Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a condition characterized by pain, swelling, or a “pins and needles” sensation in the hands, shoulders, and arms. These symptoms can also occur in other parts of the upper body, including the chest, neck, head, and ears. The underlying cause of TOS is the pressure or compression on nerves or blood vessels passing through the thoracic outlet“【oaicite:7】“.
TOS can present a combination of pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, sensation of coldness, or general discomfort in the upper body, particularly affecting the arms, hands, armpits, upper back, neck, and pectoral area.
For a pinched nerve in the neck, treatments like a cervical collar, a cervical pillow, physical therapy, range-of-motion exercises, and strengthening exercises are recommended. Severe pain might require stronger medications.
A serious concern in neck pain is cervical artery dissection, where the pain is unusual, persistent, and often accompanied by a severe headache. The pain from a carotid artery tear spreads along the neck and up toward the outer corner of the eye, while a vertebral artery tear may feel like something sharp is stuck in the base of the skull.
A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve is compressed in a tight space, causing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness, commonly in the neck, back, arms, or wrists.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are linked to chronic facial pain caused by strain on the jaw joints and muscles involved in chewing, swallowing, and speech. This could be due to teeth grinding, jaw injury, or arthritis.
Cervical radiculopathy, a common cause of neck pain, involves pinching or inflammation of a cervical nerve. Symptoms include sharp pain in the arm, pain in the shoulder, numbness or pins and needles in the arm, and arm weakness.
University of Rochester Medical Center
Hospital for Special Surgery
Harvard Health
Harvard Health
Ohio State Medical Center
University of Rochester Medical Center
Hospital for Special Surgery
University of Rochester Medical Center
