Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Receiving Social Security Disability
Your thoracic outlet lies between your chest and your neck. Your thoracic outlet is above the top of your rib cage. Inside of your thoracic outlet are a network of nerves that runs to your arms (brachial plexus), your clavicle (collar bone), your first rib and the arteries that are underneath your collar bone (subclavian artery) that supply blood to your arms. Anatomical structures, such as your nerves and blood vessels that travel to your neck and arm region, trachea and esophagus go through your thoracic outlet. There are a group of disorders that occur when your nerves or blood vessels inside of your thoracic outlet are compressed (pressed together, squeezed). These are known as thoracic outlet syndrome. Abnormal nerve sensations and pain in your shoulder, hand and/or arm and neck are what mark thoracic outlet syndrome. Thoracic outlet syndrome occurs more often in women than it does in men. Women who are between the ages of 35 and 55 develop this syndrome most of the time. As has already been mentioned, thoracic outlet syndrome results when blood vessels and nerves in your thoracic outlet are compressed. There are several things that can bring this about, such as:- Congenital (present at birth) structural defects that you inherit like an extra rib above your first rib (cervical rib) or a fibrous band that is abnormally tight that connects your rib to your spine
- Poor posture that includes holding your head in a forward position or your shoulders drooping
- Pressure on your joints that comes from things like carrying a backpack or an oversized bag
- Pregnancy, as it loosens your joints
- Any repetitive activity that requires you to do the same thing time after time
- A traumatic event like a car accident
- Pressure on your joints because of obesity
- A throbbing lump that is near your collar bone
- Weak or no pulse in your arm that is affected
- Swelling and pain in your arm that may result from blood clots
- Tiny, usually infarcts (black spots) on your fingers
- A bluish discoloration of your hand
- Pallor (a lack of color) in one or more of your fingers or your entire hand
- Subclavian vein thrombosis (a blood clot under your collar bone)
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