Thoracic-outlet syndrome is a temporary or constant constriction of a bundle of blood vessels and nerves that run from the throat to the arms. The result is a disruption of the circulation of blood and feeling and tactile sensation in the affected arm.
Thoracic-outlet syndrome is a temporary or constant constriction of a bundle of blood vessels and nerves that run from the throat to the arms. The result is a disruption of the circulation of blood and feeling and tactile sensation in the affected arm. Vessel channels and nerve paths overcome three physiological constrictions in their course. It may happen that muscular strain or variations in bone development cause those constrictions to become so tight, that vessels and nerves are exposed to chronic pressure. This can then lead to the symptoms described below.
The first symptoms often occur in (young) adults. Persons who work often and heavily with their arms are more often affected than others. Typical initial symptoms include shoulder pain that radiates into the shoulder blade, the chest of the back of the head and that occur while carrying heavy weights. Eventually, numbness and tingling sensation in arms and hands will occur, even while resting, accompanied by feelings of heaviness and tension as well as rapid fatigue of the affected extremity. Prolonged pressure damage, especially of the nerves, can even cause paralysis. If blood vessels are affected, circulatory disturbances can result in marmorated or bluish extremities and a sensation of cold.
Typical symptoms, different tests of blood circulation and neural supply, as well as x-rays or other imaging methods lead to the diagnosis of TOS. The therapy initially includes physiotherapeutic treatment. If the blood circulation and/or the nervous innervations are severely damaged, surgical therapy may be necessary to widen the causing constriction.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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