Hi, Id like to ask how many of you have Bilateral vascular TOS without cervical ribs? MY new arterial doppler ultrasound showed bilateral in the subclavian artery. My tos has been on my right side only for the past year and I havent had any surgeries yet. Thanks!!

Ih,
I have not been diagx with vascular involvement, but do have mild symptoms. Although you may have a prominent side with symptoms, our bodies are mirror images. If there is an anomalies on one side, why not be mirrored on the other?

If the symptoms are more pronounced on one side, is it your dominant side? Injury side, did you fall there, or is that one side perhaps just compressed more.

Just thinking out loud.
Di

hi Di, no injuries that caused this. And no explanation of how I got this other than possible RSI over the years. Yes my right side is dominant and is the worst. I suppose doing more things with my left hand for the past year could be the culprit?
How's a person supposed to function tho? My hubby is awesome and helps me tremendously. Now the financial burden is all on him since I had to stop working. I know he loves me deeply but I feel like I need something to make me feel worthwhile.
I can't imagine having this on both sides as, just the right side has been bad enough.
I am debating on surgery at this point, just need to come to some decisions on who and where.
I went to Denver for diagnosis last year. The Doctor was great, I got my diagnosis. I followed his advice, except that after 4 mos of Phys Therapy I plateaued and more neuro symptoms set in. I began contacting him on what to do next, which took 3 months to finally get a reply. ( come back and be reevaluated) I'm not sure that's his usual ways or what? I am very disappointed with i felt just a return call was not out of the question.
So now here I am, went to 1 of the best, spent all that money, and may have to settle for having surgery by a local surgeon.

Hi,

I had bilateral vascular, & arterial and neuro on both sides and no extra ribs. They can be one sided or both. My doc has treated many with only one side.
Although it is possible to have mirror images of issues inside it isn't always the case.

If it's caused by your first ribs it can be from having a small frame or just the way your body is. I'm not a small framed person but I'm also not over weight, just tall. But for whatever reason your body doesn't like your insides in that area.

Dr. Brantigan said it's always worse on the dominant side if your RT handed it would be the right side. When I got my right side fixed about a year later my left was really bad and he did that side. He said once the bad side feels better the other side can seem worse and may be, but it probably is because the side that was fixed is so much better the other just feels worse.

It does sound like your body is just small in that area, that can happen on both sides. Good thing you found out now when something can be done then later.

I had surgery about 8 yrs ago and I'm doing great even after all these years. I'm back to work full time in medicine and can't thank Dr. Brantigan enough for his fantastic surgery skills!

I hope you are able to find a surgeon that knows TOS and knows how to do the surgery well. That's the key to getting better.

Good luck to you.

Yes I am a very small person . And very busty also. Ty Bettertoser

I too was a busty person and had a breast reduction before the TOS surgery which Doc Brantigan said would help in getting better. I'm so glad I did!

Hope you feel better.

I have bilateral
All my symptoms have been right sided until after my surgery in 8/2003
Now my left is getting as bad.
Was told my left has been compensating for my right so its catching up.
Epicondlysis of the right arm and elbow.