Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Excerpts from the entry on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

The thoracic outlet is a passageway at the top of the rib cage (the base of the neck), which allows the esophagus, trachea, major blood vessels, many nerves, and other structures to pass between the neck and the chest. It is a very crowded area and when its blood vessels or nerves get compressed between the overlying muscle and a rib, thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve disorder in the passageway at the top of the rib cage, can occur.

Also in this entry:

• Symptoms
• Common Causes
• Diagnosing the Problem
• Conventional Treatments
• Self-Help Alternative Treatments

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.