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Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

There are several possible causes of thoracic outlet syndrome, although many of these targeted sources might be completely misidentified as the actual reason for the painful complaint in many diagnosed patients. It is so important to achieve an accurate diagnosis for your TOS symptoms, just like for any other back pain syndrome. Unfortunately, finding out the real reasons for your pain might prove more of a challenge than it first appears to be…

Structural Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Most cases of thoracic outlet syndrome are theorized to be created due to anatomical compression of one or more components of the brachial plexus. This is a cluster of neurological tissue which exists in the upper back, providing nerve function for much of the torso and arms. Some TOS conditions are blamed on compression of the subclavian vein or subclavian artery. This compression might be linked to movement of a skeletal structure or muscular structure (such as the shoulder) against these tissues. The condition might also be theorized to exist due to constant general muscular compression of the regional area, generally involving the scalene muscles of the upper back.

Psychosomatic Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

While it is possible to experience neurological, arterial or venous compression from some anatomical structure in the upper back, these events are rare. Far more common is the incidence of simple ischemia enacting TOS type symptoms in the nerves of the brachial plexus and even the muscles of the upper back and neck. This type of pain is typically misdiagnosed and becomes treatment resistant, since therapies are not targeting the actual source of pain. This certainly helps to explain why so many back pain patients with TOS never fully recover. To resolve this type of pain, the suffering person must pass by the traditional medical back pain treatments and give up the complementary medical therapies they have relied upon unsuccessfully… The answer for any psychosomatic pain syndrome is knowledge therapy, since this treatment is the only one which addresses the underlying emotional issues at the heart of the symptom imperative.

Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Advice

Many people who perform repetitive motions with their arms or hands are at a higher risk for developing TOS. Additionally, people who sit and type for long periods of time are at equal risk. Many serious athletes, such as swimmers and ball players are diagnosed with TOS, as well. Some of these people are actually suffering from the anatomical demands they have placed on their bodies, but most have fallen victim to the increased diagnosis of this pain condition and the nocebo reaction the diagnostic method provides. This fact is even more true for people who have not suffered a serious upper back injury.

For patients with long term and unresponsive TOS, I highly recommend considering that your pain might be more than it first seems to be. I never even considered that my chronic back pain might be the result of anything but a structural spinal abnormality for 18 years. Finally, I came to the shocking realization that my pain, like most other patients, was actually sourced from the subconscious mind. If you have not been able to find lasting back pain relief from medical care, you might think about using the same approach I used to fully resolve my pain… knowledge therapy.

Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome to Back Pain Home 10/12/09