good posture and stretching. But I keep having relapses.
One thing that may have countered my periodic improvements was that I'd been sleeping on my affected right side for all the years (40) that I've had TOS. Neurologists warn against sleeping on your affected side or sides.
So if you haven't done so, check your posture. That's the first thing anybody should do who hasn't suffered a traumatic injury causing their TOS. Get on a stretching program. Don't sleep on the affected side. If both arms are afflicted try sleeping on your back.
Good luck. I hope after almost four years from your posting that you have fixed your problem and you don't need my advice.