Fresh Los Angeles recommendations
 

I'm putting a call out for fresh recommendations for professional help in the Los Angeles area:

- A PT familiar with TOS, hopefully including first rib adjustment.

- Chiro.

- Vascular specialist/surgeon.

I know there's a sticky thread for this, but I wanted to see what the latest recommendations are. We can distill and add new results after this thread stabilizes.

Aw, come on. Aren't there any trigger point therapy and/or myofascial release masters in SoCal?

i was desperate so i started looking on pt boards

http://www.somasimple.com/

i went here and asked, they gave me a great rec

or you could try http://www.aaompt.org/
but just bc theyre certified doesnt mean theyre gonna use it on you

For awhile we had quite a few members from CA, but not many posts at all from them in the last couple years.
Some had work comp claims and severe pain/symptoms so getting good quality PT didn't happen very often for them. Everything has to be approved by wc and rx'd buy treating dr of record..

Joyce wilkenson in santa monica was mentioned - but without looking a map I don't know how far away from LA she is.

SantaMonica is a suburb of L.A., just north of Venice Beach.

I'm in SoCal. (Orange County)
Can't say these are "experts" but here's who I've found and used. So far, I'm managing - albeit with good days and bad:

PT:
They were familiar with TOS:
http://www.gmspt.com/

And Vascular Surgeon I saw for an opinion:
http://www.niren-angle.com/

I don't know about the first rib adjustment, but this place is pretty good:

Pro-Health Rehab & Sports Medicine
4727 Artesia Blvd., Suite 105-B
Lawndale, CA 90260

310-371-4774


Several of their staff members have TOS experience. My husband started with them in 3/11 and they've really helped him.

Fresh call
 

HI Chroma
Im in the OC and checking on some PT referrals for you in the LA area...

PTs, always look for a therapist who has experience in TOS. Dont be shy, ask specific questions of their education and expertese. Did you know that DO's; yep DO's, learn about TOS in the first year of medical school and medical students have no clue what TOS is unless they advance their education into Neuro and then its minimal? I have found relief from even DO students who know how to adjust the ribs and relax the spasms, dystonia and even swelling. amazing

Vascular surgeon: Gelabert @ UCLA. a conservative surgeon with TOS intervention experience. http://venouscenter.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=13

There is a new surgeon @ UCSD by the name of Justin Brown who we met with recently. He was with Washington University and received complicated post tramatic cases and TOS pts who did not fair well with post op TOS rib resection, etc surgeries. He uses a common sense approach relating to the peripheral nerves which are the "pain" receptors.
http://neurosurgery.ucsd.edu/justin-brown-md/

olecyn, thank you very much!

I'm seeing Dr. Gelabert. He schedules 30 minutes for the first appointment. He goes over your history and your tests (assuming you've already had an MRI/MRA and nerve testing elsewhere) and also does a physical examination. I was seen at my actual appointment time and didn't have to wait! All of the staff was very nice and courteous. My appointment did not feel rushed and he answered whatever questions I had. He seemed very competent and I felt at ease with him. We talked about conservative treatment (PT, posture changes, lifestyle changes) and also the next steps as needed (scalene injections). Surgery was discussed but he's very conservative and wants to exhaust all other options before surgery.

I forgot to ask him something and emailed him the next day and he replied within ten minutes! I emailed back again and he responded quickly as well.

Also, it took over a month to schedule the first appointment so have patience if you want to see him. Dr. Gelabert is generally only in the office on Wednesdays. All other days he's in surgery! I hope to only see him on a Wednesday :)