The typical symptoms that can present in a case of TOS include: pain, paraesthesia, weakness, claudication and muscle wasting in the upper limb, along with possible neck pain, chest pain, headache, vertigo and dizziness.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a painful condition that results from compression of the nerves and/or blood vessels running through the thoracic outlet (area between the top rib and collarbone). The symptoms are typically felt in the shoulder and arm, but sometimes can also be felt in the neck.

This pain and weakness happen when the nerves and blood vessels that go to your arm are compressed (squeezed) because the space they need to pass through to get from your chest to your arm is too narrow. The space that the nerves and blood vessels pass through is called the thoracic outlet.

A possible complication of thoracic outlet syndrome is a blood clot in a vein of the arm. Blood clots can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Is It Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or a Heart Attack? In some cases, TOS can cause pain that is similar to angina, or chest pains that happen from decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911 right away.

Common causes of thoracic outlet syndrome include physical trauma from a car accident, repetitive injuries from job- or sports-related activities, certain anatomical defects (such as having an extra rib), and pregnancy. Sometimes doctors can’t determine the cause of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Making the diagnosis of a thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) can be hard because several disorders cause similar signs and symptoms. These may include rotator cuff injuries, cervical disc disorders, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, complex regional pain syndrome, and tumors of the syrinx or spinal cord.

Individuals with a thoracic pinched nerve often experience some of the following symptoms: Pain in the middle of the back. Pain that radiates to the front of the chest or shoulder. Numbness or tingling that extends from the back into the upper chest.

Risks of decompression surgery: Complications are very rare but include: • Injury to the Phrenic nerve (nerve in the neck that passes down between the lung and heart) – This can cause shortness of breath.

Thoracic outlet syndrome can cause neck and shoulder pain, numbness and tingling of the fingers and a weak grip. If left untreated, TOS can lead to increased pain and decreased function. Certain forms of the disease can cause serious blood clots.

Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome This can result in loss of blood flow to the arm and make your arm feel cold and painful. Often this is temporary, happening only when your arm is raised. However, severe or long-term arterial TOS can damage the artery, cause clotting and require emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) Thoracic outlet syndrome may include the following symptoms: Neck, shoulder, and arm pain. Numbness in the arm, hand or fingers. Impaired circulation to the extremities (causing discoloration) Weakness in the shoulders, arm and hands.

Abnormal structure of muscles or ribs can cause TOS. You may have cervical ribs.

In brief: No. Thoracic outlet syndrome is not a fatal illness at all. It is symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm due to compression of the nerves or blood vessels in the neck that are going to the hand and arm. Thoracic outlet syndrome is not a fatal illness at all.

Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery is a last ditch effort used to combat severe chronic upper back pain and related neurological symptoms diagnosed as stemming from a TOS condition.