Why Surgery Seemed Like the Only Answer Many people with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are told that surgery will “fix the compression.” They hear that a surgeon will remove a rib or cut a scalene muscle and the tunnel will finally open. When symptoms are painful or scary, it’s easy to believe this is the only […]
Why This Common Stretch Causes Trouble Many people try stretching their necks to ease tightness or nerve irritation. One of the most common movements is the side-bending stretch, where you pull your head toward your shoulder. It seems simple, but for people with a narrowed thoracic outlet, this motion can make symptoms worse. This stretch […]
A Story Many Families Will Recognize For seven years, a mother watched her son Brady live with pain that never seemed to let up. His symptoms started after a surgery, and life slowly became smaller. He stopped doing the things he loved. Simple tasks were hard. Most days were spent trying to get through the […]
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is one of the most confusing conditions in healthcare. People hear different opinions from different doctors, and many don’t know what to believe. Some are told it’s rare. Others are told it’s common. And many walk away without a clear plan. The truth is simple. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome can show up in […]
Why Vein Compression Matters in Thoracic Outlet Problems When the space around the outlet becomes tight, the subclavian vein can narrow. Blood flow slows, pressure builds, and a clot can form. This is called Paget-Schroetter Syndrome, and it often appears in people who use their arms with force or repetition. A clot does not appear […]
My Story: Why I Thought Surgery Was My Only Path For years, I thought Thoracic Outlet Syndrome was something that could only be fixed by surgery. When the pain, weakness, and tension kept getting worse, I assumed I would eventually need a Thoracic Outlet Surgery like so many people online described. I started reading stories […]
Finding Hope After Years of Pain Living with pain every day can wear you down. Many people with Thoracic Outlet Surgery histories, failed treatments, or complex cases like Paget-Schroetter Syndrome know this feeling well. For years, I listened to patients tell me that nothing had helped—not physical therapy, not medications, and for some, not even […]
By Dr James Stoxen DC., FSSEMM (hon) When your hands turn weak, numb, or heavy, it can feel confusing and scary. Many people assume they only have thoracic outlet syndrome, but the truth is that problems in the neck and shoulder can set the stage for issues farther down the arm. One common hidden problem […]
Why So Many People Are Misdiagnosed Every week, patients come into my clinic scared because their MRI shows a “herniated disc.” Many are told this explains all their pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the neck, shoulder, or arm. But here is the part most people never hear. A herniated disc on an MRI does […]
Understanding the Real Cause of Your Arm and Shoulder Symptoms Many people with arm pain or strange symptoms in their hands are told they have simple muscle tightness, a pinched nerve in the neck, or stress. But Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is more complex than that. TOS happens when nerves and blood vessels are compressed as […]
