nTOS - Should I be worried?
Hello, I (27F 5’1” 120 lbs) was just diagnosed with nTOS via EMG. I have bilateral 7th cervical ribs which is the presumed cause.
There is suspect vascular involvement, but unable to replicate symptoms. Occasionally my hands get very swollen and red and my arm gets very hot to the touch at a driving position.
I also have hyper mobility spectrum disorder (assumed hEDS via all of my doctors no official confirmation) and all of the research I’m doing is terrifying me.
I’ll add the diagnostic finding at the end, I just don’t know how serious this is and I need to know what to expect from here on. TYIA!!!!
I have a MRI for the brachial plexus nerve scheduled already.
List of conditions;
HSD, endometriosis (hysterectomy 2022), fibromyalgia, POTS, hashimotos, ulcerative colitis.
Medications aren’t relevant.
“These findings are overall most consistent with a chronic, bilateral lower trunk brachial plexopathy, greater in degree electrically on the left compared to the right. In this clinical context, these electrodiagnostic findings are most consistent with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS).
Further imaging with MRI of the brachial plexus (e.g. evaluating for compression or distortion of the lower trunk in the scalene triangle, narrowing of costoclavicular space, presence of fibrous band, or T2 hyperintense signal) and/or diagnostic nerve block (e.g. anterior scalene block) could be considered.
Would also consider referral for surgical evaluation of potential cervical rib resection / thoracic outlet decompression.
There are additional findings that are suggestive of a possible, very mild superimposed ulnar neuropathy at the right elbow (e.g. cubital tunnel syndrome).”
Posted Aug 12, 2026, 8:25 PM UTC