Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)

The thoracic outlet is a space where blood vessels and nerves leave the torso on their way to the arm. It is formed by the first rib and the collar bone. The outlet is tightly packed, and there are a number of things that can cause compression to those blood vessels, or nerves, or both. […]

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Sciatica

Sciatica specifically refers to symptoms arising from the sciatic nerve. It is an example of a “trapped nerve”. Symptoms The term is a commonly misused. Technically it only refers to pain in the distribution of the sciatic nerve, which typically presents as a clear line of pain down the back of the thigh (fig. B). […]

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Degenerative Disc Disease

The discs in the spine are well attached to the vertebrae directly above and below them. They act as a cushion for shock absorbing, and they can be twisted and squashed to allow for movement through the spine. A good analogy for their anatomy is to imagine a jam doughnut, where the outside is tougher […]

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A nerve running down the arm and into the palm of the hand – the median nerve – is relatively vulnerable to compression at the wrist. When this happens, you may experience pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the hand. This is carpal tunnel syndrome, and although there are many possible causes, one common mechanism […]

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