← Return to Help finding care for Arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@donsbaby2016

I was never told I even had it until I read my medical records, I was told it was costocondritis so I have an appointment with my primary care doctor to find out exactly what is going on. When I find out more I will update.

Jump to this post


Replies to "I was never told I even had it until I read my medical records, I was..."

@donsbaby2016 TOS is most often missed by doctors unless it is within their specialty interest. There are a lot of variations of TOS and where it can cause compression on nerves and blood vessels. Some people have a cervical rib which is an obvious diagnosis on an X -ray. If you want an accurate diagnoses about TOS, seek out a specialist like a thoracic vascular surgeon at a teaching medical center such as a university with a medical school. This is glossed over in med school in a day, so a primary care physician may not know much about TOS. Look for a place that lists TOS as a condition they treat on their website. Diagnosis will involve changing the position of your head and neck and looking for impairment of circulation with the positional change. You may also be evaluated by a neurologist. You can see an MFR physical therapist without having an absolute diagnosis of TOS and that may be able to help what they have termed costochondritis; that may or may not be accurate and could be a suspected, but not confirmed issue. Why not ask for physical therapy while you are seeing your doctor? TOS can also cause chest pain and chest muscle spasms which therapy does help. You can search for an MFR provider on the MFR website at this link.
http://mfrtherapists.com/