{"id":4425,"date":"2019-02-26T06:48:53","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T06:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=4425"},"modified":"2021-03-29T14:11:55","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T14:11:55","slug":"10-major-symptoms-of-thoracic-outlet-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-major-symptoms-of-thoracic-outlet-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Major Symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Thoracic outlet syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs in less than 200,000 people each year in the United States. When it occurs, a person will experience a number of symptoms. A person may not have every symptom for thoracic outlet syndrome but may have anywhere from one to a few. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition that causes certain nerves and blood vessels to press together. This will cause the fingers to become numb and there will be a pain in the shoulders and neck area. The pain doesn\u2019t go away on its own. Only a medical professional can diagnose and treat thoracic outlet syndrome, which includes a chest X-ray and lab work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once it\u2019s been diagnosed, the disorder can start to be treated with physical therapy and\/or medication. In serious cases, surgery is needed. There are eight major symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome to look out for, including pain, numbness, and cold fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain in shoulders and neck is a major symptom of thoracic outlet syndrome.
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Most people who have the disorder will feel pain in these areas. This happens when carrying heavy items over the shoulder, which will cause the pain. Bad posture <\/a>can cause the neck and shoulders to have pain as well. Sitting all day in one spot can cause a person to hunch over. Over time, the pain will develop in the shoulders and neck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to get relief from the pain in these areas, pain medication administered by the doctor or over-the-counter may help. Pain medication should only be taken when the pain is present and usually every four hours. Physical therapy is usually prescribed first before or in conjunction with medication. At physical therapy, exercises are done slowly and can be done at home as well. This will allow the muscles to become looser and less pain is felt.
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2. Numbness in the fingers is another major symptom of thoracic outlet syndrome to watch out for.
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When there is numbness <\/a>in the fingers, there may be some coldness as well. Heat therapy may be a solution for numbness in the fingers. Wearing heavy gloves can help also. Numbness in the fingers can occur with repetitive movements, such as typing. The pain will occur and may run all the way up to the arm and shoulders if it\u2019s severe. It\u2019s a good idea to take breaks in between typing and stretch the fingers and arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In physical therapy, the therapist may massage the fingers to get out any tightness. Depending on the type of treatment recommended by the physical therapist, the therapist may use electrical therapy on the arms, shoulders, and fingers. The more times this is done, the better the person can manage his or her pain with thoracic outlet syndrome.
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3. Weak grip happens because of an injury is a symptom to watch out for in thoracic outlet syndrome.
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The reason why a person could have a weak grip is by repetitive movements that over time has caused the injury<\/a>. For example, a person who works in a warehouse and has to lift on heavy boxes may hurt his or her hand. In the process, their ability to grip things may become limited. They may need assistance when lifting heavy boxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this happens nerves in the hands are pressed together and causing the person to be unable to have a tight grip. It\u2019s almost as if arthritis has formed in the person\u2019s hands. With arthritis, there is pain and swelling. A person is restricted to the things that he or she is able to do, such as gardening. Gripping gardening tools will become a chore in itself when thoracic outlet syndrome is present.
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4. Weak muscles are a major symptom of thoracic outlet syndrome.
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Weak muscles<\/a> occur when the muscles are in a tight position and unable to move. In order to loosen up the muscles, stretching exercises need to be done on a regular basis. With weak muscles, a person is unable to do simple tasks, such as grocery shopping because all of the items that are picked up may feel heavy to the person. The person will need someone to assist him or her when shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the muscles become stronger, the person can do things on his or her own. When it comes to strengthening the muscles, light exercise bands and dumbbells are used. If heavy exercise bands and dumbbells are used it\u2019s because the physical therapist thinks the person can handle it. Before exercise bands and dumbbells are used, the physical therapist may want to do some bodyweight exercises to strengthen the muscles.
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5. Headaches are a major symptom to watch out for when thoracic outlet syndrome is present because it can occur at any time.
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Some headaches <\/a>are mild, while others are severe. With thoracic outlet syndrome, the headache could pop up at any time. If this happens, a person may need to lie down to get relief. If a person has their pain medication on their person, they can take it, but it could cause drowsiness, especially if it\u2019s a prescription medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over-the-counter Tylenol may be best to take if no drowsiness occurs. Some people can get drowsy when taking over-the-counter medications. Massages are good for headaches. In physical therapy, he or she may show the person ways to relax that can be used at work and at home. Hopefully, when a person has a headache episode, he or she is home, so the right medication can be taken and the person can lie down and relax.
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6. Swollen shoulders, neck, and hands are major symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.
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The area is usually swollen and in pain because the person is continuing to put pressure on it. A person with swollen shoulders might be continuously putting heavy items on their shoulders. The pain is present as well, but the person still does it. In order for the swelling <\/a>to go down, the person first has to stop putting heavy items on the shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shoulder needs to rest and maybe the swelling will go down on its own. If not, a doctor may administer medication in the affected area to make the pain and swelling go down. Also, when there is swelling, the spider or varicose veins will appear in the shoulder area. A lot of the times, spider and varicose veins don\u2019t go away on their own. Surgical procedures may have to be done to remove them.
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7. Fatigue in arms can occur with thoracic outlet syndrome because the arm is being overused.
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Whenever a person does an activity, their arms will become fatigued<\/a>. The activity that they are doing may be something that has been done for a long period of time. For instance, it may take a person only two minutes before their arm becomes fatigued. The person could be washing dishes and their arms are already fatigued. Rest will be needed in order to get rid of the fatigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the arm is in motion again it feels fatigued. A muscle relaxant prescribed by a primary care physician would be good to take. The muscle relaxant may make the person drowsy for a while, but he or she will be able to complete the task. Stretching exercises for the shoulders are good for fatigue. One-shoulder stretch that is good is placing one arm across the body while the other arm cups the elbow of the other arm.
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8. A blood clot in the veins in the upper part of the body is a major symptom of thoracic outlet syndrome.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order to get rid of the blood clots<\/a>, medicine will be administered through the veins. It usually goes away immediately after it\u2019s administered. Oral medication may be given as well to prevent the blood clot from coming back. When a person has a blood clot in the veins the skin will be bluish in color. Once the blood clot goes away, the tone of the skin may go back to its normal color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the clot is present, there will be pain and swelling in the affected area. Pain medication in conjunction with blood clot-dissolving medicine will help out. Thoracic outlet syndrome won\u2019t go away, but some of the symptoms can be managed with the right treatment. In fact, stretching the affected area often can prevent blood clots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Poor Posture <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Poor posture can result from thoracic outlet syndrome<\/a>. This occurs due to the discomfort in the upper body, which a patient may then try to alleviate or correct by changing their posture and their gait. This might result in a person developing a slight hunch forward for instance (kyphosis) in order to bring the shoulders forward and close the chest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can, in turn, lead to additional problems such as pinched nerves or muscular imbalances. Kyphosis can often lead to neck pain and might also cause permanent postural changes that lead to more complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Loss of Mobility <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is caused due to the pain and discomfort <\/a>in the area, as well as any potential swelling and loss of nerve signaling. The result is that you might find it more difficult to move your limbs through the usual range of motion, and you might, therefore, experience pain and swelling. This loss of mobility can make everyday activities more difficult as you struggle to reach things overhead for instance, or as you struggle to engage in physical exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That can then lead to further repercussions: making you more likely to have a physical accident, causing weight gain, or leading to muscle weakness in other areas.
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At the same time, this might appear to cause a loss of coordination and make you more prone to having accidents and dropping things. This is caused both by the loss of mobility directly, and the interrupted signals that will be received by the local nerves. The result is that you feel less able to move normally, potentially leading to further difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is a specific form of thoracic outlet syndrome that has unique symptoms. This form of thoracic outlet syndrome is defined by compression of the brachial plexus \u2013 a network of nerves <\/a>that radiate from the spinal cord and are responsible for handing movement in the shoulder area, the arm, and the hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This describes most cases of thoracic outlet syndrome, but also means that you should look out for those specific symptoms: loss of movement or pain and tingling in the hands and arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Increased Heartrate & High Blood Pressure <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is a symptom of thoracic outlet syndrome that might occur due to the compression of the blood vessels<\/a> in the chest. This makes it more difficult for those blood vessels to pass blood through, which is simply because they have been made smaller. Imagine pinching a straw and trying to force water through it: it will make it much harder. The result of this is that the heart will pump much harder in a bid to try and force the blood through that small gap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can lead to an increased heart rate simply as a result of the heart working harder, but it can also increase blood pressure. Blood pressure can most easily be described as the amount of pressure that the blood places on the insides of the blood vessels. The higher the heart rate and the more forcefully the blood is being directed, the greater this pressure will be. High blood pressure can lead to a number of potential complications and issues of its own, including an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, as well as feelings of anxiety and breathlessness. It\u2019s important that you address the underlying cause as soon as possible for these reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Discoloration <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is due to a lack of oxygenated blood reaching the affected area \u2013 in this case normally the hands. This can prevent them from having the usual reddish color of the usual reddish hue of the erythrocytes<\/a>, and instead, they will appear blue due to the lack of oxygenation (erythrocytes being red blood cells that carry oxygen). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally, when we breathe in, this allows blood in the left ventricle of the heart to retrieve oxygen via the pulmonary artery and the gas exchange that occurs via the areola in the lungs. With the blood vessels of the chest compressed, the movement of the oxygenated blood may be suppressed, which can prevent it from properly fueling the rest of the body. If it doesn\u2019t reach the hand, then it will appear bluish in color and may exhibit numerous other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Throbbing Lumps <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

can appear around the chest and neck area if you are experiencing thoracic outlet syndrome. This is where you would normally see the pulse, but in this case, the pulse will appear pronounced as the amount of pressure in the area is increased. Symptoms such as these can be useful when attempting to diagnose thoracic outlet syndrome, as they set it apart from other similar issues such as trapped nerves, or damage to the rotator cuff muscles<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these conditions might cause pain and a loss of movement around the area, thoracic outlet syndrome is unique in the way that it also causes symptoms relating to circulation, such as the blueish appearance of the hands, and the large throbbing lump where the pulse normally would be. It\u2019s also common to notice that the pulse in the affected arm or arms is very weak, or may not be present at all. This goes to show how blood pressure is not uniform across the body, as many people assume!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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