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Originally Posted by Sea Pines 50
Hee hee, just wanted to get your attention for a moment!  I am scheduled for an angiogram with Dr. Sam Ahn tomorrow in Los Angeles, and just wondered if any of you have had that procedure done, for diagnostic or other purposes…
Trying to decide if I should go for (i) a re-do on the left (had a first rib resection in 2005 with Dr. Steve Annest, which has gone south) first, which would include a complete scalenectomy of the anterior and the (reattached) middle scalene muscles, as well as, I'm sure, a great deal of lysis and neurolysis to address all the scar tissue and adhesions which have built up over the last ten years; or (ii) a first rib resection on the right, to try to "save" my right hand from the severe atrophy of the thenar and interosseous muscles which my left hand suffered in the decades it took to get my 'true' nTOS dx. Don't harbor any hope at this late stage that TOS surgery is going to do squat to lessen the severe chronic pain, which became centralized a looooong time ago. But hey, if it does, I'll be pleasantly surprised! 
I'm hopeful that the angiogram (and Dr. Ahn, of course) will help me to decide which TOS surgery makes the most sense for me at this point in time. I have sx on both sides, although there have always been more obvious visible signs of neurologic deficit on the left, due to the appearance of my hand on that side. But I'm right-handed, and the thought of my right hand becoming anywhere near as useless as my left scares me. A lot. 
The other question I need to decide is whether to go with Dr. Ahn or Dr. Hugh Gelabert.  Does anyone know their stats on re-dos, by any chance? Although my case started out neurogenic, it has morphed into neurovascular TOS. While I don't personally subscribe to the notion that TOSers need to see vascular surgeons for vTOS or aTOS, and neurovascular or thoracic surgeons for nTOS, I would be interested to hear what you guys think.
Traveled to Denver for my first TOS surgery, simply because better aftercare was offered there at that time. Now that I know how to put that piece together myself, I think I'd prefer to have this next surgery where I'm going to be recovering. (And where my pain management guy, Dr. Sheldon Jordan, is!  )
For all you Angelinos out there, do you have a particular PT you've used post-op for TOS that you like? I'd love to hear about the protocol they used, if you wouldn't mind sharing that. I live in Sherman Oaks, so Orange County is too far to commute for PT on the daily… but I am looking for recommendations within LA County for bodyworkers, PTs, etc. to see after the surgery.
Thank you so much! Wish me luck tomorrow.
Alison |
Good Luck! I live in L.A. and I have seen both Dr. Ahn and Dr. Gelabart for consultations. I liked Dr. Gelabart much better, and would probably go with him myself,HOWEVER Dr. Ahn is the only one doing the angiogram for diagnosis and if it can accurtely diagnose, then it seems helpful. Dr. G says his outcome is 90% successful which sounds high. Not to scare you but I have heard some horror stories about Dr. Ahn. i think you will get more of a sense after you do the angiogram with him.
There was a fellow on this site that went with Dr. Ahn and got pec minor surgery with him. He was planning to go back to work and I havent heard anything from him since-JuniorCorey was his name. i have tried sending him aPM to see how he is doing but never heard back. I am guessing/hoping he is doing better since he hasnt been here. You might try to PM or send him an email. I have seen MANY PT's here although I havent had surgery and would be glad to tell you about each one. I love the one I see now-in Santa Monica, but it is not a traditional approach-(functional medicine)she works on relaxing my nerves and muscles for a full hour. She is out of network with insurance though.
I have seen Dr. Jordan too in the past. Have you found any protocol that works for you pain wise?