Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Treatment That Actually Works!

Learn what Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is, how to treat its symptoms from home, and what you can do to conquer it's root cause!
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- Grant
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Your Wellness Nerd offers a new perspective on pain, injury, and improving your quality of life based on the work of one really passionate Physical Therapist. Grant is a HUGE nerd about optimizing human function and performance and hopes to provide the "a ha!" moment you didn't realize you were looking for.
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#thoracicoutletsyndrome #TOS #physicaltherapy #Physiotherapy

[@YourWellnessNerd]

The information in this video is what I've come to understand about Thoracic Outlet Syndrome over the years. I sincerely hope it helps those struggling to conquer TOS at the moment! Please consider subscribing for more tips just like this: bit.ly/2Sh5zfm

[@absbica31]

good video I would caution the neck one a bit with the ball. I've had neck and shoulder stiffness for years, and have done various forms of massage on my SCM, etc.. including the use of a lacross ball just like you have. A few times...I've spent upwards of 5 minutes doing the massage and felt fine. Upon being done and removing myself off the floor, I found not only was the area numb...but parts of my face and the top of my scalp were even numb. It took about 1 hour for all my feeling to return. Granted, it never came off like I had a stroke or anything, but that I I likely was on an important nerve. I know there is a sensitive nerve mid SCM that I've done graston massage on that can get very irritated if you aren't careful.

[@IPz-nb9bj]

I saw last night one of your videos related with TOS and I tried to follow your guidance working with the medicinal ball during maybe 15 minutes. Today I woke up with less pain and great relief in the neck and trapezius area. Your explanation of OCD and elevated first rib is the most compelling explanation I have received after reading and watching video from many specialists. You have the gift of presenting your knowledge in a very simple and clear way. You are doing a great job on this channel and I hope that many people will subscribe. Thank u very much.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

@@IPz-nb9bj Really happy to hear that mate, and I appreciate the kind words! I genuinely hope things keep progressing well for you! Let me know how you go!

[@IPz-nb9bj]

@@YourWellnessNerd Thank you very much. I will do it

[@skylerkohen6957]

I guess Im asking the wrong place but does someone know a method to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb lost the login password. I love any assistance you can give me!

[@user-nh4ye4ec9y]

Thank you for explaining clearly what is the causes of the pain and how to address it at home. I have been to a few doctors now but none have seemed to be as knowledgable. Has helped me look at my posture and exercises and made improvements.

[@captainmanetty]

Thank you so much mate. Your video was the most helpful and informative than most i've seen.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Not a problem mate! Genuinely hope it helps you in some way. Let me know if you have any specific questions!

[@lisabarg6094]

Thank you so much! I’m sending this to my brother because we both are experiencing this issue. Your explanation makes perfect sense.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps you both Lisa!

[@joshuabriggs7114]

Very helpful! Excellent description and demonstration of the postural dynamics at play. Really appreciate this! Would appreciate some more descriptions and demonstrations of scalene release and strengthening of postural muscles.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You're welcome mate, glad to hear it may have resonated! I do have a few other videos on scalenes and other postural things if you're happy to look for them!

[@maunezalyons7188]

I’m new to your channel and I’m so glad I found you. I tried your method and I had immediate relief! I can’t believe I’ve been through so so much with this pain over the years and no one actually addresses it or they acted like it was too difficult to get to. I had huge trigger points in the upper back and neck which caused lots of pain. It was relieved with one session with my lacrosse ball. Thank you so very much for your knowledge of thoracic outlet syndrome!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Really happy to hear it helped Mauneza! Hope things right themselves soon!!

[@HumanBodyMaintenance]

It’s crazy how a five dollar lacrosse ball and a few hours of pressure can relieve decades of painful living

[@khymchristensen1237]

Thank you! Omg your an angel! I was diagnosed with this coupled with degenerative cervical and lumbar disks many year's ago.. the pain in my neck, back and shoulders has been almost unbearable at times. My physical therapist (great person btw, bless his heart) had diagnosed a raised rib at the time but now I'm thinking it may be the opposite condition of compression after watching this . Last week I underwent a total disk replacement at c4-5 and a fusion of c6-7 and now during recovery my left shoulder blade is winging out and presenting excruciating pain in the muscle at upper point (towards my spine) corner of the blade and presenting symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome again. I am feeling relief just in the few minutes of carefully doing your suggestions tonight! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with people like myself! I would hug you right now if I could ❤

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Amazing Khym! Hopefully the tips in the video do help you recover!

[@OurNewestMember]

It can be so easy to "follow pain" and miss other important issues. Brilliant video!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Appreciate it mate! Hope it was helpful!

[@bjnmedical13nesbit20]

Excellent! Thank you for this incredible knowledge!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps make a difference!

[@johnmichael5765]

Just tried your suggestions. Seemed to help numbness in my hand and forearm. I will see overtime. Thanks for you video.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Best of luck with it John!

[@MrMasterman6969]

great my root causation was a childhood injury and it effected everyday of my life and that left side is where I had high velocity impact....great details thanks on my cycle of pain mgmt

[@Ian140265]

Thank You Sir for this information, may your day be blessed.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it’s helpful Ian!

[@matthewbabel1570]

I have had this problem for a long time. I had c5 to c7 fusion from a 4 wheeler accident 12 years ago and I believe this has been an underlying issue since. I have went to get MRIs and they say "everything is great" for years until recently. The last mri they said you have this spot that looks like a scar... I went to a neurologist and they gave me MRI with contrast and diagnosed me with MS which I guess is true, I have that scar on my left neck above the fusion and one other in my brain. They told me this pain was totally caused by the scar, even though I have all these symptoms and described almost exactly what you talk about. So I have been just dealing with it living in misery. I ran across your video and it has given me more relief in 15 minutes than anything in the past 12 YEARS... I am very tight and can't move my left arm all the way back and I get tingling on my tricep into my shoulder. But I can feel the difference and will continue to work on this. That's the problem with doctors sometimes, they want to look at small things and not consider the whole picture. I am glad I'm treating the MS, but I am thrilled the pain has subsided and has given me hope of strength training without pain! A sincere thank you for your help!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Mate thats fantastic to hear! Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it. Hope the exercises and the postural awareness is enough to keep you feeling great. Keep up the good work!

[@patricksimoneau7647]

I have been dealing with shoulder issues for 18 years. This explain all my symptoms exactly. I’ve been to tens of doctors, physiotherapists, athletic therapists, massage therapists. And not a single one has even mentioned this. I am waiting for another ultrasound so I can finally be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. This may of just explained everything.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

How are you going now mate? Hopefully the video helped connect some dots for you!

[@weilzudope]

thanks for the explanation at the end, thats really important

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Glad it resonated!

[@whitneyandrew1073]

How have I never heard of this before?! I injured both of my shoulders (one after the other) at work about 6 years ago. I went through all the physical therapy, and still use some of those exercises, but still have periodic issues with those nerves. Thank you for explaining this. I'll be working this routine into my regimen.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I really hope it helps Whitney!

[@desireelachine3135]

Very helpful and informative.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps!

[@patriciapardo7694]

Very helpful and great info!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it has an impact!

[@ninjaJeff06]

Thanks so much for your video. I got rear ended 5 years ago and noticed later on that I started getting burning pain in my shoulders when I would wake up from bed. I didn't realize I was actually dealing with TOS the whole time. It really started to become a problem 9 months ago. I wasn't able to train properly at the gym and lost so much progress because of the sharp pain in my neck. I went to physio, chiro, osteopath, massage, and while they provided some relief, they never really addressed the main problem. I was starting to lose hope. Your exercises literally fixed in 2 days what I was trying to fix for the last 9 months. My neck feels so much better and I didn't realize how tight my upper back actually was for all these years. I feel like I have my life back. Thank you!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Amazing to hear Jeff! Sorry for the late reply, I sincerely hope that things are still going well since you posted this comment!

[@scottaustin2067]

20 yrs military ignored and recorded no thoracic outlet syndrome .3 pain clinices felt and seen spastic and very tight and still nothing. Im doing better on my own but i have a long way to go with the the 5 elements of myofascia. Your video is bang on ,thanks

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Mate, best of luck with your recovery, hope the video really helps in some way!

[@mombeolunyonyi8027]

Thank you for sharing this so helpful video.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Glad it feel helpful!

[@user-ss4lz4kv1n]

Thanks for the video, great information.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps as well!

[@shoulderarmhealth]

Thanks Grant! Great video. I’m hoping we can collaborate on this topic soon. I think our understanding of TOS is evolving and I like your approach. Roger Sohn

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hi Roger! Great to hear from you :). Look forward to the collaboration!

[@jacquiesheils9560]

Thanks, I am so glad you did this.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Appreciate you Jacquie!

[@jamiemoore132]

This is very helpful have recurrent issues with this. And yes I have the slumped forward posture that I am working on

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps settle things down for you Jamie!

[@Laura-pr8jg]

Hi Grant! Thank you for the great video! It did seem to help me short-term. However I was wondering if it is save to use the tennis-ball on my neck muscles next to my spine every day for weeks or months? I have a pretty bad head posture and its very hard to change that short term, so my neck gets tight every day. Thank you a lot for your advice! it will certainly help!

[@carnivoregal7237]

Your the best PT on utube.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Appreciate it mate, hope the videos are helpful!

[@M3ownerguyy]

Currently waiting for surgery for my scalenes, c7 and first rib thanks for the help, worst 4 years of my life it’s insane how something can affect your life and mental state so much

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Best of luck with the operation Danny, hope things work out well for you!

[@OneYoumark]

Thanks for this... just tried this and my range of motion has improved dramatically... hoping this will provide some improvements in relieving the pins and needles

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps too Mark!

[@satishfitmonk]

Nicely explained 🎉

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it resonates Satish!

[@Deepa7]

Super useful. Thankyou!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Great to hear!

[@lesleysanders8529]

I have been experiencing pain in my neck, shoulders, chest muscles, and down both arms and wrists. I've been given antibiotics, depressants, painkillers, physio, and neither of those reduced the symptoms. I found that heat and massage help the most. I gave also used a ball to apply pressure to tight spots in my thoracic area, and this has helped a lot. Thank you for sharing your skills and I have tried to do these today and already feel such a release if tightness. I can't understand why my GP or phisio didn't advise this very useful procedure, and it's left me in pain for years. Hopefully, now, I will ease it myself. Thank you.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Really hope it continues to help Lesley! Good luck!

[@evakorman1]

Thank you. I’ve been neglecting the low having fruits but I’ll go for them now. And I’ve been sitting with my phone hours and hours a day and been drawing even more. And when I haven’t I’ve been stressed a lot and then I’m shrugging. Neither is good.

[@jessicagotz8227]

Wow , thank you so very very much for this Video and your time explaining and helping!!! I am struggeling with that Syndrom for the very first Time and am frightened a little if i feel the left arm is getting a little more blue and Is just not possible to work normal 😢 i Just did this „work out“ here and realy felt a little better for a short time! Thank you !!! Greetings from Germany !!!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Awesome to hear Jessica! Hope it helps settle things down in the long term!

[@humwishdom7918]

Thank you so much for this video and sharing your knowledge. I have watched several videos on exercises for the ulnar nerve and thorax and this one was the most helpful physical therapy videos out there. I tried the exercise and my back cracked and I felt better instantly. My pinky has been numb for a week and I have lost power in my hand. I went to a chiropractor and it wa defiantly the C8 T1 muscle irritation. My feeling is still not back but I feel better.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Amazing to hear! I'm glad it was able to have an impact. I think the spinal restrictions are often missed because the arm symptoms are more obvious, but I hope the exercises make a difference for you!

[@Aangel452]

I look fwd to trying these stretchs in about 10 mins. I have had neck problems for years after many MVAs & whiplash. I tore a tendon in my shoulder several years ago and recently suffering terrible 1st rib, thoracic pain front and back as well as terrible pain through my Teres muscles, arms and numbing fingers, so here goes, I will come back to comment here if it helps over several days of doing this. Thank you for posting your knowledge on this area of body pain.😊

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it does help! Let us know how you fare with it!

[@mytake3735]

Exercise with a hard Ball is super tip. THANK YOU

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it was helpful!

[@thepuriproject7282]

Thanks kindly for all this. Since 2013 I have tried everything to ease the sharp pain in my chest, cubical tunnel syndrome in both arms, the clavicle pain etc...I have been to chiropractors, osteopaths, cortisone injections, physios, surgeons. Finally TOS pulls it all together and makes sense. Unfortunately the pain led me to muscle relaxants and benzos which helped with the tension and made a whole heap of issues by themselves

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Good luck with your recovery mate, hope the video helps in some way!

[@AbrahamLure]

My TOS got so bad i couldn't do exercises to help with posture and everything spiralled and had me bedridden in just a few weeks. Thank you for this video

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope things have improved since Abraham!

[@annap1191]

Thanks for the video. Can it cause pain in the upper trapezius and levator scapula?

[@visualbam]

I've been working on figuring out my debilitating neck / low back pain for the past 8 years. I did not even know I had thoracic outlet syndrome for the longest time. Lacross ball just wasn't doing the trick on my neck. Recently I figured out that you can apply a significant amount of pressure to the scalene muscles with your fingers. I mean really digging the fingers into the neck and finding all of those nodules of congestion if they're there. It did not feel safe at first but the more I did it, the more monumental change I made. I have also realized that pressing your finger as deep as you feel is safe into your thymus gland while breathing deeply helps clear up some of the tightness around the clavicle. It's very uncomfortable if you have a problem but if you can breathe through it, it releases and you will be able to breath in deeper than before. I just without a doubt fixed my TOS this afternoon. I was firmly applying the technique above and trapped a mean area of congestion on the left of my neck and applied some shear/rotation and it finally released. I always knew this was a problem but could never do anything about it no matter what I tried. Afterwards, I could feel the blood pumping down through my arm into my hand and all of a sudden all of my neck and shoulder problems disappeared completely. I am in slight shock, I never thought this day would come. It is amazing that your video popped up in my feed after that happened. I can personally attest that every single thing you described and explained in this video is 100% accurate and will treat this problem. It just might take a lot longer for some people than others.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I hear you! Hope things recovery quickly from here mate! Good luck!

[@KaranSharma-io3qi]

Hey can u help me with my muscle tightness in neck too because the stiffness got till my left side of my chest and my heart is also palipitating due to this

[@nancywolf8574]

Hi can u explain in some detail about working the thymus gland. I have been suffering w this for many years. And u also mentioned scalene muscles, breaking up the congestion of the nodules. I know the muscles but exactly how are you working out those sore congested points. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Blessings

[@visualbam]

@@nancywolf8574 I’m going to eventually make some videos and write about this in further detail but here are some things to think about. - Putting pressure on a muscle should not hurt. - Use the pain as a guide to moving the muscle they way it needs to be engaged to recover. - This may take a long time to fix but you have to work on it every single day. Lightly wrap your right hand around your left shoulder with your thumb wedged into your neck between your traps and clavicle bone. Use your thumb and apply pressure. Try moving your left shoulder around while your thumb is applying pressure. Also slowly play around with your thumb massaging the areas where you feel discomfort. Start moving your thumb closer down your clavicle to where your thymus gland is at. This may be very painful but you should be able to put a good amount of pressure here without pain. Only apply as much pressure that feels safe. As you apply pressure, twist your hand and thumb slightly so that you can tack down the skin on your neck and then pull it up/down/left/right until your skin feels tight like you’re pulling it taught. While you feel this pulling sensation, try to hold it there and rotate your neck the opposite direction and then try to look up by pushing your chin forward as much as you can. You may feel discomfort in the back of your neck and that you’re pulling your neck apart. Go as far as you can into this stretch and try to camp out. The front of your neck going under your chin should feel really tight. Basically you want to use your hand to tack down your skin and apply sheer (twist/pulling). Then you use your thumb to apply pressure. It’s going to suck and you have to learn to embrace it. You need to make your symptoms worse before they can get better. Applying pressure and adding movement is healing your body even if it hurts. Movement is medicine. Do this as often as you can handle every single day. Moving your neck so much is going to feel like it’s making things worse.. but this means you’re on the right track. There could be a lot of reasons that may be causing this problem that isn’t related to your neck. It’s also important to remember that depending on the severity of your problem, you may not have access to certain therapies and advice people may suggest. They all work but there are stages your body goes through during your recovery. The more understanding of how your body works, the more muscle restrictions you release, the more capable you are to benefiting from certain rehab techniques. Do you have shoulder problems? If there’s anything you would like to try and talk through, let me know!

[@augustbramming4926]

Thank you so much for this comment. I have always felt that if i could just get those knots massaged they would go away. Iam going to professional massageman tomorrow:)

[@nancywolf8574]

Great information

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope its helpful Nancy!

[@teripage5787]

The cause in my case is I have been a Therapeutic Massage Therapist for 24 years and I am still practicing. It is a hazard of my job so I am always looking for more things to try. Thank you for the info! I like how you emphasize looking for stiffness, it is one of the main things I search for when I work, and it is often there and people don't even realize it.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it really helps!

[@________8756]

Thanks for this video. What about use of a tens unit for TOS? What would the placement of the leads be?

[@jeffsaraiva7099]

Very useful!!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Great to hear Jeff!

[@atlas543]

I have TOS and my massage therapist just went to a conference to cover new message techniques for TOS. After my appointment with him I had a relief of all of my symptoms. I had some symptoms come back after about 48 hours. It’s a huge step in the right direction for me. I have been dealing with this for 4 years and finally have a path forward that will hopefully help me avoid surgery. This is great information in this video. I haven’t seen this technique shared before and I am looking forward to trying it. Based on past experiences I have had, I am confident that it will help. 🙂

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Best of luck Rebecca! Hope the recovery goes well!

[@atlas543]

@@YourWellnessNerd thank you so much. 😇

[@rachelgoldilocks]

@atlas where is your massage therapist located?? i'm a new to TOS and wondering if massage would help... haven't been in years!

[@atlas543]

@@rachelgoldilocks my massage therapist is in Connecticut. He attended a conference on it so hopefully it’s something that is being shared in a broader way in the massage therapy community.

[@larryfisherman4199]

@@atlas543 Hey I’m in CT! What are they called?

[@robinmariethorp9639]

Many thanks. Your delivery is super informative, easy to understand and follow and overall adorable! I’m wondering if spasms, palpitating, pulsing of the chest area and even into the upper arm like I’ve had for quite some time, indicates TOS? I got it from massage for my extremely tight scapula areas on my back.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Thanks Robin! Its hard to comment on your symptoms over the net unfortunately. I can't say whether its related to TOS but if you find that freeing up the upper back and loosening that pec help those symptoms then it may not necessarily matter!

[@T0sorio]

This sounds like exactly my same symptoms and the doctors I’ve seen have seemed stumped. Did you end up getting it diagnosed?

[@thebun]

Extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You're most welcome!

[@sheilahalligan9650]

Finally. Some relief.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

❤❤

[@ShelleyhitzTV]

Thanks! I’ve already felt some relief using the ball. My chiropractor has been treating me for first rib dysfunction but it has kept coming back. Appreciate your videos

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Fanatastic to hear Shelley! I hope it helps you sort things out long term!!

[@ShelleyhitzTV]

@@YourWellnessNerd quick question. How often do you recommend using the ball to mobilize the spine and ribs? My entire thoracic spine feels stiff and sore on both sides but I don’t want to over do it.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Once a day is often enough for most people, but more or less is ok as long as it feels like its progressing. Most people will know what feels appropriate for them!

[@ShelleyhitzTV]

@@YourWellnessNerd thank you! I've been doing it about once a day and it has definitely helped. I'm really working on my posture now.

[@shanegolledge5096]

Excellent well presented video 🙏 I'm learning towards my diagnosis possible being thoracic outlet syndrome. My MRI showed degenerative spondylosis and slight buldge of C5 and C6. I have been getting horrible referred pain into my right rear delt, bicep and wrist for the last 3 weeks. And my right thumb was numb for the first 2 weeks. Have been to 3 chiropractors, 3 physios and a spine specialist..... no long lasting pain relief 😞

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Appreciate it Shane. Hope the video helps you progress back to full health and function!

[@_PlayWithAkash_]

follow Ramdev baba yoga steps of cervical and spondylitis yogasan i have big improvement for same

[@jacquiesheils9560]

This is so helpful: I didn't know the name of it but I think it is the thing that has been making me miserable for years. Just a few minutes with my dog ball massage ball and my shoulder blades and down my back and the frontt of my chest expanse upwards. Wow, thanks so much.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Glad to hear it sounds like it was helpful Jacquie!

[@andrews9328]

Thank you!🎉

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You’re welcome 😊

[@simonrichter5345]

Great Video, confirms my thoughts and feelings about the Situation

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Great to hear! Hope it helps!

[@joemahma3457]

Useful? I’ve been in severe pain from this for ten years and am just now lying on the 🎾 if I could hug you, I would! Thanks so much for this 💜

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Amazing Joe! I sincerely hope it helps you find some relief!!

[@anthonypollock1225]

Great video, really informative. I've had TOS for two and a half years, I'll try out the ball technique and reply to this comment in a few months with feedback on whether this has helped

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Thanks Anthony! Hope the exercise helps. To be fair you should know within a few days how effective it is, if not straight away. Good luck!

[@yasqueen9092]

Did it work for you?

[@wemoveforward6413]

Hi mate. Great stuff. I believe this is what I'm currently dealing with. Get a deep ache in my anterior delt then when I retract and depress I get a strange clicking/popping/grisly feeling in my upper back/trap/shoulder blade. Theb when I raise and lower my arm laterally I get a twitch/pulse on my neckAlso have mild arm tingle ranging from the inside of my bicep all the way to my elbow. Hopefully this will help. Thanks again

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Best of luck with it! Hope the video helps!!

[@Jack_Sparrow_85]

Is this syndrome similar to other nerve related issues like carpel tunnel, RSI, etc? I'm 37 and have started to get RSI in my right hand after years of terrible posture at the computer, very glad i've found your channel, just ordered myself a massage ball and have started seriously paying attention to my posture. I tried seeing a doctor about my issue about a year ago and he was very dismissive and just suggested i "find another job that didn't use my hands so much", some doctors should not be doctors.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

A lot of those issues can be an expression of similar root dysfunction of the neck and upper back. Finding those potentially associated troublesome spots in the spine can sometime makes all the difference on top of a good rehab program!

[@gyanchudasama4412]

Amazing. Amazing amazing amazing. Thank you.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Glad to hear it may have helped mate!!

[@rebelelf8332]

Thank you for this.. I have been looking for a gentle way to try to loosen my tension up. I know my rom is worsening because of my guarding and posture. I won’t go into pt because when I was a young woman I was SA’d by a pt and I just can’t go into an office without freaking out. Off to Amazon to buy a ball, thx!!!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You're welcome, and sorry to hear about your experience :( I hope the video helps!

[@ravvaktheannihilator69]

Ironically, my symptoms always seem to get worse when playing on my phone with poor posture. When I stop using my phone as much, I get less severe symptoms. Also driving is another one. Thanks for the video man, going to try all this that I’ve learned out and see how it goes!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps mate! Let me know if it has an impact!

[@AnnMarks]

I have a microcurrent device with body settings. applied to my TOC area and it worked as magic

[@romansemchuk1837]

Thank you for the video. What kind of ball is the best for this exercise?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Depends what feels tolerable for each person. A tennis ball is a gentler option but a lacrosse ball is often quite a good options for others.

[@SuperFifion]

Thanks for your video. I have venous TOS but no first rib. My blood supply ceases when my arm starts to raise and use over head. To make it all the more complicated, I have c5-c6 herniated discs which can cause the TOS pain to be worse apparently as it’s all connected in way. After 8 years of nerve pain etc, I am hoping a 2 level disc replacement will help and then I’ll see what can be done about the TOS if it’s still an issue. In the meantime I’ll definitely try your exercises and posture improvements! Thanks again.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I wish you all the best with your recovery!

[@andreawilburn6875]

Going to try this. Hopefully it works. Have cervical ribs they want to remove and I'd rather not. Thank you

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I hope the ideas in the video help Andrea!

[@annmarieslavick356]

thank you for the information, no one ever calls it this, and I know, I think, this is my problem.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope its helpful!

[@FreoTragic]

Good video thanks, it added to my knowledge of this crappy issue, I have it on both sides and had no help from physio, just KZbin videos... I found that strengthening my back doing rows etc helped, but is not the whole story.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Really hope the video can help you get on top it ASAP! 🤞

[@AMZ45111]

Right now my doctor's are recommending a rib resection in order to relieve the compression on my veins from my upper left extremity to prevent further blood clots. They didn't mention physiotherapy , but I'd like to try this first as opposed to jumping into surgery.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Its always a great plan MZ. If they can find some local dysfunction, assess your posture and strength and give you some things to work on then you can see what happens from there.

[@kandisfay5678]

Same. And I’d really like to try something before surgery. But I’m having pain now in the thoracic spine it’s so bad.

[@kellys6164]

This is a fantastic video. Thank you so much. I sleep on my right side all night, and I think I crunch my muscles, etc. I'm sure over time that isn't a great position.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Glad it resonated with you!

[@vickisanders6279]

Thank you 🙏

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You're welcome!

[@saijavvadi4573]

Hey doc sincerely thanks Man for this video. Learnt many things of my problem. Could you please tell me How long it takes to get rid of this totally. So I can rejoin my gym . And I do have compititions at the end of the Year 😞

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hey mate! Its hard to give an accurate prognosis for TOS as everyone is different and you would need to be assessed to figure it out. Having said that, it can change quickly if people get to those root underlying issues!

[@KiTrina66]

Thank you!!!!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps KP!

[@izzy4el]

I accidentally just found out what TOS is a couple days ago while researching extremely bad hand/wrist/finger joint swelling and being misdiagnosed with RA and just having really bad arthritis flare ups a couple times. Meds did nothing, but TOS exercises did almost immediately. I think those of us who are diabetic and or who suffer from bad arthritis may be mistreating their symptoms and not understanding it is actually TOS. I wished more doctors connected those dots. Thank you for this very helpful video! Cheers!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You're welcome Izzy! Best of luck getting on top of those issues!

[@izzy4el]

@@southern842 Yes, and I have not had any issues with this plague since learning what I had and adjusting my sleeping positions. Could be coincidental, but it has been long enough for me to have had a bout with it as frequently as I was being hit with it. In both arms, etc...

[@izzy4el]

@@southern842 No distentions that I am aware of but yes, swelling of wrists, hands and fingers. I'm a musician and it was not only painfully crippling it was horrifying. When I would have bouts they would last 5 to 6 months at a time and then switch arms. Now I have nearly full use of them and play guitar hours on end daily.

[@izzy4el]

@@southern842 I wish you the best! I don't know how much it helped, but I also took off weight doing keto, but I think the biggest help to me was sleeping on the opposite affected arm and placing a pillow between my body and affected arm to allow the flow of blood and nerves because the pain felt very electrical as well.

[@izzy4el]

@@southern842 Believe me, I know the struggle! All the best to you!

[@mdnia6592]

I have been dealing with chronic pain for years (12 to be exact) and have not been able to find the source of it all. I was an athlete before the pain started and I had to stop. I have been on and off with exercising and going to specialist after specialist. Nothing worked, scan after scan, exercise after exercise, nobody could find the reason. I went to specialist late last year and he zoomed fast in on TOS. I have been doing exercises with him for months now and I don't know if it is working or not. Accordning to him I have the rewire my whole spine and posture to relieve the symptoms. I still feel hopeful, this has been going on for many years and I might just have to be patient. This video gave me something more to try and I am grateful to you for making it. Do you have experience with someone with long lasting chronic TOS? Does it differ than people that have had it for a "short" time?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hey mate! Hope things are going well! I've had the full spectrum of experience with TOS. Everyone is different and can progress at different rates, not just because if how their symptoms behave, but also how optimal they can make their environment and postures to facilitate that speedy progress. Ultimately it's important to feel like you have things to do that help and also things to do outside of that to change the things that caused it to be there in the first place.

[@NikiParenteau]

Thanks!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Thank you, Niki!

[@Philyra86]

I need to get a ball. After almost 20 years of crap and no doctor knowing what i have, i think it's tos. Neck pains, numbness, tingling, occasional twitch. I'm sick of it. Thank you for this upload.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Best of luck figuring it out mate! Hope the video hopes in some small way.

[@learnwithjahsun]

I tried shoulders back and up a tad --- within 30 secs the numbness in my pointer finger went away! I've been using the down-and-back method to no avail for the last 3 years. This video is VITAL! Thank you ~

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Awesome to hear mate! The down and back concept needs to go as it’s missing some important perspective.

[@learnwithjahsun]

Do you provide online consults? I'd love to book some time with you. Let me know if that's possible. @@YourWellnessNerd

[@matthewgilmore4307]

I was looking to see if you'd worked on TOS

[@markwhitton8785]

After 4 years of searching, finally found that nTos cause of my neck and shoulder problems on left side. Currently testing whether botox injections to anterior and middle scalene muscles will alleviate pressure on brachial plexus.

[@eg6056]

Did Botox help?

[@billyhamlen9610]

I feel numbness in my 3 little fingers on my right hand....muscle tightness in the front of neck on both left and right sides. Hurts a lot in the tissue under my right armpit. Sometimes when I cough, I can feel shock down from my ribcage all the way to the fingers of my right hands.......

[@fahimzapoh4545]

Thank you for this. I was actually diagnosed with Veinous TOS about two years ago and had to take anti-cogulants for 6 months to dissolve the clot. I am now considering surgery to remove the first rib cuz I still get blood bockage if i raise my hand overhead. I was just wondering if doing this exercise is safe for me cuz i would really prefer to solve the issue non-surgically.

[@leafygreens_eatingclean]

don't do the surgery, look up Spiral Stabilization from Czech Republic and NKT level 3 directory, restore your whole body function with a GREAT PT, not every PT is actually good.

[@nancykennedy7206]

My shoulder has been bothering me for five months but it’s gotten a little better. But two weeks ago I was doing a TOS exercise of lifting my arm and I suddenly lost all sense of where I was, my vision blacked out and I lost all control of my right arm even though it’s my left shoulder that bothers me. My hand was numb I could not make a fist all of a sudden the light came back into my vision and I kept trying to make a fist and finally I was able to. It really scared me and I thought it was a stroke now I am reading up on TOS and it can mimic a stroke. I will try these exercises as I hope that the TOS did not cause a blood clot. My CT scan came out normal.

[@danmariemakeup]

Thank you for this video! Question - have you seen this happen to people from one improperly done movement at the gym? I attempted a low bar squat for the first time with minimal weight and have been dealing with this thoracic outlet issue for weeks in my daily life. It flares up when I lift weights or work my shoulder(s), so I've taken time away. This seems to be more of an issue that stems from long-term imbalances or heavy weight over long periods of time lifted incorrectly....yes, my posture isn't great and may have contributed to my injury but TOS happened very suddenly for me after a few sets of low bar squats with about 75 lbs. I have no problem squatting high bar with this weight. Could I have pinched some sort of nerve? These exercises are helping I just want to know when I am going to be out of the woods. Thank you for reading!

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Thanks for watching! Usually the moment you first feel an issue is the last straw rather than the start of something brand new, if that makes sense? For most people TOS can certainly happen instantly with trauma, but many don't have trauma, just whatever they happened to be doing which tipped them over their personal threshold for pain and symptoms. This is also the main reason why things can take a little while to settle for so many - it takes time to undo the hidden stuff that was building for a while before anything became sore. Hope that helps!

[@danmariemakeup]

@@YourWellnessNerd super interesting response!! Thank you

[@_Manos_]

@@danmariemakeup Are you better now?

[@andrewbalfour9373]

Very good thorough video. Can I ask if this would help a tight Sternomastoid muscle which I've had for years ? My shoulder is also affected by this.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

It might if the root of that issue revolved around the underlying joint stiffness and dysfunction! I have a video based on SCM dysfunction too if that helps!

[@andrewbalfour9373]

@Your Wellness Nerd Thanks I'll check it out.👍

[@andrewbalfour9373]

@Your Wellness Nerd Hi . Could you post the link as I can't find it . Many thanks Andrew

[@YogiliciousP]

Nights are the worst/main prob…repeatedly woken multiple times a night w numbness and an icy burning hot stabbing pain deep in my palm. I’d LOVE to know how to stop that; days are a dream by comparison!!

[@kandisfay5678]

Do you recommend posture braces? Or any type of a brace to help with neck pain arm pain? To correct bad posture

[@YourWellnessNerd]

It's a question that's different for each circumstance. Generally I find bracing possibly effective in the short term, but long term I find it important for the body to do its own thing otherwise things may not be any better when the brace comes off.

[@guisopagan5876]

I had the surgery the 23 of July 2021 . I'm in recovery it is painful first three weeks my right hand is numb I will say be careful with the pain killers, like oxycone just drink acetominafen. I will say I'm going to therapy this week. And I didn't die prayer helps It is what it is that's all you do keep positive. Good luck god bless if I did it you too could do it ,I was crying like a baby . And I'm a old man it made me a better person give thanks to my wife and family for they surport. Once I get arm working again I be fine. I will thanks the doctor's later.

[@heartchakra2]

How are you now ? What were your symptoms

[@toniportenier4374]

thank you. Does a sleep position make this worse? Please let me know what is the best sleep position to be in at night?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hey Toni! For me sleep position at night may play a role, but nowhere near as much as the neck and shoulder shapes during the day.

[@NeelSea]

I’m so excited to start trying this!! My left side has been messed up for years! And anytime I bend over to pick something up that rib pops up and I get a headache. Do you think this could help it to STAY where it should?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I can't comment specifically, but from a general perspective if something keeps happening it suggests theres a broader issue keeping it around.

[@kajangan]

Hello Sir... Is using the ball suitable if you happen to have Spondylosis with C5, C6 nerve impingement? Tqvvm

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hey Joseph! If you haven't already it's important to ask someone that question who has assessed your neck individually. The goal of the ball exercise is to help mobilise stiff and tight areas that are contributing to someone's symptoms. It's important to make sure you have those stiff and tight areas for the exercise to be appropriate!

[@philiptandy8104]

Everything you said sounded amazing and accurate and then I actually tried the exercises and it felt like bullshit. I couldn't find any way of using the ball that didn't involve a lot of pain.

[@chanlokkwan2876]

1) I find myself feeling TOS so bad when I wake up every morning. What should I do with that? 2) With chronic TOS, can I still do crunches? Or anything I should pay attention when doing crunches? As I want to train up my core… 3）Apart from using a tennis ball to reduce stiffness around neck/upper back, what do you think about applying hot pad or cupping on these areas?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I can’t give specific advice over the internet unfortunately mate as I can’t assess you for myself. But from a general perspective, morning symptoms are often impacted by prolonged postures and shapes from the day before. I’m a big fan of heat for a lot of people because it can help relax and loosen things depending on their symptoms.

[@Overlandwanderers]

Great video. How often would you recommend doing this exercise?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

The bare minimum would be enough to feel like you've freed some things up. But realistically one or two times a day for about 10-15mins might work for most people.

[@Overlandwanderers]

@@YourWellnessNerd awesome thanks 👍

[@hierroman]

Hi Grant, thank you very much for your video. I'm a rockclimber and i've had different symptoms: - Forearm stiffness and vein stenosis on the axillary vein. I'm afraid of getting an effort induced thrombosis (Paget-Schroetter Syndrome) due to the TOS (i guess both are correlated) The vein stenosis was identified some days ago, and since i've been on osteopathy threatment for a month, now i can see that the local threatment could have been a bit useless (?) Anyway... I am gonna see the doctor next week and see if i can still prevent this issue and keep climbing... Gonna do your exercises, i think they can be very useful on my case Greetings from spain

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Best of luck with it! Please let me know how you go with it all!

[@marilynramsden7268]

Very helpful. I was diagnosed with TOS and seeing a physical therapist for dull aching pain in the arms that cause numbness in my hands. Rounded drop shoulders are also a problem. It’s been 2 months of physical therapy, and I’m still numb so I’m gonna try these exercises. Thank you.

[@leah_amy]

Great thanks

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Hope it helps!

[@leah_amy]

@@YourWellnessNerd thank you so much I have massive shoulder issues. Surgery on torn rotator cuff tendons and remove bone spur on RHS in 3 weeks. Left one is very painful with tendonitis and bone spur. This looks like it may help me until surgery and maybe much later too. Eh shoulder issues, the worst!

[@leah_amy]

@@YourWellnessNerd I’ve just got to find my old ball or get a new one. But I’m trying this asap. Just saw last night. I have serious pain in my shoulder and neck and was almost impossible to relieve myself but I think this will work.

[@khaledmonir3467]

Hello I a have an important question is the costocondrities cause or can be appeared because of this (TOS)??????? Appreciated your reply

[@YourWellnessNerd]

Technically they can both be caused by dysfunction of the rib cage around the back

[@amygresl3691]

I've experienced the numb hands for over 30 years and it's excruciating at times but lately I had something happen that feels like my forearm tendons are in Vice and it's the worst when I sit and especially driving. The chiro put the first rib back into place but the pain had been continuous for 6 weeks with it at the scapula and into the teres minor and down my arm with occasionally feeling like a vein is pinching under my arm pit. My hands have no pain this time. I did some other exercises for the last 2 days for TOS and it helped some. Tonight I found a spot on my neck muscle that mimicked the pain tremendously. Hopefully it'll all improve from there. It's exhausting.

[@YourWellnessNerd]

I hear you Amy! Good luck with your recovery!

[@kunera1]

Both of my arms started to go numb and feel super heavy in certain positions, but also at random times. Especially right when I start working behind a desk. The pain is very minimal though. I'm very much aware you can't diagnose me, but could this still be TOS? Heavy numb arms with minimal pain?

[@Neboolah]

When I had a cervical rib above my first rib... Is there a way to mobilise it and help with excersises?

[@YourWellnessNerd]

The exercise from the video usually helps!

[@theicediamond7]

thank you

[@YourWellnessNerd]

You’re welcome, mate!