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Thoracic Outlet and Carpal Tunnel Syndromes
by Kathy
After nearly three years I have recently been diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and now Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. My RIGHT forearm and hand have swelling which had been present the entire time. The doctor who did my EMG/NCV study told me that the swelling was not caused by the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, rather the swelling most likely caused the CTS. I did have an angiogram of my RIGHT arm in 2009 that was negative. CXR negative I am female, 54 years, a transcriptionist. Can you give me an idea what may be causing this swelling in my arm. My doctors seem to be mystified over it. Thank you for any advice you can give. Let me take this opportunity to say: YOUR WEBSITE ROCKS!!!!! I will be sharing it with anyone I know will benefit by it. Kathy Wow, Kathy, I do get lots of compliments for Chiropractic Help, but you're the first that said it ROCKS! Thank you. Now some compliments for you. Yours is probably the first by an American in six months who didn't have one spelling or grammatical error. Your countrymen are VERY SLOPPY. Your job no doubt! I'd agree that the swelling is causing the CTS, not vice versa. You are right handed I take it. First step that I would try would be to place a small table about the same height as your desk, next to your desk for your right elbow. Whilst this is almost certainly not a classic "mouse arm" it might help. Reassuring that an angiogram is negative, my first thought too. Nevertheless, on that score, I'd pump vitamine E and omega-3 oil. Anti-coagulants. Ask again, for certainty, the radiologist didn't miss a cervical rib? However, it can be fibrous, and not seen on the X-ray. As a variant, not common, the subclavian vein also goes through the scalene triangle, and a TOS can cause the pinching of the VEIN However, it may have affected the ARTERY too. Adson's test is the classic, but be warned, it's a very difficult test to be objective with. If you can find someone who REGULARLY does Adson's test... Does that arm tire very quickly if working above your head? Hanging the washing... My best advice, see if you can find a chiropractor EXPERIENCED with examining and treating TOS. Really experienced, everyone will say YES if asked! Yours is certainly not a run-of-the-mill case and not for a rookie. I'd stay in contact with the medical world too. Are you otherwise well? Not a smoker? No cough? A nasty in the apex of the lung can cause this. Very rare, I've only seen two in thirty years. The regular TOS, affecting the ARTERY and the brachial plexus, different to yours where the VEIN is involved, I call a FIRST RIB SYNDROME. A fixation of the first rib is the most common cause of TOS and it routinely is a factor in the common syndromes of the arm. Look at the second case at this page for the more typical case of TOS where the artery and nerves are involved: http://www.bernard-preston.com/ARM-PAIN-Case-Histories.html Let me know how you get on. I hope this has contributed. Dr B |
