i'm feeling really frustrated now that i went in to the 2nd appt today to view my films and findings w/this new chiropractor. Also because they want me to devote a lot of time and they would charge me $42/visit beyond what my Medicare insurance pays them. It may be worth it but not affordable at this point especially if I need close to a hundred visits.

I've had neck issues for many years and now that i've had TOS for the past several yrs my spine is really out of whack. My PT and this chiro think this is part of the neck to TOS...progression but neither has seen advanced cases like mine. I have lost curves now in my neck and the thoracic spine and besides the stuck ribs many of my vertebrae are tilting, twisting, building osteophytes, etc. My spine from top to bottom looks a mess. I can certainly see where my spinal headaches are coming from. And the misalignment is what's causing me knee-hip pain which also interferes with physical activity.

Does it make sense that the neck leads to TOS and then to to more spinal issues? Are others suffering from this? (I do also have the hypermobility/ligament laxity component which came before everything else.)

My goal is to get strong enough to have the 1st rib removal surgery w/o cuasing the bad headaches I'm enduring after a much more minor surgery and to be as physically fit as possible so that I can recover more quickly and more fully. My PT thinks this is wise too but it is hard to see what a long road I've been on and how messed up my body seems now. I'm trying to stay positive and be grateful for small gains but it is a hard lesson to learn.


Thx and good point finz. i too have had crappy luck w/physiatrists and pain clinics but good luck w/past neurologist and a few PTs. I think chiropractic care is fine if one finds the right match. One thing my PT has said is to make sure I don't endure a lot of pain--I can take a lot but my body reacts greatly in flare and spasm. This chiro recs Shiatsu which I think would be very bad for my current body.