Chroma: That's impressive note taking. I listened to him again and I do like a lot of things he says, but I also question some stuff.

First Rib Superior Subluxation is the cause. The 1st rib is connected through intercostal muscles to 2-4. Ribs need to move up and back, if not you'll have labored breathing. (This applied to me)

No watching TV in bed. (guilty)
Pillow must place your head in neutral at night. No tension in any direction on your scalenes. (must find a new pillow)

Ultrasound and TENS on the lower cervical and upper thoracic beneficial along with other muscles. Avoid the carotid artery and heart.

Subclavius Manuever: Patient lies on side. Your "neuromuscular re-educater" holds your back with one hand and shoves your subclavius muscle under your clavicle. When you are no longer screaming in pain, release, but not until it registers zero on the pain scale.

Hands-on therapy is a must. All spasms must be taken out of scalenes, and other muscles. Theory contradictory to other TOS protocals, but I agree with him from my personal experience.

First rib needs to be adjusted inferiorly. This is a must and key point. Mandatory to get well.

After all the spasms are gone and rib adjusted, the provider must keep checking as spasms can creep back. Don't do any excercises until all spasms and subluxations are under control.

The things I question are his 12 week recovery plan before a surgery consult. Most people have had this condition for a long time as they've not been able to find a cause or appropriate therapy. Can't tell you how many times I've been told it will take as long to recover for the duration you've had the injury. He must be a miracle worker.

No patients begging for meds? He's a DC so he can't prescribe meds. Call me a skeptic, but 18 years and no patients on meds other than night time sleep is hum, um hard to fathom.

Need a 12 week vacation to Chicago to test him out.

I agree that the success rate could be much lower, as well as your point about the meds. When treatments are not successful, people will often seek further help elsewhere without necessarily informing the last treatment provider. I think he believes what he is saying, but doesn't necessarily know about some of the inevitable harder cases that continued elsewhere.

But regarding the duration of treatment, I'm skeptical that there is some natural law, rule or trend that it is the same length as the duration of the symptoms. I myself am getting about 10% better which each chiro visit, so hopefully I'll be a living example.

One other thing I'd like to mention about getting chiro treatment, provided your chiro has intelligence and skills, is that you may find that you have additional issues. Not only is it worth getting them resolved, but these issues can interact with each other. Getting an expert to identify the network of problems and break it up has its merits. Other experts may be suitable for this as well including DOs and PTs.

My worry was unfounded. At the time, I didn't understand the position of the first rib or the approach described there. Although I would still make sure that the towel was not pulling on the collar bone as well. One could use a strap instead of towel for more precise placement.

@hellothere, how did the above stretch work out for you in the long run?

Hi
Long story short (maybe).lol I have tos am scheduled for pre-op Mon should I cancel or postpone and go to Dr. Stoxen. I would have to borrow the money and he would treat me in 2-3 days or until the problem is resolved. I sent him a note on his, contacts on his site and he emailed me telling him to call before 12:00 pm midnight and I just made it by a few minutes. After I spoke to him I found his presentation you talk about. Have you or Chroma found anymore about him. My pain np told me to look up here for people who have seen him or know someone who has. Of course with surgery there is cutting vs. not w/Dr. S. He has sooo many accoulades (sp?), it almost looks like too many and it's hard to know what to do. Yet, if all of this is true is it better to go to him. After seeing him the key will be, no old habits to bring you back to where you stand now, he said when I spoke to him for an hour and a half. I'm desperate since the timing is so bad. I just saw the info here the other day and looked him up and now I don't know if I should call to postpose my pre-op and surgery and go to him first or forget him and go to my procedures. HELP HELP HELP! It is 2:30 on Fri on 5/10/13 before my pre-op on Monday 5/13/13 and surgery on 5/21/13. HEEEEELP!

Hi- I think it is always better to try everything you can before doing surgery- but I wouldnt hold out hope that this guy is going to cure you in 2-3 days. you need to be realistic and give it time-its taken me a year to feel better and I do but I am not cured. I dont remember what your diagnosis symptoms are. if you have a cervical rib or not- VTOS , ATOS? These have better results with surgery than Ntos.

Questions- How far do you have to travel to see Dr. Stoxen? Can you easily reschedule your surgery? I think its important to feel comfortable with your surgery choice. Try pm'ng or e-mailing the persons that have seen Dr. Stoxen and get more info. encourage them to post here for the rest of us.
Good Luck-

Sorry for all the stress your are going through.

I wish had some key breakthrough information for you, but I don't. I'm out in Cali and haven't worked up to trekking out to Chicago for a round of Stoxen's treatments.

His comments resonate very well with my situation. Through other hands-on providers and my own assessment, I know that I do indeed have tight scalenes, edema above the collar bone, etc. Therefore, if I ever get close to surgery, I will try Stoxen first.

If you feel the same way then try Stoxen first. If you don't, that's a harder call.

jkl626 has some good questions and points to consider.

Another option is to seek out someone that is nearly as skilled as Stoxen...in your own area.

There has to be other advanced PT , bodyworkers and chiropractors that can do many of the same things stoxen talks about..

The DC I went to was very skilled and very helpful for me.
He had extra training & many years of knowledge & experience.

You could ask Stoxen if he knows of anyone in your area that might be helpful??
He could teach and build a network of care providers...

irisheyesmilin,
Sorry, but I can't recall your dx or sx or tx that you have tried already, or what your avg pain level or worst sx are...