Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) causes neck and shoulder pain because of nerve or blood vessel compression. If you have TOS, the experienced doctors at Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates have extensive expertise using advanced treatments like video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to rid you of your pain. The practice has offices in Washington Heights, Manhattan, in New York City; Pomona, Goshen, and Fishkill, New York; and Englewood, New Jersey. Call your nearest office today or book an appointment online.
Thoracic outlet syndrome is the name given to conditions caused by nerve and/or blood vessel compression in your neck and upper chest.
The three main types of TOS are:
This affects the subclavian artery, which supplies blood to your head and arms and passes under your collarbone.
This condition affects the subclavian vein rather than the artery.
This condition affects the brachial plexus, a cluster of spinal nerves in your neck that spread out into your arms.
Most people who have thoracic outlet syndrome have neurogenic TOS.
Symptoms of TOS include pain in your neck and shoulders along with numbness in your hand and arm. There are many possible causes for such symptoms, so it’s important to get a diagnosis from the experts at Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates.
After doing a physical exam and discussing your symptoms, your provider might order diagnostic tests. Imaging scans like an MRI show the area in greater detail.
Electromyography (EMG), which measures electrical activity in your muscles, and nerve conduction studies can test how well your nerves are working and how effectively messages are getting from your nerves to your muscles.
The initial treatment of neurogenic TOS is physical therapy. This helps improve the range of motion in your shoulders and neck, strengthens your muscles, and improves your posture.
If physical therapy doesn’t help with your symptoms, you could require surgery. Neurogenic TOS requires first rib resection, to take the pressure off the brachial plexus. Venous and arterial TOS always require surgery to relieve pressure on the vein or artery, and sometimes reconstruction of the affected blood vessel.
There are two main approaches to TOS surgery:
To find out more about TOS surgery, call Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.