Everything You Need To Know About Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Treatment

The normal course of treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome is physical therapy and painkillers. With these therapies, most patients become well. But occasionally, your doctor could advise surgery.

Symptoms

Thoracic outlet syndrome comes in three different broad forms:

• Neurogenic (neurologic) thoracic outlet syndrome: Compression of the brachial plexus characterizes this most prevalent kind of thoracic outlet syndrome. Your shoulder, arm, and hand are all controlled by the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that emerges from your spinal cord.
• Venous thoracic outlet syndrome: When one or more of the veins under the collarbone (clavicle) get squeezed, leading to blood clots, this kind of thoracic outlet syndrome develops.
• Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome: This one is the least frequent kind of TOS. An aneurysm, also known as a bulging artery, is what happens when one of the arteries under the collarbone is squeezed.

The three kinds of thoracic outlet syndrome can coexist, with numerous areas of the thoracic outlet being squeezed.

Depending on the kind, thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms might change. The following are indications and symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome when nerves are compressed:

• Your arm or fingers are numb or tingly.
• Aches or pains in the hand, arm, shoulder, or neck.
• Slipping hold.

The following are examples of venous thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms and signs:

• Your hand is discolored (bluish color).
• Arm aches and inflammation.
• Having blood clots in your upper body's veins.
• Arm ache from activity.
• Abnormal color or paleness in one or more of your fingers or your hand.
• Throbbing bulge next to your collarbone.

The following are examples of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms and signs:

• Cold hands, arms, or fingers.
• Arm and hand aches.
• In one or more of your fingers, or across your entire hand, a lack of color (pallor) or bluish discoloration (cyanosis).
• The pulse in the afflicted arm is weak or absent.

Treatment

Most of the time, a conservative course of action may be the most beneficial for your disease, particularly if it is discovered early. Treatment options include:

• Physical therapy: The initial line of treatment for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is physical therapy. You will learn how to do shoulder strengthening and stretching exercises to increase your range of motion, open your thoracic outlet, and correct your posture. With continued use, these exercises may help to relieve strain on your thoracic outlet blood vessels and nerves.
• Medications: To reduce inflammation, and discomfort, and promote muscular relaxation, your doctor may give anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, or muscle relaxants. Your doctor may advise taking a blood-thinning medicine if there is a blood clot.
• Clot-dissolving dissolving drugs: Your doctor may inject clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) into your veins or arteries if you have venous or arterial thoracic outlet syndrome with blood clots. Following the use of thrombolytics, your physician may recommend drugs to stop blood clots (anticoagulants).

Options for surgery

If conservative therapy has failed, if your symptoms are persistent or getting worse, or if you have progressive neurological issues, your doctor may advise surgery.

The operation will be carried out by a surgeon with training in vascular or thoracic (chest) surgery.

Risks of consequences from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery include damage to the brachial plexus. Additionally, surgery may not completely resolve your problems, and they may return.

Thoracic outlet decompression, a surgical procedure used to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, can be carried out in a number of ways. To alleviate compression, these methods require removing a muscle and a part of the first rib. Additionally, to fix constricted blood arteries, surgery can be required.

Your surgeon may use drugs to break blood clots before compressing the thoracic outlet in venous or arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Before doing a thoracic outlet decompression, your surgeon may in some circumstances perform a treatment to remove a clot from the vein or artery or to repair the vein or artery.

Your surgeon might need to use an artificial graft or a segment of an artery from another region of your body to replace the damaged artery if you have arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. This treatment could be carried out concurrently with the removal of your first rib.