While the increasing number of pitchers who require Tommy John surgery is troubling — because anything that requires people to undergo surgery entails some risk, and the recover rate for Tommy John surgery isn't 100% — it isn't that big of a deal.

At most, the Tommy John Twist can mean retired pitchers have trouble combing their hair or brushing their teeth with their pitching arm.

The far more troubling part of the epidemic is the hockey-sticking increase in the incidence of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and other causes of Blood Clots in baseball pitchers.

Blood Clots which can lead to disability or even death.

And which make up a meta-syndrome that I call Throwing-Induced Coagulation and Neuropathy Syndrome (TICaNS).

• Chris O'Leary on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) 

TICaNS: An Overview

For those of you who think I'm crazy, do some research into the history and experience of J.R. Richard who pitched for the Astros in the 1970s and early 1980s and who was forced to retire due to a stroke.

That was caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).

While TOS is my main concern, I believe there is a meta-syndrome involved that I call...

• Throwing-Induced Coagulation and Neuropathy Syndrome (TICaNS)

...whose incidence seems to be hockey-sticking upwards.

The sub-syndromes of TICaNS may include...

• Axillary Artery problems
  • Axillary Artery Thrombosis
• Axillary Nerve problems
• Aneurysms
  • Especially Axillary Artery
• Arterial Clots
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Effort Thrombosis
• Ischemia of the Throwing Hand
• Nerve Conditions
• Paget-Schroetter’s Syndrome
• Pseudoaneurysm
• Pulmonary Embolisms
• Radial Nerve Irritation/Inflammation
• Raynaud's Syndrome
  • Raynaud’s Phenomenon
• Vascular Issues