How did my story start? What were my symptoms with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome [TOS]?

Pain is always the first clue that something is not right in the body. My main symptoms started in the summer of 2017. Initially I had pain local to the Thoracic Outlet area [see first posting] and my trapezius muscles were also very tight. My hands were always cold. Prior to 2017 I had problems with cervical instability until that was corrected in physiotherapy. I also had problems with my jaw or TMJ joint and my mouth used to deviate to the left on opening. I used to suffer severe headaches which sometimes made me nauseous but weren't quite migraines. These symptoms were, and largely remain stable. I do sometimes get pain in my left jaw and have suffered more headaches lately.

I was aware that my SCM was tight and also pectoral minor and first rib - all early signs of TOS. My osteopath was the very first person to suggest that I might have TOS back in 2017. At the time he did some tests which were later repeated again and again by different doctors - one included the Roos Test

The Roos Test 

You are supposed to be able to clench your hands for up to 3 minutes. By May 2019 I could only manage 16 seconds. 

Another was the Adson test 

In the Adson test the therapist feels for radial your pulse in certain positions. If the pulse is lost, or you get pins and needles, the test is positive. 

I was positive with both these tests, or just about. So my osteopath gave me a working diagnosis at this time of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I then was sent for NHS physiotherapy by my GP and she certainly gave me a working diagnosis of TOS. 

I was given some exercises by the physiotherapist, but they became too difficult to do and once the physiotherapist had reached the conclusion that I had TOS, or what she thought was TOS, she referred me to the vascular surgeons in a central London hospital.