Ms. Mien, a 48-year-old woman, experienced numbness in her right fingers and occasional coldness in her right hand. After visiting the doctor, she was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). This rare condition occurs when blood vessels or nerves running from the upper body to the arms are compressed by surrounding structures, leading to various symptoms such as swelling, reduced blood flow, tingling, muscle weakness, pain, and numbness.
Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung explained that TOS is a narrow space between the neck and shoulders formed by the upper ribs below the collarbone. There are three types of TOS: neurogenic TOS, venous TOS, and arterial TOS. In Ms. Mien’s case, she had a combination of these mechanisms with severe stenosis of the right subclavian artery root and veins.
To treat her condition, Ms. Mien underwent a surgical procedure to widen the thoracic outlet and relieve compression on blood vessels and nerves. After surgery, she experienced complete relief from her hand numbness and resumed normal activities without any limitations. Dr. Phan Vu Hong Hai emphasized that people at risk should take preventive measures to avoid developing TOS as it can have severe consequences if left untreated.
Ms. Mien’s experience serves as an excellent reminder of how important it is to address health concerns promptly before they become serious problems that may affect our daily lives significantly.
It is essential for patients with TOS to follow a healthy lifestyle by avoiding stress on the shoulders and muscles around the thoracic outlet while taking preventive measures like physical therapy and medical treatments are necessary for treatment.
In summary, thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) can be caused by various factors such as trauma or bad posture among others; therefore it is crucial for those at risk to take preventive measures before it’s too late.
