Beating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

[9 Shocks]

Long story short,

2.5 years ago I started to get arm pain which progressed into shoulder and scapular pain in my left arm (bow arm side).  A lot of doctors, misdiagnoses, and lack of answers later...I have come to find out I have TOS.

This is when your first rib pinches a nerve under your collar bone.  It is very uncomfortable and annoying.  I would not say extremely painful but just aggrevating as all get out.  I have hunted 2 seasons and killed deer while dealing with this but it hinders my ability to do what I love more than anything in the world.  SHOOT MY BOW ALL THE TIME!  I would like to eliminate this as to not have to go through another season of discomfort.  I finally think I found help though deep massage and strength training but it still lingers.  It seems that it will never go away and I absolutely do not want to go through the terrible surgery involved in fixing this (removing the first rib and cutting the scalene muscules).  Has anyone else been diagnosed with this and if so...is there light at the end of the tunnel?  Did you eliminate it or fix yourself?

Thank you,

Kevin

[Bisch]

2yrs ago I had what has only been diagnosed as a pinched nerve due to degenerative disc disease. This totally shut down my left (bow) arm. I was very scared for months that I would never get to hunt with my bows again. I have had an X-Ray but no MRI. When I was in PT, the therapist said sometimes the nerve can be pinched where it goes around the clavicle (which might be the same thing you are dealing with). I have discomfort in my neck 24hrs a day. I have numbness in my left thumb 24hrs a day. I have this wierd, tingly pins ans needles sensation in my left elbow area. I have slowly gotten stronger, but my left arm is still weaker than it was (or should be), and I cannot shoot anywhere close to as good as I did before this happened. I can hunt, and do it successfully, but am very fearful that this will be the end of my hunting with a bow at some point. And that scars the crap out of me.

I know I did not answer your question. It was just a chance for me to vent about my own woes a bit I guess!

Hope you get it all figured out.

Bisch

[9 Shocks]

Yeah it is extremely frustrating because nothing really makes it worse or better.  Its just kind of comes and goes.  Good days bad days.  Sometimes my arm feels like 80% normal and then it bugs me for like 2-3 days.  Its just hard having dealt with it for almost 3 years.  I'm seeing a massage therapist which has actually helped the most.  But 2 rounds of PT, injections, acupuncture, etc...still not better.  I stretch and do things everyday to try and help find some relief.  I am only 28 so it really worries me!

[Hud]

It sounds like this is something that developed over time, and may be from aging, only you may know. I would stay with the physical therapy over surgery, which almost always leads to PT.  When the therapist told me, that pain is from an impinged rotator cuff, and it would eventually lead to a tear and surgery, I listened.  He want me to start with light exercises, for that condition and come back in a few weeks. He said, it would help. It took about five months of daily exercises, mainly at home until the muscle group strengthened and thickened to protect the arm bone in the shoulder. The pain gradually disappeared. I would opt for a second opinion if in doubt, and PT over surgery. Some like to shoot more than others, some find mixing exercise with shooting is better, I'm in the latter group, especially as I get older. Good luck.

[9 Shocks]

I should add...I used to shoot everyday at least 50 arrows, usually more.  Now I shoot about once or twice a week if that.  I havent shot as much as I'd like to in probably 2 years.  I've even gone a month or 2 without shooting to try and rest and work on exercises but to no avail.  It is hard to stay positive when nothing seems to help or get better but I am trying.

[kenneth butler]

That sounds exactly like what a friend of mine had. The surgeon ground a little channel for the nerve clearance between the rib and collarbone. Seems like it was the collar bone that received the grinding. It was  done microscopic and he didn't lose but a couple of days. His arm was weak and numb before but the feeling came back when the nerve was relieved. I know every case is different but you might get a second opinion. Good luck with it.>>-->Ken

[pdk25]

The only people that I know who had this condition had a cervical rib, and opted for excision.  With good results.  Pretty sure that is what I would choose for myself, but it is a personal choice.


Bisch, I am sorry for your strugglwa.  Might want to get that MRI, just to get a better idea of what might be going on.

[Pete McMiller]

I've had it and it's now gone.  In my case, it presented as tendonitis in my elbow.  Nothing really helped until we moved the therapy up to the TO.  Combination of massage (been going to my LMT for 13 years) and acupuncture.  I had some big relief when my LMT got into the scalenes and also some extensive vacuum cupping by my acupunctureist.  My shoulder looked like I got attacked by an octopus.

Keep working at it.  My results didn't come overnight but took a year.  Most of that was just trying to figure out where to look as my pain was transference and not easily identified. 

Good luck.

[9 Shocks]

Pete.  Been going to massage therapist and have already had some relief.  Symptoms are still present and I know it wont happen overnight.  Mine felt like tendonitis as well at first.  First diagnosis was tricep tendonitis.  Had some scapular pain and some rotator cuff pain as well.  Been chugging along with stretches and myofascial release.  Just praying there is hope without surgery!

Thank you for the reply.

Kevin

[slatty]

Hi 9shocks I sympathize with your struggles and wish you well. I'm a physician not specialized in this area but I understand the condition and the challenges involved in treatment. Make sure you keep letting your doctor know how it's going. As with everything else in life "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and make sure you're keeping your doctor involved in your progress and letting them know if it's not improving. A second opinion if you're unhappy with the care is reasonable as well. With all musculosketal injuries, especially when involving repetitive movement activities such as archery, physiotherapy is super important. Sometimes though, like with TOS, there is a physical block that you just can't get around and surgery can really help. I always recommend physio if you can make it work, avoid unnecessary surgery, but sometimes you need surgery and that's all you can do. Best wishes in your recovery.

[9 Shocks]

Slatty,

Thank you for the reply.

The most difficult part for me is not shooting my bow haha.  Being that shooting doesn't make it feel worse it is tough because I am afraid that IF I shoot it will get worse.  Sometimes I shoot and it aggravates it, sometimes it doesn't.  There really isn't a rhyme or reason to feeling better or worse which is most frustrating.

[Hummer3T]

they believe this is what I have been struggling with for years.  I have yet to get a diagnosis but have narrowed it down to maybe this.  Some symptoms align but others don't..it seems to come and go in cycles. with symptoms ranging  from numbness to extreme muscle cramping....feels like your making a muscle and not releasing it for months...this has extreme pain and numbness for 1 to 3 month stretches...I would love to talk about this more on phone etc.. to see similarities and treatments... caused me to miss two hunting seasons, some trips, work and last summer.