Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Disability Benefits
Your thoracic outlet is a part of your body above the top of your rib cage. Your thoracic outlet is located between your neck and your chest. Bodily structures that include Your esophagus, trachea and blood vessels and nerves that lead to your arm and neck region are some of the structures that pass through your thoracic outlet. Lying within your thoracic outlet are the arteries that are underneath your collar bone (subclavian artery) that take blood to your arms, a network of nerves that runs to your arms (brachial plexus), your first rib and your collar bone (clavicle). Thoracic outlet syndrome is a term that is used for a group of disorders that develop when your blood vessels or your nerves that are in your thoracic outlet get squeezed or pressed together (compressed). Thoracic outlet syndrome is evidenced by pain and abnormal nerve sensations in your hand and/or arm, neck and shoulder. Thoracic outlet syndrome is a disorder that may occur in anyone. However, it develops most of the time in women who are between the ages of 35 and 55. As stated above, thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by your nerves and blood vessels in your thoracic outlet being compressed. There are several things that may lead to this happening. Some of these include:- Pressure that is placed on your joints as a result of obesity
- Any repetitive activity in which you have to do the same thing again and again
- Pressure that takes place on your joints from things like carrying an oversized bag or a backpack
- Poor posture, such as drooping your shoulders or holding your head in a forward position
- Inherited structural defects that are present at birth (congenital), such as a cervical rib (an extra rib above your first rib) or an abnormally tight fibrous band that connects your spine to your rib
- Pregnancy, due to the fact that it may cause the loosening of your joints
- A traumatic event, such as a car accident.
- Pain in your neck and shoulder
- A weakening grip
- Gilliatt-Sumner hand (wasting, deterioration in the fleshy base of your thumb)
- An ache in your hand or arm
- Tingling or numbness in your fingers.