The thoracic outlet syndromes (TOSs) are a diverse group of etiologically and clinically distinct disorders with 1 feature in common, namely, the compression of 1 or more neurovascular elements. The current medical literature considers 5 entities as TOSs: arterial TOS (A-TOS), venous TOS (V-TOS), traumatic neurovascular TOS, true neurogenic TOS (TN-TOS), and disputed TOS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is poorly named, because edema, hyper tonus, compression of nerve process or compression of circulatory process and volume metric space of muscle facia all can result in arm/shoulder pain - which may originate in an area/point -- but easily may radiate to a significant distance.
Character and location of muscle pain is the result of the same cause, unless there is separate disease state such as arthritis.
The patient benefits when the therapist is able to assess why and where the problem originates - gentle direct pressure usually is a reliable guide.
Pressure on a sensory nerve may generate pain, tingling, disfunction. Pressure on a motor neuron may initiate contraction, chronic contraction, disfunction.
Pressure may result from faulty spinal disc, pressure from contracted muscle, displaced structure, scar tissue, edema which increases pressure on the muscle body by means of the fascial sack filling with edema. Location of the cause may be anywhere along the arm from the back to the finger tips. See Chin Na demo ( fingers ).
If pressure increases due to edema in a limited area ( defined by fascia ) the pressure may increase to a level which compromises blood flow in capillaries, reducing overall flow capacity - disabling nutrient supply and waste elimination and acidosis may be a result. Increased pressure may affect nerve process in addition and/or cause pain. The compression inherent in Carpal Tunnel is specified as pressure due to constriction between the carpal bones of the wrist and the ligaments crossing the tunnel. Interruption of any nerve process location ( finger - wrist - elbow - shoulder - back ) can bring pain/disfunction.
To test this you can easily apply Asian Martial arts techniques such as these, - please be careful. Chin Na demo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OnZODvHrW0&index=3&list=PL42AE74FECD393443
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE6fcAbjRfM
I would be suspect as to how accurate assessment was to generate a reliable answer to your question - " carpal tunnel " may or may not be an accurate description, depending on the expertise of the participants.
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