Venous TOS: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and Prognosis

Venous thoracic outlet syndrome, or venous TOS, is an uncommon type of  thoracic outlet syndrome  caused by subclavian vein compression.

It goes by a few different names.  Paget-Schroetter syndrome , upper extremitydeep vein thrombosis, or effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein all fall under venous TOS  or  VTOS .

Is  venous TOS  rare?  Venous TOS is rare, although not as rare as arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (arterial TOS), the most severe form of TOS. Arterial TOS compresses the subclavian artery, which can cause an aneurysm if left untreated.

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (neurogenic TOS), which causes compression on the brachial plexus, is the most common form. It accounts for  over 90 percent  of all TOS cases.

Patients with the less common venous TOS often don’t receive their diagnosis until the condition has progressed enough to cause complications. It’s essential to understand the things to look out for if you suspect venous TOS for your best chance at a full recovery.

If you’re experiencing symptoms like  dizziness with TOS  or  trapezius muscle spasms  or are already diagnosed with  pectoralis minor syndrome , you’re more likely to have neurogenic TOS.

Symptoms of venous TOS can mimic other types of TOS, but venous TOS is more likely to cause symptoms caused by blockages in the subclavian vein and into the axillary veins.

What are the symptoms of  venous TOS ?  The symptoms of venous TOS include:

Venous TOS happens when one or more of the subclavian veins are compressed. The subclavian veins sit just under the collarbone, or clavicle, in what’s known as the costoclavicular space. When these veins are compressed, serious complications can occur.

How serious is TOS?  TOS can become serious if left untreated. Venous TOS can lead to a thrombus, or blood clot, in the affected limb. Blood clots can become a life-threatening condition if not treated immediately.

Patients typically come in for treatment once symptoms have worsened, so a primary care physician may focus on treating those symptoms first. It’s important, however, to understand the underlying causes of venous TOS for more long-term relief.

The most common underlying causes of venous TOS include:

People carrying more weight  due to pregnancy  or obesity are also at a higher risk for developing venous TOS and other types of TOS. These 2 groups are also at higher risk for being in a  hypercoagulable state  or the tendency to form blood clots.

Your doctor will likely start with a patient history, including any history of venous thrombosis, along with a physical examination before any diagnosis. Bulging veins, for example, are a symptom observable to the naked eye.

They may also walk you through a series of gentle movementsto analyze your range of motion. If they suspect any TOS following those manual diagnostic tools, they may follow up with additional testing. Standard tests for venous TOS include:

Patients diagnosed with venous TOS may benefit from combining treatments, including surgical interventions in more severe cases. The short-term strategy for most patients is treating any severe symptoms first, but the long-term goal is always thoracic outlet decompression.

Treatments for venous TOS may include:

Not every patient requires vascular surgery to treat venous TOS. Your doctor may also talk to you about more simple lifestyle changes to manage recurring symptoms.

 Changing sleep positions , wearing compression sleeves, incorporating stretch breaks into your work routine, and limiting overhead movements can all help relieve the worst symptoms. Chiropractic care can also be a positive addition to the long-term management of TOS symptoms.

Blood clots are the most common potential complication with venous TOS. Clots can become life-threatening if they block blood flow to your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.

Additional complications of venous TOS include:

Patients diagnosed with  venous TOS early  have a good chance of positive outcomes. In cases of serious complications, doctors may work to reduce those severe symptoms first, but all long-term management plans should look at the underlying cause of your condition.

Many patients with TOS suffer from pain and a loss of mobility due to TOS symptoms. Chiropractic care effectively relieves pressure and tension from misalignment in the cervical and thoracic spine and may return mobility as you treat the cause of your TOS.

If you’ve been diagnosed with venous TOS or other types of TOS, Georgia Upper Cervical Chiropractic can offer some relief as you work toward long-term recovery from the condition.