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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and C Spine Relation
by amyash1, May 11, 2008 06:39PM
I have fibro, and take Lyrica 150mg BID...It has helped me so much, but since 2005 I have had sever hand pain and swelling. In 2005 my primary and a hand surgeon said they couldn't figure it out and put me on Vicoprofen 7.5/200 TID. Until about a year ago every thing seemed ok. I then went to a Rheumatologist. He diagnosed me with the fibro, and prescribed the lyrica and every blood test known to man. Nothing showed up on the blood work but the lyrica and vicoprofen continued to work until about 3 months ago. I was in NO accident, I have had NO injury that I can think of, but I have had headaches for YEARS and a CT showed nothing. I went to work and then shopping, and all of a sudden my shoulder is stabbing with pain and my middle and ring fingers on both hands are numb. My arms are HOT but my fingers are cold. So back to the Rheumatologist (thank God like him), and he sends me for an x-ray of my c-spine and chest. The x-ray shows that I have no curve to my c-spine at all. He met with some other Dr.'s in his office, showed them my case and they came up with the diagnosis of TOS. That day he gave me a kenalog injection in my shoulder, it only lasted 4 days. I DO NOT want to go out on disability, I LOVE my job. I was wondering what could be causing this TOS-my c-spine or t-spine, and what can be done about this awful, angering disability?
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Thoracic outlet syndrome occurs when some nerves or blood vessels are getting compressed by the bony and soft tissue structures at the base of your neck (mainly the ribs, sternum and the spinal column). Some have anatomic abnormalities such as an extra rib that is causing all these symptoms. Symptoms are usually aggravated by raising the arms up and bringing them closer to the midline as this makes the thoracic outlet even more crowded and therefore compressing other structures (like the enrves which causes pain. I'm not sure about the specifics of treatment but I'm sure your rheumatologist can help you out and I suggest you discuss with him all the options.
Regards and I hope you can be rid of this problem soon.