Thoracic outlet syndrome is a number of disorders that are due to nerves and blood vessels in your neck and shoulder being constricted. This constriction is caused by the space between your collarbone and first rib becoming compressed. This compression can be caused by a number of factors such as a sport or work related injury, a car accident, pregnancy, repetitive tasks, or congenital defects like the presence of an extra rib. The general symptoms of this disorder include, numbness in the fingers and pain in the neck and shoulders.
There are 3 kinds of thoracic outlet syndrome. First, is a nonspecific type, which is when a specific cause cannot be determined for the disorder. However, chronic pain is present and worsens with activity. The second type is Neurogenic and is caused by neurological factors. This is the most common type and is due to compression of a series of nerves that originate in your spinal column. These nerves are responsible for controlling sensation and movement of the muscles in your arm, shoulder, and hand. The final kind of thoracic outlet syndrome is a vascular type. This is caused by entrapment of one or more of the arteries or veins located under the collarbone.
A visit to an Orthopedic Clinic in Birmingham, AL, can help determine if thoracic outlet syndrome is the cause of your pain, and what treatment is needed. Treatment for this disorder can involve medication, physical therapy, and as a last resort surgery. Treatment with medication may include medicines to dissolve a possible blood clot and anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and swelling. Physical therapy will show you how to do exercises that will strengthen and stretch the muscles of the shoulder to improve range of motion, decrease compression, and improve posture.
Performing these exercises on a daily basis, can help to relieve the pressure on nerves and blood vessels that travel through the thoracic outlet. The final treatment option is surgery. This option is a last resort and only used if all other treatments have not worked. The surgery is a very complicated procedure and it has many risks, such as loss of arm use, decreased strength of the arm, and it may not improve your symptoms.
Going to an Orthopedic Clinic in Birmingham, AL, at the first sign of these symptoms, can decrease the damage caused by thoracic outlet syndrome.
