Let’s come out and support Mitch in his battle against Thoracic outlet syndrome.
(TOS) is a term used to describe a group of disorders that occur when there is compression, injury, or irritation of the nerves (Brachial Plexus) and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the lower neck and upper chest area.
The condition is common among athletes who participate in sports that require repetitive motions of the arm and shoulder, such as baseball, and other sports.
There are three types of TOS depending on which structure is being compressed, and Mitch was diagnosed with the two below.
- Neurogenic TOS-nerve compression comprises 95% of all TOS patients
- Venous TOS-compression of the main vein comprises 4% of all TOS patients
Neurogenic TOS presents with pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the hand and arm. Additionally, neck pain and headache in the back of the head are common. Venous TOS, also known as Paget-Schroetter disease, presents with arm swelling, blue or dark discoloration, and a feeling of fullness or aching in the arm.
In 2015 Mitch suffered a blood clot in his right shoulder (subclavian vein) and was diagnosed with Paget-Schroetter. The primary function of the subclavian vein is to drain deoxygenated blood from the upper region of the body including the arms and shoulders and transport it back to the heart. Due to the complexity and rarity of TOS this was not diagnosed correctly. Mitch went on to play college baseball and has remained extremely active accepting what he was feeling as normal. Fast forward to today the compression and build up of scar tissue is causing muscle atrophy, loss of motor functions in arms and hands, blurred vision, sever fatigue, brain fog along with all the other common symptoms of TOS. These specific symptoms are the result of jugulur vein (blood drained from the brain) being compressed from the original injury.
In May Mitch was diagnosed with TOS in both the right and left arm and will undergo surgery this June in St Louis to repair the right side first.
Your generous contributions and support for this golf scramble will help offset medical, living, and travel expenses for Mitch while he is on the road to recovery.
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