What type of testing has everyone had who has vascular and or arterial TOS?
Venogram?
Doppler?

Hi,

I had a venogram. But it was in Denver with Dr. Brantigan. I had one in my home town but then he wanted one done HIS WAY. He has designed a protocol for what he needs in the test with the radiologists there. One "fill-in" radiologist who hadn't worked with him before did it and proclaimed I didn't have TOS! Well.......I had to have another test done the next day the "right way" with one of the regular radiologists and it clearly showed up that I had complete arterial and venous blockage in certain positions!

So make sure they know how to test for TOS!

I have had a veinogram and a doppler ultrasound of the brachial plexus vessels.. I had no blood flow on the doppler the guy had to go out of the room for help he had never seen it before!!!!

The veinogram clinched the surgery for me....it showed over a 90% occlucion on the right side subclavian vein so it was why I had my surgery to correct this issue....I think it is still there as all my symptoms are back.........

anyhow good valid test to see about your blood flow, but make sure they put you in provocative positions...ie the superman test...arms overhead like you are flying.....and arm in weird positions....the ones that cause you problems...

best of luck love and hugs,
Victoria

I had 3d cat scan in Denver that showed artery and venous TOS.

Hi,
Check this out, for subclavicle artery compression.
http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/...ll/112/17/e280

Also vertebral artery that never seems to come up.

http://www.tos-syndrome.com/newpage12.htm

I hope you don't have this vascular crap going on. My goodness you have been through so much. Hugs, Roz

I have had two doppler ultrasounds...the first gave indication of TOS as per the report. The second, the woman who did it went...'woah that was weird, the blood flow stopped and then just started again'.

Gibbrn is right - unless they put your arms in those nasty positions the tests can be all over the place

vertebral artery
those were the weirdest sx! - I had all of them during my worst times.
I think in my case the tightness and spasms were pulling on the c spine just enough to cause those problems.
As we {PT, chiro & I} got rid of the tightness and spasms the vertebral artery sx resolved too.

Jo how long did it take for the spasms to resolve or lessen?

I missed this - sorry.

it was july when we did the concrete slab work- didn't really hit me bad until the 3rd day of it. we had 2 more squares {6x12} to finish still - uugghh. totally did me in- but hubby wanted to finish it !
Git er Done LOL

About 2 weeks later at the county fair was when I happened upon the chiro & massage booth.
I signed up for appts right then since he was so helpful that first time.
I didn't even know what spasms were then - just knew I was locked up and hurting.

it got much better after just a few visits - he did the deep tissue /nimmo stuff , adjustments, ultrasound & about 2 weeks later was when they got the INF stim - that really helped too.

Probably 2 months for the worst to resolve - But I wasn't working or doing much at all during that time- just Sharon Butlers stretches, self TrP and lots of rest too.

- I was still was having the choking tight neck feelings and very limited arm use. Every time I did use my hands i would get really tight in my forearms and neck muscles.

So from mid September 04 til February 05 I was in that condition -til i found the adv PT guy that did the rib mobilization thing.
After that amazing fix I told the chiro and he followed up with checking it and adjusting if needed.

I just got back the written report from MRI/MRV/MRA at PremiereScan in San Jose. 4 pages worth, and very impressive. He was recommended to me by both Dr. Ellis in Berkeley and Dr. Avery in San Francisco. Finally I got at least some insurance coverage for it. They're redoing their website and only have a little bit of the TOS scan info online.

I've been dealing with TOS since 1992...probably seen more than 30 different Drs. over the past 15 years. Drs. Ellis and Avery are the best so far! Especially Dr. Avery, he really took the time to explain to me what was probably happening and my non-surgical alternatives.

marabunta,
Auburn, CA