What are /r/thoracicoutlet's favorite Products & Services?

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These are awesome for me both large and XL fit, and I switch depending on my swelling. Sometimes I don’t even need them at all! But sometimes I need them even when I’m not climbing. Overall, so worth it, and they’ve lasted over a year with proper care.

I also have a much more low key one for longer duration wear. Let me try to find the link.

I was at V7s before clotting, worked my way to V9 this winter on my moonboard, but now I’m rehabing a finger sprain. I can’t do climbs that exceed more than 10-15 moves. My clot arm just pumps out and it’s not fun.

So my style of bouldering is very limited, I’ll probably never lead climb again, but I don’t care. As long as I can board climb and boulder quality lines, I’m happy. But right now my finger is such a tiny injury compared to the craziness of the blood clot!

My general advice would be to do shorter climbs, rest a lot more between attempts, & prioritize overhung routes (your arms don’t extend as high over your head on steep terrain). DM me for any more advice though! Happy to chat about climbing and our unique “disability”

I have TOS and cervical dystonia.

I have exclusively used buckwheat hull pillows for at least two decades. I've found that they are an ideal way for me to get the support I need. You can bunch the pillow however you like to make it as high or low in places as you need. They are also customizeable in that most manufacturers offer various sizes, and if you or someone you know is handy with a sewing machine, you can buy a zippered pillowcase and make it the size you need.

I use two travel-size (they fit in exactly half a standard pillow case, which I just fold over) pillows. I sleep on my side with one of them under my head, and the other in front of me. That one is to keep me from rolling too far onto my stomach, as well as to provide support for my left arm (TOS arm) when it's particularly ouchy.

Here is an example of the type of pillows I am talking about.

There were two famous doctors who published a map of common locations. If you search for travell Simmons trigger points you’ll find many internet images of their maps. They are always white with red indicating referred pain.

I’ll throw this link here as an example

https://www.amazon.com/Travell-Simons-Trigger-Point-Patterns/dp/1975183843/ref=asc_df_1975183843/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=564641475597&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7559787084933126479&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&...

ok first: *mindblown*

1) does this mean you can dictate everything automatically bc... it's a tablet?

i've tried my vertical hand mouses L side, still struggling though... but to b fair tho, i don't have that perfect desk layout yet w chair. i'm still workin w the foot pedal, haven't figured out programming correctly w my computer to just make it into a std r click: foot pedal

2) which foot pedal are u using w tablet?

and TYSM!!!!!

(honestly i am barely surviving this trial & error process how you lasted 2yrs to figure it out is insane!)

I was in the same position as you for years. Recently met a great PT that taught me one trick that gave me almost instant relief. I would suggest purchasing one of these. Don’t use the curved part.

1. Lay on a flat surface with your knees up, and a wall behind you.
2. Place the bulb end here where the black dot is
3. push the other end up against the wall.
4. chin tuck, tilt your head slightly in the opposite direction, and with your feet on the ground push backwards 3 seconds on and off 10 times.

This has provided me an enormous amount of relief. It pushes the rib down and stretches out my troublesome scalene. Worked better than anything I have ever tried.

Yeah I recommend [this one.])https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076B93ZP8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share). I used to wear it daily, now only once or twice a week. I switch between L & XL. It’s pretty damn tight but comfortable with the right fit.

Yes 100% I had the same conclusion before, thought forcing my arms down onto my arm rests while working was helping to relax my muscles until I realised I was actually forcing my clavicle down harder onto that problem area.

Definitely caused the pain slower when realising this and being conscious of my posture, have you tried a posture corrector for when your sitting throughout the day ? There not very comfortable on your arm pits after longer than 30 minutes if tight but the reduction in my pain by the end of the day was worth it when I could take it on and off for breaks to give the skin by my arm pits a rest, I'm talking about this type of thing :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TVHB682/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_JkRXFbMY1M717?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

There are probably better ones but this is what I bought to try and it helps quite alot for me as I sit to type most of the day for work.

Thank you so much for asking! So, I’m really grateful that my TOS specialist didn’t dive straight into surgery. I did a scalene block and that helped initially (like during the 10 minutes after the block, I had less pain), but when I got home, my symptoms resumed when I started using my arm. So that was confusing. She ordered another neck MRI and saw that my herniated disc in my 6-7, which was previously alleviated with traction, is now worse and is pressing on my spinal cord, which could be causing a lot of my symptoms. She got me over to a spinal surgeon who recommends that I get a disc replacement since this has gotten worse even while I’m in treatment. My TOS doesn’t want to do any cutting on the TOS side of things until my spine is fixed (which I totally appreciate). The issue is that the spine could be causing some of the problems, but TOS could still be causing others. But, spinal stuff comes first.

She did prescribe Gabapentin and I just started taking that last night (so far mild relief, but I’m still building up in my dosage).

I’ve also switched to a vertical mouse for my computer, and that helps with symptoms when I’m using the computer.

For my motor strength, I’ve been trying to use a rock climbers grip trainer that allows you to use individual fingers. That’s a nice thing to just have by the couch so I can use it while I’m watching TV (I’ll try to link an example here). grip trainer

Im starting massage on Monday and am hoping that will help with some of the tension.

How are you doing?? Are you getting any relief?