My TOS Life: It's All About the Stretch

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

It's All About the Stretch

At last, scientific evidence of what I and a number of the alternative health professionals I've worked with have known all along: it's all about the stretch. More specifically, it's all about connective tissue.

"Connective tissue joins your thigh to your calf; your hand to your arm; your breastbone to your clavicle. As you move, it allows your muscles to glide past one another. It acts like a net suspending your organs and a high-tech adhesive holding your cells in place while relaying messages between them. Connective tissue is one of the most integral components of the human machine. Indeed, one could draw a line between any two points of the body via a path of connective tissue. This network is so extensive and ubiquitous that if we were to lose every organ, muscle, bone, nerve, and blood vessel in our bodies, we would still maintain the same shape: our 'connective-tissue body.'"

Increasing evidence shows a link between chronic pain and connective tissue, although this has not been well studied in the past. In a recent article published in The Scientist, Helene M. Langevin, MD (quoted above) discusses the relationship between pain, connective tissue and acupuncture. I was told long ago that my pain issues were due to "bunched up connective tissue" and "myofascial pain syndrome." The only real relief I've gotten is from the smoothing out of these tissues through manual manipulation and massage. Acupuncture helps, too. So it seems we were on the right track after all.

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/35301/title/The-Science-of-Stretch/

2 comments:

RobinSeptember 26, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Yes, I believe this is very true as I've had good results working with trigger point therapy. Great article and congrats on the book!!
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UnknownMay 5, 2014 at 1:19 AM
This page is very informative and fun to read if you want more information visit pain management doctors denver get more details.
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What is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a complicated collection of neurological and vascular problems in the head, neck, shoulders, chest, arms and hands caused by pressure on the nerves and vessels in the thoracic outlet area. This area is the space between the clavicle and the first rib where the nerves and blood vessels pass on their way to the arms from the neck. Most common symptoms are: neck and shoulder pain; chest wall pain; upper extremity pain; headaches; heaviness of the upper extremities; numbness and tingling of arms and hands; weakness of arms and hands; swelling of fingers and hands; discoloration of the fingers, usually blue, but sometimes white; cold hands and/or fingers (may only be one or two fingers).

How Do You Get TOS?

It's not hard to get TOS. It happens frequently to computer users, athletes (such as swimmers, baseball, basketball, and tennis players) and hairdressers. Why? Because all of these activities either require over-the-head arm action or static postures, leading to repetitive strain injuries (i.e. tight or spastic muscles, inflammation, tendinitis, bursitis.) In my case, poor ergonomics at a computer work station combined with static postures was the culprit. TOS is also found in people who have cervical ribs, extra ribs found between the clavicle and the first rib. TOS may be relieved by physical and occupational therapy, massage, and correction of ergonomics. In many cases, although as a last resort, the surgical removal of the first (and/or cervical) ribs is performed in an effort to gain relief.

The TOS Shuffle

Shuffle: n 1: an evasion of the issue 2: a confusing jumble (as of papers or events)
Merriam Webster

The TOS Shuffle: n the method in which a person with suspected Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is shuttled through endless and often useless doctor's appointments, exams, tests, and treatments over a long period of time, perhaps years, before a definitive diagnosis is made.

My TOS Shuffle:
one physiatrist, four neurologists, two orthopedists, three thoracic surgeons, two vascular surgeons, four anesthesiologists, one rheumatologist, three occupational therapists, 11 physical therapists, three massage therapists, one acupuncturist, one chiropractor, four hospitals, three lawyers, two judges, six case managers, one claims adjuster, four MRI's, three EMG studies, six chest x-rays, one nerve block, one SSEP study, umpteen medications, three surgeries.

My TOS Team

Michael Daras, MD, PhD - Neurology
Ekong B. Ekong, MD - Occupational Medicine
Lyall Gorenstein, MD - Thoracic Surgery
Winston Kwa, MD - Occupational Medicine
Kaiyu Ma, MD, PhD - Neurology
James Romano, DC - Chiropractic
Samir Sodha, MD - Orthopedics
Daniel Tomlinson, MD - Orthopedics
Nelson Wong, MD - Rehabilitation Medicine
Access Physical Therapy and Wellness
Tom Chi, The Pain Whisperer
Mt. Sinai Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine
Subtle Energies Holistic Health Center
Ouimette, Goldstein & Andrews, LLP