Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Overlooked & Often Misdiagnosed in Whiplash

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS):

Overlooked & Often Misdiagnosed in Whiplash Victims

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is the result of pressure of a nerve bundle in the neck between the collar bone and a rib caused by a spasm of the scalenus muscle(s) or a congenital misplacement of the muscle into the first rib.

Symptoms of TOS are weakness, tingling, numbness of the arm and portion of the hand as well as heaviness of the upper extremities and headaches.

In many patients with whiplash who do not respond to conventional therapy, doctors often overlook or misdiagnose the Traumatic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome as a congenital problem. According to Kai et al. (2001), "A special type of EMG is essential in diagnosing this syndrome, but there is no effective long term therapy for these patients" (p. 492). This gives some answers to why victims of whiplash type injuries suffer chronic, long term pain and symptoms.

ABOUT US

Spine & Injury Centers of San Antonio is a local network of 5 chiropractic offices. As a group, we are raising the standard of care for injured patients and their families.

If you have recently been in a car accident, or had a personal injury, sports injury, or exercise injury, and are experiencing back pain, neck pain, knee pain, whiplash, headaches, leg pain, etc, our San Antonio injury chiropractors can help!

Our goal is to get you back to living a pain-free life as quickly as possible.

Click here to find a San Antonio chiropractor near me.