NeuroTalk Support Groups - DOCTORS & PTs List and saved PT info threads

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- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/)

- - DOCTORS & PTs List and saved PT info threads (https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/135-doctors-pts-list-saved-pt-info-threads.html)

Sterling1:

Where is Dr. Molina practicing in Minnesota? I live in Minnesota and ended up traveling to St. Louis for doctor and surgery since my primary care physician and I couldn't find anyone here. I sure would love to save the 9+ hour drive time and hotel costs for a doctor closer to home! Please share! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheila G. (Post 1078909)

This is from a thread I posted over a year ago- you can search the Thread by typing in Dr. Molina in Search. He is at U of M.:

For anyone in the midwest, here is an article that speaks highly of a Dr. Molina at U of Minnesota. A Cardiothoracic Surgeon

http://www.macon.com/2012/06/18/2065...ghnesseys.html

http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/co...tract/87/2/416

http://www.surg.umn.edu/Faculty_Alph...esto/home.html

Illinois

Body Gears Physical Therapy f/k/a Dynamic Physical Therapy
Locations: Bucktown, Downtown, Highland Park, Lincoln Park, Oak Brook, Oak, Park, Wheaton
Phone: 877-709-1090
Website: http://www.bodygears.com

Can anyone recommend anyone in UK who has experience in dealing with possible VTOS?

I am trying to decide whether to have a surgery, but am not sure where to ask for the 2nd opinion.

Many thanks! :o

Just as an update to the list-
Maryland: Dr Avaraam Karas has retired.

As an aside, I don't know if people have any positive experiences with him, but I thought he was terrible. He was one of my first specialists I was referred to when diagnosing my winged scapula and nerve symptoms. He immediately wanted to do rib resection with scalenectomy, no attempts at conservative treatment. When I asked if I could go back to my work doing rigging and climbing, he laughed and said "Little girls should not be doing silly things like climbing trees. You should think about becoming a ballerina!" (i'm a 30yo, 5'3", climber/weight lifter, decidedly unfeminine...) He expanded by telling me every member of his staff had the surgery and was very happen, and suggested I learn how to sew, but warned me the surgery would make my winged scapula causing the brachial compression worse. When I asked about conservative treatments he told me to leave and come back when "I was ready to get serious" and wrote on my medical records I was non-compliant.
Luckily.. he retired a week after my visit.

TOS Support in the UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simurgh (Post 1106355)

I have had a very thorough assessment from a physio called Rob Patterson (Cherrington Practice, Bristol) who has a great deal of expertise in N/V/ATOS. I would recommend seeing him if you are not too far away as he is very compassionate and understanding, has a wealth of knowledge on the topic and is in communication with a number of different surgeons and experts from around the world.

I called Dr. Karas's office at about 1pm on Feb. 18, 2015 and he has not yet retired (but is thinking about it).

Sorry that your experience with Dr. Karas was negative. I have met with him twice and had good experiences. There are numerous positive reviews for Dr. Karas both on this website and other medical review boards. I guess for Dr. Karas (and other doctors) YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wharris85 (Post 509182)

Couldn't help but notice Alabama was left off the initial list. Anyone know of/have experience with any doctors in AL?

Any luck finding someone in Alabama? Have you gotten relief yet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by chel1017 (Post 931376)

Dr. Kline is Louisiana has since Retired. That's why I went to missouri. Just to update the list.

I'm not sure if Dr Harry Roach (New Orleans/Metairie) is a TOS expert, but he ordered a venogram for suspected TOS and offered the surgery.

http://health.usnews.com/doctors/harry-roach-155092

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowtie (Post 1146892)

I'm not sure if Dr Harry Roach (New Orleans/Metairie) is a TOS expert, but he ordered a venogram for suspected TOS and offered the surgery.

http://health.usnews.com/doctors/harry-roach-155092

Also was told Dr Bates services TOS in New Orleans

http://www.ochsner.org/find_a_doctor...er/language/0/

NTOS Support/Specialist in Berlin, Germany

Any chance someone knows of a TOS doctor for Neurological symptoms in Berlin?

This thread & list was started in 2006 - so some links may be expired and some providers may be retired or closed their practice by the time you are reading here..so a web search to check for current info of names listed might be a good idea.

If you find helpful practitioners for TOS, please add their name & contact info/location/website to this thread.

Aqua physical therapist in Long Beach, Ca

I wanted to let everyone know I have found a great physical therapist in Long Beach . I have formed a lot of scar tissue since my TOS surgery in 2013. This is the only therapist I have found that does not hurt me,she actually helps. She does myo facial release and cranio sacral pressure and as soon as she finishes, I get into a warm water therapy pool ( the warmest one around) and do more stretches.
Her name is Connie Bowin.
714-369-4072

Good luck.

Dr. Bernardo Martinez - new location

Dr Bernardo Martinez is now at 5122 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, OH. He is still doing TOS surgery with the DaVinci Robot. He has 45 yrs of experience! He is probably not current on the newest treatment or experimental methods, but his robot work is very precise and not as risky as a human hand. He will not provide much support after surgery, as he does not provide complete care. He is a surgeon only and very busy! Unfortunately, he will not do phone call follow-up appointments, so you waste time driving to Toledo. He does surgery at UTMC, which has improved patient care in the past two years. In the past, the hospital was a questionable choice.

-Frank

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasternShoreLady (Post 70152)

> Dr. Julie Freischlag
> UCLA Gonda Vascular Center

Dr. Freischlag is no longer at UCLA. She is now Chief of Vascular Surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore MD

601 N. Caroline St.
8th Floor Adult Medicine Dept.
Baltimore, MD 21287
PH: 443-287-3497
FAX: 443-287-3500

Page Not Found

She is California now. Maybe US Davis, or Sacramento area.

update-
[UC Davis Health Vice Chancellor and Dean Julie Freischlag, M.D., accepts new position as president and CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Interim UC Davis Chancellor Ralph Hexter to name interim replacement in coming days
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) —February 14, 2017

Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences and School of Medicine Dean Julie Freischlag will depart UC Davis Health at the end of April to take a new job as president and chief executive officer at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.]
UC Davis Health Vice Chancellor and Dean Julie Freischlag, M.D., accepts new position as president and CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Her newest info-
Julie A. Freischlag, MD - Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Came across this info & Dr...might be worth looking at if needed.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - Dr. Tim Tollestrup

Still happy with surgery and choice of dr?

Quote:

Originally Posted by johannakat (Post 102426)

:winner_first_h4h: I felt Dr Ahn had an edge, technically, over everyone else. He was able to boil our discussion down to the important points. He listened to my concerns, addressed them, and gave me the tools to make the most informed decision i could make. He was able to explain with amazing clarity some of the things I had wondered talking to everyone else.

:icon_exclaim: I don't think any of the surgeons I visited would be bad choices. They are all highly respected and very familiar with TOS. I am glad I saw each one of them because they all made their own positive contribution to my research.

:icon_idea: Dr Jordan's ultrasounds and special scalene block of the right side confirmed my dx early on as well as the presence of a fibrous band and an extra artery. The botox injections that I had two times after were futher confirmation that TOS was indeed the culprit.

Dr Ahn's use of the above mentioned two tools for diagnosis of TOS is an excellent and efficient choice, because they are sound. I think it seemed abrupt to me the first time I visitied because I didn't feel like Dr Ahn/Reil really thought about me, they just were hungry for my business. In fact, I don't think that is the case, i think they just really trust Dr Jordan (as well they should because he is awesome :D ) He would probably be my first choice even if I didn't live in LA.

Dr Filler's neurography confirmed the aggravation of C8 on the left side, which was very helpful to me to describe and identify the pain in the back of my left shoulder. I think he has really developed something great:Tip-Hat: , and I hope the reasearch can be put together to make it a more generally accepted diagnostic tool. Even though I had the impression that other doctors didn't really take the MRN seriously, I found most of these surgeons were happy to talk to me about it and what it showed. I think it supported my symptoms so well that it made good sense. However, I am not keen on his partial scalenectomy with neuroplasty procedure, it was my least favorite of the 5.:Noooo:

:Doh: Dr Weaver- well, I guess he was my token "maybe you ought to do more PT" and frankly that sugggestion made me more sure i was ready for surgery than anything else...! Also, his lack of interest in nerve compression made me more aware how important mine was. his supraclavicular scalenectomy and rib resction would have been pick number 4, based on Dr Jordan's high marks for Dr weaver's work.

Dr Brantigan- That's where I got the paper that suggested the scalenectomy along with rib resection for upper plexus symptoms. This was a key finding for me. Also enjoyed learning about his apporach based on anatomical anomalies. He was a bit gruff and not at all modest :icon_rolleyes: . I was dissapointed to find that he did not know about Dr Jordan's ultrasound procedure, seemed like a gap in his TOS knowledge. I would have picked him as option 3.

:You-Rock: Dr Sanders- Simple version of left scalene block helped me feel quite distinctly how bad my "good" arm felt. Really enjoyed his office personality, extremely genuine and personable. Also offered up the MAC study which clearly showed abnormalities on both sides. He is clearly an "hands on" type doctor. Felt a little more old fashioned in that way. I think he has something special and he was an easy second choice.

:Ponder: one thing i am still confused about:
I am not sure what to make of the descrepancy in statistics for scalenectomy alone. UCLA studies and Dr Ahn claim a 45-55% success rate for scalenectomy alone, and Dr Sanders claims a 70% success rate. I think for that to be real, there must be something special that Sanders does and others don't. I know he does a more complete scalenectomy than Filler, but I don't think it is more complete than what Dr Ahn does. So, I am just not sure what to make of it.

I really hope I have made the right decision. I guess for all of us, only time will tell....all of them suggested that it takes about 18 months for scar tissue to stabilize, so I guess it'll be that long before i really know if it worked.

If it does or doesn't work, I am not sure I'll ever know how much of a role the surgeon really played in it. How can we ever know? Statistics only matter to a bunch of people...for each individual it either works or doesn't.

ah, it is late and I am rambling. :Talkative:

PLEASE feel free to point out errors, omissions, ask questions, or whatever.

If you actually bothered to read all of my crazy :Crazy 2: ramblings, you are probably also looking for a surgeon, and I'd be happy to share any forgotten details any time.

:Thank you:And thanks again to everyone who shared their input with me over the past few months.

Johanna

Hi Johanna. I'm newly diagnosed and have had two appts with Dr Ahn who recommends PT and scalenectomy (not FRRS yet) if PT doesn't work. I've tried to search patients with surgical experiences with him in this group to no avail. I know it's been a long time since you had surgery but wonder how you felt about your outcome, etc.

Thanks
Kate

I recommend Kjetil Larsen in Norway. He has online appointments as well as regular in office appointments. Has many videos in YouTube as well. Look up **

I read a lot of reviews and forum posts but they are fairly old. Anybody had recent appointments/surgery for neurogenic TOS with Dr. Donahue at Massachusetts General hospital and/or Dr Lum at John Hopkins hospital. I am trying to make a decision who to go to.
What additional testing do they perform except scalene nerve block if any? Are they reachable after your first appointment if you have any question/concern? Has anybody experienced unsuccessful surgery with them?
Would be good to hear from people that had surgery years ago if a rib resection created other anatomical imbalances and other symptoms.

You can use our site search tool to find more recent posts about those Drs..or PTs..
https://www.neurotalk.org/search.php