Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

feralseppo

Billy Hamilton status
Feb 28, 2006
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Anyone ever experienced this?

My shoulder down my bicep to my thumb go numb intermittently. Stretching my arm and neck in different positions makes it go away temporarily. This repeats all day and night. Makes paddling difficult with my arm going numb.

The orthopedist gave me a medrol pack but it didn’t do much.

Anyone know any treatments for this?
 

feralseppo

Billy Hamilton status
Feb 28, 2006
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More likely a pinched nerve in your cervical spine. Might be time for an MRI of your neck.
It could definitely be that. I fractured the C5 or C6 years ago when a car hit me on my bike. The Ortho took an X-ray of my neck a few years ago, which showed there was basically no space between those two vertabrae. The recent x-ray shows my neck has no curve to it.
 

VonMeister

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Apr 26, 2013
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JOE BIDENS RAPE FINGER
It could definitely be that. I fractured the C5 or C6 years ago when a car hit me on my bike. The Ortho took an X-ray of my neck a few years ago, which showed there was basically no space between those two vertabrae. The recent x-ray shows my neck has no curve to it.
I've seen people go through this with similar X-ray's and it resolve on it's own after several weeks. If it doesn't resolve or gets worse the surgery to correct it has a very high success rate.
 

waxfoot

Michael Peterson status
Apr 21, 2018
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I have this from compression in my neck, and a trip to the MRI confirmed. It and happens a few times a year and lasts about a week at most, but the occurrence hasn't increased since the first time I had it.

How often does it happen for you?
 

Swallow Tail

Billy Hamilton status
Oct 6, 2017
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C5-6 & C6-7 artificial disc replacement about 3 years ago..., issues originating from damage done from a body surfing head slam over 30 years ago. I tried everything to avoid it, but had to be done - crippling pain. Great surgeons will encourage someone to try everything before going under the knife.

There‘s no guarantee that surgery will make things better… sometimes makes things worse.

Strength training is a no brainer - I know a number of people that had accidents etc - no surgery, just solid strength training program n symptoms disappeared.
 

Clayster

Miki Dora status
Oct 26, 2005
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The first thing you need to do is ditch your orthopedic doctor. They treat every part of the skeletal system; but in my opinion, they stink at spinal nerve involvement. You have a nerve problem and need a specialist. Go to a neurologist or neuro surgeon; treating the brain and the nerves emanating from it is all they do. Neurologists can treat the nerves but not do surgery; neurosurgeons can do everything a neurologist can do, plus surgery. I'd skip the intermediary and go to the guy who can do surgery if you need it.
 

silentbutdeadly

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Sep 26, 2005
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my mri results came back negative without any evidence of pinching etc. I requested a copy so I can take to my neurologist (migraine issues). Not sure what's goong to be next but I'm not really getting the numbness too much anymore.
 
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feralseppo

Billy Hamilton status
Feb 28, 2006
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my mri results came back negative without any evidence of pinching etc. I requested a copy so I can take to my neurologist (migraine issues). Not sure what's goong to be next but I'm not really getting the numbness too much anymore.
Mine has been going on for a few months. Now the tip of my thumb is numb constantly. Before it went away and came back. The intermittent numbness from my shoulder down my bicep to my thumb continues off and on all day long.

I had a chat with a friend who is a vascular surgeon the other day. He thinks physical therapy would help it.

I may give that a go. Oddly, when the numbness happens if I move my arm into different positions it goes away.
 

Swallow Tail

Billy Hamilton status
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For migraines - I know that good & consistent sleep is essential. Wife used to get hemipaligic migraines - stroke like symptoms - that would land her in hospital. Was friggin intense, she‘d be unable to use limbs on one side of body for a few days.

PTs are a Wild West show - many are next to useless. So I’d try to get a referral from someone to find a good one.

n invest in a good pilow(s) - da neck n rst of body will appreciate it
 
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silentbutdeadly

Duke status
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For migraines - I know that good & consistent sleep is essential. Wife used to get hemipaligic migraines - stroke like symptoms - that would land her in hospital. Was friggin intense, she‘d be unable to use limbs on one side of body for a few days.

PTs are a Wild West show - many are next to useless. So I’d try to get a referral from someone to find a good one.

n invest in a good pilow(s) - da neck n rst of body will appreciate it
Thanks. Sorry, what's PT?

I am seeing a neurologist in SD that has a good reputation but we just keep trying different things will not much success.

My sleep patterns are pretty bad.
 

Swallow Tail

Billy Hamilton status
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Thanks. Sorry, what's PT?

I am seeing a neurologist in SD that has a good reputation but we just keep trying different things will not much success.

My sleep patterns are pretty bad.
You may consider doing a sleep study done - even if you don’t have classic symptoms like snoring (not always presen). Not sleeping well + migraines=sleep study a good idea IMO. I’d ask your neurologist, I bet he’d be on board.

PT - Physical therapy- mighta meant to someone else complaiNing of finger numbness.
 

silentbutdeadly

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got it. I hada. sleep study and nothing was found that was concerning. I've had brain scan, eyes, inner ear, hearing, you name it I've had it checked. luckily my migraines are debilitating headaches just visual disturbances and dizziness
 

hammies

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Apr 8, 2006
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got it. I hada. sleep study and nothing was found that was concerning. I've had brain scan, eyes, inner ear, hearing, you name it I've had it checked. luckily my migraines are debilitating headaches just visual disturbances and dizziness
My migraines used to be blind spots and pain, but were very infrequent. Now they have morphed into visuals (usually dancing prisms) and diziness, but rarely pain, and they only last aout 20 minutes and are more frequent.
 

PRCD

Tom Curren status
Feb 25, 2020
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Neurologists and PTs are mostly useless with chronic pain conditions. If you’re going to do physical therapy, try Somatics and save a bunch of time and money. I’ve had great success with it compared to PT
 

ghostshaper

Phil Edwards status
Jan 22, 2005
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For migraines - I know that good & consistent sleep is essential. Wife used to get hemipaligic migraines - stroke like symptoms - that would land her in hospital. Was friggin intense, she‘d be unable to use limbs on one side of body for a few days.

PTs are a Wild West show - many are next to useless. So I’d try to get a referral from someone to find a good one.

n invest in a good pilow(s) - da neck n rst of body will appreciate it
My wife has hemipelagic migraines now. How did yours get rid of it?

It seems to happen to her w/ a change in atmospheric pressure. I think it's tied to the inner ear fluid b/c she gets nausea and vertigo-like symptoms.

Anyone ever experienced this?

My shoulder down my bicep to my thumb go numb intermittently. Stretching my arm and neck in different positions makes it go away temporarily. This repeats all day and night. Makes paddling difficult with my arm going numb.

The orthopedist gave me a medrol pack but it didn’t do much.

Anyone know any treatments for this?
My friend has thoracic outlet syndrome. there's an easy test for it involving reaching back with your arm. If you feel your pulse weaken in your subclavian vein/artery (assuming it's your right arm), then it's TOS.

We were throwing half-court shots the week before a trip to the Ments. When he paddled hard, his arm would swell up like a fiddler crab b/c the blood wasn't returning to his thorax fast enough. When we got home, he had to have his first rib removed. He still isn't the same after 25 years.