It was several years ago, but I do recall speaking to him on the phone.

About Dr. Ellis: he believes that TOS is caused by abnormal neuroinflammation. The nerves are sensitive and are easily irritated ---- much more so than ordinary nerves. This hypersensitivity and neuroinflammation (NI) are the source of the pain and problems. I am not a spokesman for him though, so hearing his views from the source is best.

He used to use heparin to decrease NI, but now is trying EPO (erythropoeitin) to decrease NI.

Nospam posted that his Dr. felt that NI and edema were the problem. I'm glad to hear that he believes that. Other people have various degrees of nerve compression/irritation and even lesions, but they don't experience pain or muscle spasms.

Our nerves are overreacting and sending out inflammatory cytokines and other things that cause increased edema and inflammation in the area. Things like TNFa and IL-1 are overactive. That's why I use pentoxifylline because it combats TNFa and other inflammatory things the nerve is spitting out.