Hello there,

I developed a problem with my left arm when I was a rower in college. I was told
it could be
TOS, but then got sent around to a couple of different doctors that sent me home
with no
answer. Does this sound right? My left arm swells drastically until I can't bend
it (mostly the
upper arm, but the lower arm swells also). My arm feels like someone tightened a
blood-
pressure meter too tight, but feels like a rubber tire to the touch. At it's
worst, it turns bright
purple and gets really cold. It definitely hurts. I also occasionally wake up to
a swollen,
painful arm in the middle of the night. After an incredibly painful experience
rowing at
Pac10's, I took a few years off of any sort of arm-involved exercise. I've
recently taken up
canoeing, and get moderate (alright, it's pretty bad) pain and swelling at each
practice. I can
live with that, because I love being on the water.

Besides quitting canoeing, what can I do to minimize swelling and pain?
Should ibuprofrin help?
What stretches should help?

Thanks.