Also called: Also called: TOS
If you have thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), the nerves or blood vessels just below your neck are compressed, or squeezed. It can be between the muscles of your neck and shoulder or between the first rib and collarbone. You may feel burning, tingling and numbness along your arm, hand, and fingers. If a nerve is compressed, you may also feel weakness in your hand. If a vein is compressed, your hand might be sensitive to cold, or turn pale or bluish. Your arm might swell and tire easily.
TOS can be a repetitive stress injury. An extra rib, scar tissue, traumatic injury or inherited defects can also cause TOS. Treatment depends on what caused your TOS. Medicines, physical therapy and relaxation might help. Surgery may also be an option. Most people recover.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/thoracic/thoracic.htm
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/DS00800/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome General Information(National Pain Foundation) - http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyPain/contentdirectory_ThoracicOutletSyndrome.asp
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Electrodiagnostic Testing(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00270
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00490
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Ultrasound - Musculoskeletal(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=musculous
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=musculous
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Thoracic_Outlet_Syndrome.html
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Thoracic+Outlet+Syndrome%22
- Article: Role of therapeutic exercises in neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18693607&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Seventh cervical rib associated with subclavian artery occlusion and multiple... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18578275&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Surgery remains the most effective treatment for Paget-Schroetter syndrome: 50... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18573433&tool=MedlinePlus
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=thoracic+outlet+syndrome[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=Thoracic+Outlet+Syndrome
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/shoulderinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/