Thoracic output syndrome...

[dieselcruiserhead]

I thought I would relay a recent experience I had for the off-road moto riders. From me it came from MTB riding, I was having a checkup the other day and mentioned it to the doctor. I thought I might have had poor circulation or something. After a little discussion he determined it was simple thoracic output syndrome, not a big deal but it is related to MTB or motorcycle riding. I guess something about having your arms forward in a riding position and the movement of handlebars can lightly constrict your thoracic artery, causing simple arms falling asleep at night, during the day, while typing , riding, etc.

Not a big deal, you simply stretch your arms and shoulders at night, (so it is a technical, scary sounding terminology for something that is not too big a deal). Shoulder rolls, grab left arm with right hand in front and behind back and pull, and then the same thing above your head.

I figured moto riding particularly off road is probably harder on your arms than MTB riding. So I thought I would relay..

 

[AndrewP]

Thoracic outlet syndrome actually can get worse with training and is most commonly seen in weightlifters, swimmers and gymnists; especailly a weird complication called effort thrombosis. There are several types of TOS, one caused by compression of the vein, one by compression of the artery and one type where the nerve is compressed. It can be caused by abnormalities of the upper chest anatomy, and by differences in the relationship between the 1st rib, the vessels and the scaline muscle insertion on the first rib. For most it's a pretty benign condition, but if your arm becomes painful and swells up, get medical attention quickly.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Hmm... i've noticed my arms falling asleep more now that I am commuting on the bike more... It becomes more evident at night time when I am asleep... I wake up and cant move because my arms hurt so bad...

I also remember when I would ride my MTB everywhere that my arms would often fall asleep... I got some gloves with gel filled in at the wrists and that went away...... I dont put the same pressure on my wrists anymore, but the symptoms arent the same either...

Stretchy time.

 

[AndrewP]

Andrew:

Is it caused by repetative motion then?

I certainly could be, but it's often related to congenital conditions, combined with muscle development and/or effort.

Remember, thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by problems at the thoracic outlet, ie near the anterior shoulder. If your wrists and hands are falling asleep, it is far more likely to be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, which is probably 100 times more common than TOS.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Thanks Andre.

Question...do you do any weight training?

I have been fairly religious about going to the gym 3 times a week...all of my quirky aches and pains have magicly gone away.

...and yes my arms do take a beating on the bike, but, we stand mostly, it takes alot of preasure off of the arms.

I do some but rarely... This winter I got to the gym a couple times a month but am not cosmetically strong at all. In the last year things changed a lot with a desk job where I'm on the computer all day banging away... I've had symptoms of carpal tunnel too but mostly pain in the wrists and what I am talking about is arms falling asleep, legs appear to be fine. Pretty sad, only 29 years old... I did notice with the stretching regimen it appeared to be better/reduced. All blood tests came back very normal or better than normal. It definitely came about the same time I started MTB a lot again this season....

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Hmm... i've noticed my arms falling asleep more now that I am commuting on the bike more... It becomes more evident at night time when I am asleep... I wake up and cant move because my arms hurt so bad...

About the same symptoms I was experiencing.

I think it was two years ago I started having similar symptoms and thought it was a circulation issue. I made a conscientious increase in vitamin K in my diet (Spinach, dark lettuces) and noticed it seem to go away for the most part (besides increasing positive diet)... But it came back. Needless to say I'm pumped on the blood tests (thought have might have been cholesterol or something) rarely go to the doctor, had the best preventative physical I've ever had... Not saying that I'm 100% sure it is thoracic but would make sense...

Other issues (slightly off topic here) were some respiratory issues (wheezing) despite normally healthy lungs. I felt like on some of the high altitudes my lungs couldn't keep up but my body would feel fine, aka weak lungs. I felt like for how often I was getting out (at least 2-3 days or nights a week) they should have worked a little better. Wasn't sure if it was the altitude (I've been up here 8 years and am in high altitude a lot, almost always exercising, skiing, etc) or what, or maybe something with my lungs... I'd have a good 30min to 1hr of having my lungs struggling on long climbs, and after rides I start coughing a lot and mucus, combo of allergies (also new to me, thread about it from earlier this year, which he gave me flonase for)...

And he diagnosed "exercise induced asthma" which I think is slightly BS-ish and figure a lot of people probably have this. But it would make sense as well, they gave me a preventative inhaler which seems to make little/no difference before the fact, but after can instantly gets rid of coughing and other symptoms. I wrecked really hard a couple weeks ago (20 mph, bruised ribs/nose, bike went flying into the woods), the inhaler saved me one really painful night cause each cough hurt really badly...