Hi guys! I am new to the forum. Thank you all for taking the time to post about your experiences since I do not know anyone in person who has been diagnosed with this.

I have had symptoms of TOS for over 8 years, but never knew what it was. After seeing two upper extremity orthopedists for more than 4 years and having every test you can think of, I was finally referred to PT to help alleviate my symptoms with the diagnosis of "hand pain". It was the therapist who first recognized my symptoms as a potential TOS diagnosis.
I had never even heard of it before! I was then referred to an orthopedist at Mass General who specializes in TOS. I was officially diagnosed by him as he told me I had all the appropriate symptoms and findings on exam. I tried PT for 7 months without improvement. The next step I am told is the OR for a first rib resection because my left hand is unfortunately beginning to atrophy. I had a second opinion at Brigham and Women's by a thoracic surgeon who also agreed and was concerned about the atrophy in my hand. I am getting a third opinion next month because I want to make sure I am making the right decision since surgery seems rather scary.

Anyway over the past many years my symptoms have been left hand pain, numbness and tingling along with pain in my left shoulder blade, pec and the left side of my neck. However just over the past few days I am experiencing awful, aching pains in my left armpit. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I am just wondering if it is related to the TOS or if something else is going on.

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.

Lisa

For the armpit pain, it could be lymph system clogged up.
Some simple lymph drainaige massage might be helpful. There are videos on youtube showing how it is done, or seek out a masasge therapist for it.

Some gentle heat might help too.

Did it seemed like the PTs you went to were skilled & knowledgeable?
What kinds of things did they do for you?

weights, stretchy bands?? not good for most w/tos

Did they do much "hands on" therapy work and/or posture work?

For the hand atrophy -- it might be a specific area that needs to be released, so I hope they aren't suggesting rib resection surgery just as a shot in the dark..
I don't know enough about it.

yes I have armpit pain. It comes from the pec minor and the teres major and minor muscles spasming or being impinged. In my case it may be caused by rib impingement but also just using my arm. It creates aching, weakness and numbness in my arm and pinky. A knowlegdable PT helps and pressure with a ball or a ball on a stick every day and breathing helps too, but mine still happens even with months of pt.

Have you seen Dr. Donohue at MGH-he is highly recomended by others on this forum.

If going the surgical route, it is EXTREMELY important to use a skilled TOS expert. Dr. Donahue might be an option for where you live.

I do not have a clear diagnosis yet but yes, one of the things I have experienced is sever pain under the arm.

I would routinely try position myself over the top of my partners knee in order to press down into the armpit area.

It's is probably relevant to note that at the time I was also experiencing alot of pain in the pec minor and in my arms.

As those pains lessened so did the pain under the arms.

do anyones arm pit(s)
feel RAW

like i can touch the fascia, muscles around there and it is always raw feeling and stuck even tho its not spasming, this tenderness goes into my triceps. its constant.

also do your lats hurt..like where it gets near the armpit

Hello,

I also have had the armpit pain, so that is not uncommon. I am 6 months post-op for my left side. Went back to work, lasted only 10 days, and had to quit. Still not quite back to where I was before I returned to work. But still, steadily progressing and the left armpit pain is gone, for the most part! When neuroplasty work is done (removal of scar tissue from the nerves), the healing process is very slow. I will take a year to recover. I get the armpit pain on the right side if I do too much work with my right arm. I intend to get the surgery done on the right side by next spring. Dr. Donahue also told me that the lymphatic system is probably not getting the right signals from our compressed nerves, which can give us pain that we cannot attribute to the nerves.

Ditto here. Except that lots of PT work both in the office and at home, and reducing stress, have eliminated 95% of my armpit pain.

have had the left arm pit pain before and after surgery. I am two months out from surgery and still get the occassional pain/ache in the armpit.

is armpit pain usually a pec minor issue

and those of you that are having pain post-op..thats from rib/scalene surgery right?

is pec minor surgery pretty painless? im getting desperate