Anyone near Scranton PA with thoracic outlet syndrome
 

Hi,
I am looking for anyone near the Scranton , Pennsylvania area who has thoracic outlet syndrome to talk to. thanks martina :wink:

This is all we have in our Drs & PT listings for PA, and it is a few years old but it will get you started, and those can probably be called for referrals or other suggestions or therapists in the area.

Martina are you in Scranton, or Wilkes Barre area.
I have a friend Martina.......last name start with C.
There is a saying NE PA is the TOS capital for all the affected people here.
Dianne :Wave-Hello:

Hi Dianne,

I am from Scranton, it take me about 20 mins, to get to Wilkes-Barre and about 30 mins to get to the Poconos. I go there every summer to the GW Lodge with the kids. My last name does not start with a C. I wonder why NEPA is called the TOS capital.. I had a heard time finding a doctor who specialized in TOS to evaluate me. My only other options were going to i think Philly or NJ. Dianne do u have neurogenic TOS or vascular TOS? Who do u see in the area for your condition if u dont mind me asking.... Martina ;)

Hi Martina,
I am south of Wilkes Barre, 5 miles.
I use Dr. DiGiovonia and Dr. Janerich for maintenance. Dr. Paz for lumbar issues. My TOS is right side neurogenic. Some issues with vascular; such as my arm bp differs, and my hands have swollen from the thought that blood goes into the arm, but is having a difficult time coming back out from compression. Right now my lumbar herniation's and leg pain are a real problem. My pain from the TOS is when I use my hands and arms, the lumbar is consistent spasms.

I have terrible spasms across my trap like a butcher knife above the wing, and low skull. The wings "hurt." The Cervogenic migraines broke With a great Epidural from Dr. Hanlon, that broke the 24/7 cycle. It was a well placed epi in the C5.

Right now I had a fall forward onto the good arm and it is inflamed with nerve pain. My bicep and down the wrist, Dr. Janerich's office is setting a new EMG to see what is going on as it is nearly 2 months and has not calmed down. from my wrist to neck is really painful and restricting my movements.

I first heard of TOS with my dd in 1996 she was diax from a 1994 injury, her doctor was Dr. Schwartzmann in Phila and Dr. Alan Togut.

Have you seen Dr. Peliccie in Scranton for your pain care. He is the major TOS manager in your area. His specialty is Neurology, and he is a Psychiatrist. His office is in the building across the street from Moses Taylor.
The other major knowledgable doctor TOPS is Dr. Scott Fried in Blue Bell area, www.nervepain.com

Dr. Togut is the top specialist in the area, alas I feel he will be retiring soon. The last I heard he was working Tues-Thurs. Emily is his nurse and can set you up with an appointment.

I guess that is why the TOS capitol term we gave our self. Dr. Togut had a support group that met and we were soooo packed. As time went on it was difficult for many to get out, sit and the weather issues at time. It dribbled down.

There are about 30 I can think of that were local and attended.

Some time ago WNEP Jill Garret had put together a health beat report on Dr. Togut and my daughter. Also Mark J a local with an internal tens unit, sorry forgot the term everyone....

Dr. Paz with the pain management group in Plains is the most familiar I am with managing the the intrathecal pain pump. A surgeon from Geisinger does the surgery and they have staff at Advance pain management that takes care of the followup.

Who has been your care giver locally? have you had or considered surgery?
Dianne :grouphug:

Hi Dianne,

I was seen by Dr. Alan Togut, and he was very thorough, he cconfirmed the diagnosis of bilateral neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. He did not recommend the surgery due to its risk. He gave me his plan for self care management. Prescribed this splint for me to wear, but i did not pick it up yet as it is 400.00 and i cant afford it right now. He no longer does the TOS surgery, but evaluates for TOS. The examine was over 2 hours long. I have cervical DDD mod to severe at each cervical level from c3 down to c7. I had a fusion of c5, c6 a year ago. Dr Togut believes the surgery made my TOS worse. I have had more problems with TOS and my neck shoulders and back since that surgery. Wish i never had it done. It feels like a knife stabbing me in my shoulder blades every day. I have been going to Dr. Mozeleski at Advanced Pain Management. They are right on Morgan Highway, just below the Aliied Services in Scranton. I have been to Allied Services to for PT and OT. I have temporary relief with the TENS unit, but my insurance does not cover durable medical equipment so, i have been looking on line here. I did not know about Dr. Peliccie, I will have to look into making an appt. with him if he is familiar with pain management for TOS and DDD.

I tried to find support groups in this area for TOS or even the DDD but I have not found any. I had an arteriogram done and they did not find anything wrong with my arteries or veins going into my arms. My blood pressure used to be 110/70 almost consistently..then since my fusion surgery which was a year ago it has been 120/70. Right now i am on Percocet and muscle relaxants, which takes the pain down only a degree or 2. I am afraid cause i do not know how long my PM doctor is going to keep me there. He said last time that this is no way to live on the narcotics, and that he did not intend to treat me long term.. I am so upset over this, cause the TOS is not going away and i am not getting the risky surgery. I am not having another surgery on my back either unless im not walking. The DDD is getting worse, as my latest MRI shows. So i may be looking for some one else to treat the pain. Thanks for giving me the information on the doctors that help with this. I see u r from Mountaintop, I grew up in Nanticoke, right down the road.. Martina

Martina,
I worked the PD dept above Nanticoke, and in Mountain Top, retired from that after my injury several years ago.
DH is working a security site this week in Nanticoke, can't remember the street, near a church by the hospital....man passed away and dd is out of town to settle the estate. Worry over the storm tonight for his travel in the Am. So is life in the North East.

TOS does not go away. It can go into remission, but generally it is a stretch or assault injury to the nerves. Trying to calm the nerves down to an acceptable level is what it is about. Dr. Togut did two surgeries on my dd, the scar matter just regrew around the cervical nerves and twisted entwining around them.

The second surgery he had place gortex wrap on the nerves at all levels, but the scar matter grew back.

Living on narcotics is said not a way to live, but it is about quality of life. I take percocet as need, generally one a day and three Advil. I use Valium as a muscle relaxer.

Advanced Pain management is all over in Scranton area too I recall, BUT the difference is that Dr. Pellicie's Pain Management is advocate to quality of life.

Advanced pain management will not provide long narcotic pain management. With the exception of refilling the intra-thecal pain pump. -OR unless you have a primary that will prescribe, Dr. P is the best.

He is patient advocate, does testing on site as needed. The splint Dr. T would like you to use, you may find someone that had rotator-cuff surgery willing to donate it.

We try to keep up with support group meetings but dear dr T has a life too, less him with how he thrives to help us, and work pt time yet.
Scott Fried is a second Dr. T but so much younger. Read his web site www.nervepain.com

He has a few books. In fact if the splint I think you are speaking of there is one on Scotts web site.
Scott treated my dd, my Uncle, his dil, and a friend of mine.

You have made me recall that I was setting up Dr.T to do two videos. Easier to gain info without the reading.
The TV health beat report was a major reaction in the valley. It shut the phone board down at the station from sooo many calls. They replayed it over several times.
I think a DVD of the diagx of TOS and what it is for one, and then living with TOS. As our friend Mark Jordan says how to control TOS so it does not control you.

Sorry we had to meet through TOS. I have been lurking on the boards, so many new people and so many questions,....it hurts to see so many.
I think if we had means of knowing how we can get TOS like carpal tunnel, and the reason some bodies are prone to it would help prevent.

Every parent on here with TOS watches for activities and symptoms with their kids,...
My youngest is now 15....YES TOS friends can you believe the tiny tot is now a major teen!!!!!

She is showing a lot of ct and forearm pain. She home schools and is on the computer a lot, but needed the monitor raised, arm supports, wrist pads for the keyboard and lots of breaks.

Getting long....call Dr P tomorrow......I would set up a consult with Scott too and see what he thinks.
Dianne

OMG this was taken over 13 years ago.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...hiefDianne.jpg

Hello, I am about 60 miles north of you. I have been diagnosed with TOS since 2002. I joined this group to find a new Doctor because my Doctor (Dr. Togut) is retiring in April. Steve...................

Steve are you near the border of PA and NY, Honesdale area? The closest person will be Dr. Pelliccie that I have knowledge of. We had many as yourself that saw Dr. Togut from upstate. It is a drive but you would be in excellent hands with Dr. P.

Welcome and perhaps we can all combine our resources, As far as I am aware he knows that Dr, Togut is retiring. e certainly knows how to care for TOS.
Di

Dimarie, I am 20 miles from Binghamton NY. and about 45 miles from Honesdale PA. Where is Dr. Pelliccie located? I just saw Dr. Togut on 2/15/11 to give him a heads-up about my visit to Advanced Pain Managment in Plains. I made an appointment on 1/27/11 for a consult with a Dr. Griver. Things didn't go well, Dr. Griver was worried more about being swamped with Dr. Togut's patients and why I traveled all the way to Plains to see him than me. I mentioned this to Dr. Togut and also told him that I didn't want to go back to see Dr. Griver on 3/2/11 which would be my next appointment only this time it's in Clarks Summit not Plains. My problem is that I am perscribed narcotics and nobody wants to write perscriptions for them. Steve.....................