Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

[@lesliefoster6624]

I have suffered with tingling in my left arm for at least 15 years. Recently, it’s started in my right arm & have noticed weakening in my left arm, as well as pain now in my neck and into my shoulder blades. Have had many specialists dismiss me because they’ve performed nerve testing on me, MRI’s and ultra sounds that all showed no diseases nor damages for which I’m thankful for however, to just be dismissed and still have tingling that’s worsening, with pain now, is a very scary reality I live almost daily now. So, when I stumbled upon your KZbin video at 2:30AM this morning…as I listened to you & did the exercises you were suggesting, I was literally reduced to tears because as I finished them, my left arm & shoulder didn’t tingle into my fingers for a few minutes….and I honestly cannot remember when the last time that occurred!!!!! Thank you so very much for sharing your video!!!! It has been literally a life changer for me. 🙏 You have a follower for life in this lady here! 💚

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@Emily-ee2wt]

These would put me in unbearable pain for days as a TOS patient

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Make sure to go gentle, and if it is too much, get some direction from a PT.

[@shannongreenlaw321]

Hi! I too have thoracic outlet syndrome. I am almost 33 and was diagnosed at age 19. I am having trouble finding anything online about modified exercises I can do for toning upper arms and abs etc. while having TOS - all I find are physical therapy and stretches - I'm trying to get in shape but doing push ups etc flares up my pecs and scalenes and make the muscles around my chest sore and I get paranoid im gonna have a heart attack!

[@yashmahapatra3011]

Try davidgrey rehab upper body basics. Check him on insta Email them They’ll get back to you

[@aabirmridha]

same

[@mikerosy6924]

I had blood clots 5-6 of them and almost died, def take it easy, I’m in same boat, good luck on journey

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

I would work with someone in person. It is really hard remotely to figure out what the issue is.

[@MrMukhtar17]

In beginning I thought I have disc problem... But x-ray and MRI showed nothing....but now I think I have TOS issue I think because of work style and one hard accident I had before few years, thanks for your video.

[@silverfullbuster9177]

Where did you have an mri scan done?

[@chetzmartinezrodriguez2253]

Same as mine i had my x ray heart blood test etc and they can’t find anything..Now im suffering this terrible left upper back pain that radiates to my shoulder to my arm and chest😢

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@SassyUncle]

Thank you so much very helpful

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@chetzmartinezrodriguez2253]

Suffering this left upper back pain that radiates to my shoulder and goes to chest...ECG is normal,XRAY is normal just unfolding thoracic aorta...This helps me a lot

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Great to hear

[@nikhilwaddar17]

Sir I have Thoracic outlet syndrome with extra bilateral cervical rib causing numbness and tingling in my right arm and hands while sleeping from past 7-8 years

[@MrMukhtar17]

I have same and nervous pain my neck so painful

[@chetzmartinezrodriguez2253]

Same here😢

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Hope this helps

[@jbhook1339]

Could playing the guitar a lot (standing, strap over left shouder) cause TOS on left side?

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

It could! Anything creating consistent shortening of those muscles would do it.

[@nancys2839]

My forearm and wrist are swollen with pain in neck sternum and 1st rib/ collarbone (broken collarbone as a child and 6 auto related whiplash injury too) Thanks for sharing I will definitely be doing this!

[@cazzawazzadingdong5139]

Have you checked with your doc first? Arterial and Venous TOS can life threatning. Swelling in your arm is one symptom of vascular compression which can lead to upper limb ischemia, compartment syndrome, loss of limb, or stroke. Only do physio for neurogenic not vascular!

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@adamroberts1338]

Good information, but one comment about the scalene stretches at 2:20, which seem to be a very standard exercise for treating TOS. On learning the stretch from other PTs, I've discovered that these kinds of stretches really exacerbate my symptoms (I was diagnosed as having TOS due to a "very high first rib"), especially if I do it as part of a regular regimen. Within 2 week of doing it every day, I went from feeling pretty well with little pain or numbness, to constant numbness in the pinky and ring finger and not being able to walk due to the pain, and actually started to get symptoms in the other arm for the first time. I don't know the exact mechanics of it, but, for me anyway, maybe the action pulls up on the first rib, closing the space in the already shortened, tense scalene triangle. I know in the long run lengthening the scalenes is desirable, but something more gradual and "indirect" seems to work better for me (e.g., gentle posture exercises, band exercises working on expanding the chest, regular walks or running on flat surfaces).

[@sz4179]

I also had worsening symptoms from scalenes stretches

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Thanks for your input

[@malachisgrace8689]

My pinky , ring finger and back keep falling asleep. And my pain is from my shoulder to my tricep, down to my fingers , somewhat in my armpit and chest.smh

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Did this help?

[@Jackie-vw6eh]

Amazing ! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@larryfisherman4199]

I did the stretch @4:40 and my hand went numb. does this mean i have nTOS?

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

It could but not for sure

[@claire5399]

I have a xtra rib…now what ? hEDS

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

I would recommend talking to an orthopedic specialist to see what can be done.

[@Nathaniel.blr78]

sir please I need a short answer , can fully recover from ntos, or at least partially,just so I can get in shape with decent athletic body ? that's my only dream, is it possible, I want to have desirable body, I'm 20 yo male

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

It is possible. I would work with a good PT to help meet your goals

[@sandraragole2411]

🙋‍♀️ question.. my chronic pain from syringomyelia trauma, t6 t10. Acupuncture aggressively. Question, typically WHAT IS CAUSE??? TOOOOO PAINFUL. still trying video alot.🌬❤❤

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

There are multiple things that could be the cause. With a complex case like yours i would suggest working with a skilled therapist on your problem.

[@davidjimmy3994]

Good friend, I have very strong crunches in the sternum, and chest and pectoral pain accompanied by tingling in the left shoulder blade, and both ulnar and medial hands, pain in the gullon canal, and my neck hurts when I pull up and down. They did electromyography on both hands and there is no evidence, I am 30 years old and I don't know what to do, I have been sick for almost 3 years, I hope your videos help me, I am a boy with a fibrous athletic body, I hope I don't have pain, thanks for your teaching, God bless you

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Thanks for the feedback

[@celiapacheco3288]

I found this video interesting. Thanks a lot for it.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@cziffra1980]

What exactly is the logic behind the doorway stretch? How could this do anything other than jam the collarbone into the ribs? What helps me is to hold the collarbone slightly forwards and up, but just being sure not to rotate it down while going more forward. I can't make any sense of how of pulling back (or using the doorway to do the same) could possibly do anything but cause jamming into the ribs.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

It stretches the pec. If you aren't feeling it then you might not need to do that.

[@cziffra1980]

@@AlignTherapyUtah but I can't understand it in the context of suggesting it for thoracic outlet syndrome. It naturally drives ribs forwards and the collarbone back. That's probably fine for someone who doesn't have them compressing together due to existing good posture, but how can it do anything but jam them harder, if they already collide in TOS? Even if I lie on a bed and do a similar stretch I instinctively push my ribs forwards. I had to learn the complete opposite motions to the doorway stretch to make it safe. I have to suck my ribs inward and drive the collarbone forwards (while turning out to make length). The directions of action need to be completely reversed, in order to make more room as opposed to even less still.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

@@cziffra1980 opposite motion would put you in more of a forward posture, which then adaptively shortens the anterior structures. This then causes more compression during daily life and increases your symptoms. In order to reduce the tension and lack of mobility anteriorly and reduce compression, we have to stretch posteriorly. This is not the position I want you to hang out in, but the more mobility you get, the more this won't be at end range. It sounds like you might need more specific instruction though. I would recommend being seen by someone familiar with TOS. Good luck!

[@cziffra1980]

@@AlignTherapyUtah okay, I'm open minded about indirect effects, but surely there's also a common simple link between TOS and over extended rib flare? I was constantly in the mindset of trying to pull the collarbone back for ages and it never did anything but make it worse. I can find more space to pull back now as a stretch as long my ribs are held down and inward and my collarbone is sufficiently raised rather than slumped down. However, I always have to be conscious of the need to hold my ribs in rather than drive them out forwards. I feel like there may be different ways of moving while doing a doorway stretch and maybe some people instinctively do something very different. However, for myself, it takes phenomenal conscious effort to do anything other than actively crush ribs and collarbone together. I still just avoid it.

[@DustySteel]

What if doing the physical therapy makes the symptoms way worse? Also, I have ringing in both ears that never goes away. Very weird unsettling feeling throughout arm following by excruciating pain and discomfort. Will this go away with time and pt or does something else need to be done. I’m in between doctors now because first one denied an MRI of my shoulder and took one of my cervical even though the physical therapist recommended one of my shoulder.

[@AJSimonTalks]

Are you having heart rate changes constantly? … that’s what I’m going through. Blood pressure and heart rate along with dizziness, vertigo, weakness, and the inability to sweat.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

I would find a therapist who can work with your specific issues.

[@panosnord9978]

Good content, thank you!

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Thank you

[@jane2133]

Do posture braces ever work for thoracic outlet syndrome in those with slouching posture?

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Not great

[@sermoncatcher55]

I believe i have NTOS, & my buddy loaned me a posture brace, & i about had a panic attack. I got it about 3/4 of the way on & realized it not only was not going to feel good once i got it on, but...i could tell i wouldn't be able to get it off myself. Very scary. I would never try one agsin w/out someone in the room to help me w it.

[@Explorer982]

dry needling to get my traps and scalene to relax helped this a lot

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Fantastic

[@chetzmartinezrodriguez2253]

Wow i google a lot about this kind of exercise and this one helps me...I suffered this for couple of years

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Good!

[@ruman410]

Very helpful 👍

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Thanks

[@alvinprettyman1802]

thanks for posting learning new stuff

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome!

[@musicallife3981]

Do you do online consultations? Really wanted to consult youll.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Yes we do. You can check out our website at www.aligntherapyutah.com

[@musicallife3981]

@@AlignTherapyUtah I sent you a message there on contact form.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

@@musicallife3981 Awesome. We will get back to you. Thanks

[@musicallife3981]

@@AlignTherapyUtah great. Let me know when you do. Will this be via email or phone?

[@rosegeorgiou7606]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@samwd5039]

Wonderful doctor so relaxed and patience.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

Thanks!

[@bolsonaro558]

Tanks!!!! Brazil

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

You are welcome

[@TheYemcl]

Would you implement any form of deep tissue release along with these stretches? Asking for a friend in the Army who has TOS due to ruck marching.

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

That would be great!

[@TheYemcl]

@@ChappySinclair Ok, that makes sense! She's a female, so she likely could greatly benefit from that. I'll let her know. Thank you!

[@Endurance-tq7fi]

Hello ! . Does thoracic outlet syndrome have any connection with ulnar nerve subluxation ? Cause I do have it . I do have restriction in all my fingers and it get cold easily and I also do feel pain around collarbone .

[@AlignTherapyUtah]

It can. Not directly but indirectly. I would work on that.

[@Endurance-tq7fi]

@@AlignTherapyUtah thank you . But I'm actually in UAE

[@RealDeviousRich]

What did u do for this?? I was diagnosed w TOS and have ulnar nerve subluxation as well!

[@Endurance-tq7fi]

I've literally forgot the comment still exists. As for the treatment, I've visited a veteran orthopaedic doctor and he examined suspected regions with a reflex hammer and turns out I was fine. I was opposed to his response since I could literally experience restriction in my arm as I raise laterally. He interpreted by saying, 1. It's fine to have a subluxation of ulnar nerve since not everyone has to have an ideal alignment and if I were to address it, some doctors may suggest surgical intervention which can possibly result undesired outcome. And 2. He suggested me to perform exercises to reverse muscle imbalances since I am quite slender. Which being stretches and strengthening exercises for the upper body. Bear in mind, mine could be different from yours and so are the measures.

[@Bledou213]

@@Endurance-tq7fi please, what about swimming can we pratice it for strengthening the upper body or it will make things worse ?