Victorious Over Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Ms. Mien’s Inspiring Story of Recovery and Relief

Ms. Mien, 48 years old, experienced hand numbness and a tired arm. She went to see Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung, who diagnosed her with a rare thoracic outlet syndrome. This 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. Phan Vu Hong Hai explained that the thoracic outlet is a narrow space between the neck and shoulders formed by the upper ribs below the collarbone. The syndrome can be divided into three types: 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.

For treatment, a surgical procedure was performed to widen the thoracic outlet and relieve the compression of blood vessels and nerves. After surgery, Ms. Mien experienced complete relief from hand numbness and was able to resume normal activities. It is recommended for patients with TOS to follow a healthy lifestyle and avoid stress on the shoulders and muscles around the thoracic outlet.

Dr. Hong Hai emphasized that there are many causes of thoracic outlet syndrome including trauma, congenital anatomical abnormalities, bad posture