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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Symptoms Of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

I am a 25 year old female and am a Homecare worker. I injured my neck and shoulders while helping a 260 lb client sit up and transfer from a bed to a wheelchair. Ever since I injured myself, going on 6 months now, I have a hard time bending my neck downwards aswell as tilting my head from side to side, this creates a tight and painful feeling.
>About 2 days after my injury I was trying to raise my arms over my head and both arms were starting to go numb and tingly and seem quite weak and trembly. I was quite concerned, especially when I could time them going numb, it was every 10 minutes and would last for about 2 minutes. Then about a week later they were more and more inconsistant. I am currently unable to sit up straight as it feels I have golf balls in my spine and I find it difficult to maintain a proper posture and I tend to lose my breath upon sitting straight. The pain feels deep in the spine,it does not feel however, too much like a muscle or soft tissue injury alone, although I am certain they play a part in what I am feeling. Also my neck sometimes will feel like it is dislocating (in my C2-4) when I am turning my head or extending it or sometimes not really making much of a movement at all and I have to try and put it back to it's original position. I am also experencing a clicking sound in both my shoulders when I pull them back, sometimes it hurts when I do it and sometimes it only hurts after I do it.
I have been for an x-ray shortly after my injury 6moths ago which only showed muscle spasms. I have been for a nerve conduction test which was normal. I have also been under the care of a physiotherapist, but for the last month I have been unable to go as I am in too much pain and she does not want to put me at further risk for damage. I am going to have an MRI preformed but not for another 5 months. I have seen 2 doctors but they chalk it up to a soft tissue injury, but this really feels like something a whole lot more. Could I have a damaged disc, or a sprained neck or something else, perhaps Thorasic outlet syndrome?
Please help me, I am afraid if everyone just shrugs their shoulders and assumes its just a soft tissue thing, that maybe down the road I will have far bigger problems to deal with.
Thank you.
posted on Thu, 13 Mar 2014
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