I have tos and need help finding the best and top surgeon. There are none by me and I'm willing to travel anywhere. I can no longer do PT and have made no progress in over 2 years. Who would be the best surgeon for tos?

Thanx

Did you find our DRs & PT sticky thread?
These are some we have put in a list - not all have been used by the members here -we just wanted to locate and list as many as we could for future needs.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread135.html

But the most mentioned surgeons names are from Denver, California , Texas. If you check those states you'll see the names - then search the forums for mention about each.
I may forget a few but Denver has Annest, Brantigan, Sanders, CA has Ahn, oh darn right now I can't recall any other names...
how annoying...sorry

Hi Anne I have been reading this forum for awhile but finally signed up. Your post caught my eye yesterday as I have given this much research and thought. Its a long way for me with many of obstacles but everything is pointing me to dr Brantigan in Denver. Whoever you decide on I think you are on the right road looking for the best

I too had surgery by Dr Brantigan and I'm in Denver now for a check up. He saved my arms. I do travel a long way to see him but it has been more then worth it. If you want more info please email me in private email on this site.

Dr. Azzizedeh in Houston did my surgery, and he did a great job!

Thanks for the link and suggestions. I'm sorry I missed the post. I have disputed nTos, and no one seems to have an understanding of why I have TOS.

Not big on the Denver TOS Doc machine as I want someone who is not looking for TOS, but possible other causes. It seems some only see what they want to see and I don't have clots or any vascular problems. I will look at your list.

Vascular surgeons look to R/O (rule out) TOS. Most TOS docs try to rule it out before doing surgery. They don't want to do surgery if it's not needed. None of the docs in Denver or elsewhere are only TOS docs. They are vascular surgeons that happen to know what to do if a patient is found to have TOS.

You have to decide if you want to see really great vascular docs that know TOS and can fix it if you are found to have it, then see vascular docs that are not known for TOS surgery and tell you you have it and do surgery that may not have the best results of those docs that know how to do TOS surgery.

Denver just happens to have docs that really know TOS and are really good vascular docs. There are a few to pick from in Denver.

Not sure where you reside Anne...
If ur around Texas look up Gregory Pearl. He performs a lot of surgery's on professional baseball players.

However, please do ur homework before surgery. Lots of patients swear by the surgeons listed and have had good to great outcomes which I cannot and will not dispute. Unless you have a blood clot and not life threatening use ALL angles of pain relief, before subjecting yourself. The most important questions you could ask are:

1. How many surgery's have you performed your suggesting?
2. How many patients are back to work and have complete recovery?
3. How many patients have you treated who still need daily, monthly medical care?

If the percentage of outcome is only 50% that means 25% the surgery will be successful and the other 25% unsuccessful with variables.

Just be aware and be educated!

Cyndy: Thank you for your response. I think your 50% number is about right and I have a gut feeling I would fall in the 25% failure rate. Pearl does work on Baseball players but they tend to have venous TOS. The rate of a successful venous TOS surgery is hugely greater than disputed nTOS. They are 2 entirely different beasts and can't be compared.

Claims of success can not be measured in weeks, but years for me. If someone says they had a successful surgery and they are a month or two out, I wish them well but it seems to early to tell such a thing.

My local TOS surgeon told me to run far away from this surgery and I think he may be right. I just can't imagine living the rest of my life like this but what if I am the 25% failure? My life today may be good. Who knows? I may have already seen the best surgeon because he was honest. Frustrating. I like this smiley. It sums up how I feel.

Ann sometimes it is the PT type contributing,and actually getting a PT that treats the person can rule in or out TOS, by the plan they create.

If they try anything with bands, HANDBIKE, weights RUN. This can not build muscle and help, it will contribute to the TOS.
The nerves are inflamed in neurogenic tos and the repetative movements, over working muscles that are trying to splint a sore nerve, make more spasm.

Range of motion, gentle, climb wall with fingers gentle, just not to lock up. I will do the ultra sound, or tens like treatment, heat, and a massage. Biofreeze, lidoderm patches every day, valium for spasms, and mega pain on days I work a percocett, Liquid Advil Gels.

ALthough not cured, and not pain free, I can controll a lot of the symptoms/pain.

I take lexapro and found that helped, decent trigger points in traps...
I do not do heavy work,
Although my low back is shot....