Is there a consensus doctor for TOS surgery?
 

A little background:

Been going on 3 years trying different things edgelowe included, started off talking to Newkirk, he seemed very adamant on Avery, talked to Avery seemed knowledgeable but seen some stuff that's given me pause.

Down in L.A now, talked to Jordan, Ahn, mahtabifard and Gelabert soon, I feel like I'm running out of options. Main pain is in elbow cubital tunnel area but also other areas, MRI and venogram show compression at costoclaviular interval, not too much at pec minor or scalene. I think indicated surgery would be first rib resection.


Questions:

1. Is there a consensus doctor for TOS surgery?

2. I see Donahue and Thompson brought up a lot, are they that much better than the guy in L.A (surgery would be so much easier in L.A), plus I've heard negative things about each (along with a lot of positive).

3. Consensus surgeon in L.A/So-cal?

4. Trans axillary vs. supraclavicular?

Thanks for your thoughts on this~

Do you know what may have caused your elbow pain?
repetitive/desk /computer/ weight lifting/ work?
previous whiplash /sports accident?

any PT /chiro /body work tried?

I found Donohue thorough, compassionate and thoughtful. He has people that come from all over the world to see him, and his office is very used to helping facilitate treatment for people that travel to see him. That being said, if you have found a comparable surgeon on the west coast it seems like a good idea to have surgery close to where you live. Donohue often recommends a diagnostic Botox injection prior to scheduling surgery.

To answer your questions- no there is not a consensus doctor but there are a few who are considered top in the field. As far as surgical approach, that is the physician's preference.

You have seen a lot of doctor's. It would be helpful if you gave more information ie. what are these doctor's diagnosing you with and what is the plan of care each has formulated. Are they not giving you the diagnosis and treatment plan that you think you need or are they providing conflicting opinions?

Additionally, you are going to hear positive and negative opinion about any doctor. You really have to research their background (do they have multiple lawsuits, how many surgeries of the type you need do they perform each year, etc), disregard other people's personal opinions, and formulate your own. It's a gut thing. You either connect with a doctor, and enter a treatment plan thinking he is going to do the best he can for you, or you do not feel that connection/confidence with them and you move on.

If you can provide more information about your medical history and what opinions all of these doctor's have given you that will be helpful for myself and others to provide more specific information.

Gigi