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Magnate
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,871
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Magnate
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,871
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TOS testing to rule out other issues
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaldridge6
Well, I still feel confused. The thoracic doc I went to did send me to a neurologist. I haven't called him [thoracic] back because I am unsure if I need an MRI. An xray seems more justified, but, indeed my prescription says MRI of Cspine [cervical?]...
Alexander classes are interesting. I'm not entirely happy with my first two but I'll stick with it. I'd rather find a good myofascial physical therapist in the Santa Ana area then spend $800 for a MRI... 
I'm not sure what to do right now. I can type. I can get through the head. Theres a dull aching pain in my chest, neck and a burn in my arm but its manageable. I want things to get better, I don't like the idea of waiting another 4 years to get this fixed...
So, thank you all for the advice. I think physical therapy might be my next best bet, unless I decide to put some faith in the thoracic surgeon I saw.... sigh.  |
Hi and welcome,
Testing is done not to diagx TOS but to rule out other diagx. An MRI can show if there are cervical issues as herniations that can be contributing to the symptoms. BUT, many friends I made here had prior cervical surgery, they needed it, but still had the TOS symptoms too. I have left side cervical herniations, but my TOS affected side is the right where I sustained a stretch injury to my arm…like a zinger if you ever played football.
Even a person above 20;s will show degeneration and bulging in disc height...But, EMG/NVC testing is not always helpful either. This test is better in late victims. The first nerves in tos to have symptoms are the smaller sensory nerves these nerves can not be tested by EMG. The ENG is testing larger nerves that make muscles move...these are only affected late stages or severe TOS.
I never had surgery; my daughter was severe and had two. The second, to help clean up the scar matter that was entwining on her cervical nerves.
TOS surgery is not a cure it is a help. If is an attempt to free up compression of vascular and neuro bundles behind the collar bone and in front of the first rib.
In your case...I would be aggressive and really not rely on pt first. WHY. There are several scenarios’ that cause the symptoms you describe. I had one friend from Australia on here and had a pan coastal tumor or cyst that caused the symptoms. I was on Discovery channel a man I thought for sure had toS, He actually had a tumor near the heart for many years, it was attaching to the chest wall, collar bone, thoracic outlet area and heart. It had almost calcified by the time it was found and had to be removed.
There are other things too like a chest wall irritation, a costalclavicular irritation, activity induced, anomalies induced. You may have some fibrous band causing spasms and burning pain.
But a regular thoracic doctor will often never see a tos in his career. We have a top neuro in ouor area and treating a MS patient, but will not touch her TOS.....
When you look at the list, I think as they said the doctors seen in CA are tops in their field.
Get a good diagx and recommendation.
Di
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Pocono area, PA
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