FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/Brachial Plexopathy. In Memory Of DeAnne Marie. |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
05-31-2012, 04:34 PM | #21 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
[QUOTE=nospam;884679
Dr. Ahn and Angle were unimpressed that my scalene block was negative as they felt it was not a reliable indicator for surgery. My problems turned out to be my ribs and not my scalenes. I wish I would have learned more back in 2010 when I failed the scalene block and I thought I didn't have TOS.[/QUOTE] Dr. Ellis doesn't do scalene blocks. When I saw him, he offered heparin injections in key trigger areas. They were not areas which needed to be done under guidance. Marc: Since your scalene block was unimpressive, did Ahn or any other surgeon suggest the Collins MRI and if not, why? JKL: Has anyone wanted you to have this MRI as well? I'm mostly curious as his Northern CA counterpart's study is viewed as solid info. The geographical differences in diagnostic testing makes TOS all that more frustrating. Good luck to you with Ando. I hope you find relief and answers. |
||
Reply With Quote |
05-31-2012, 05:35 PM | #22 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
Quote:
I was told the same. I've had a cervical epidural as well as a cervical facet block. For me, it was because I had a bulging disc. However, the epidural did not help at all, the facet block helped for 1 day and because it helped I had a nerve ablation (burning of the nerves although they grow back in a year or so). The ablation did not help that's why I don't believe blocks are always reliable. |
||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
05-31-2012, 06:28 PM | #23 | |||
|
||||
Member
|
Quote:
Quote:
In the year following the fusion, some of my symptoms did not disappear and started getting worse. My doctors were overly thorough in verifying the fusion was successful. I also had another EMG which eliminated carpal and cubital tunnel as well, but had some suspicious C8-T1 readings which could point to TOS. When I started seeing the vascular guys, they all said that failing the scalene block doesn't mean you don't have TOS. Gelabert wanted me to repeat the scalene block as it is his main indicator for selecting surgical candidates. Dr. Ahn and Angle both felt the scalene block was unreliable and didn't think I needed to repeat it. I also had the MRI of the Brachial Plexus from Dr. Tsuruda in Pasadena that Dr. Williams had ordered in 2010. It showed neural edema and increased neural signal. Dr. Gelabert said Tsuruda does good studies and there was no need for Collins' study. Gelabert also wanted me to have the SSEP test since it was likely I would fail the scalene block again. Dr. Ahn completely ignored all of my prior tests and said I had clinical signs of vascular and neurogenic TOS but would not discuss surgical options until I underwent his angiogram/angioplasty. Dr. Fujitani wanted to repeat everything, including my cervical fusion workup so I didn't want to reinvent the wheel with him. Dr. Angle looked at all of my previous studies but said he mainly relies on clinical evidence as the imaging never tells the full story of what he finds in surgery. Clinically he found evidence of both vascular and neurogenic TOS. At my request (he didn't find it necessary), Angle ordered MRI/MRA which showed evidence of venous TOS with my arms overhead. None of the testing showed exactly what Dr. Angle found in surgery. The costoclavicular space was extremely tight on both sides. My left brachial plexus was fused to the rib. My right rib was in an odd position and was attached to the lung pleura. Dr. Ando was key to me choosing to go through with rib resection surgery. Originally, I wanted to just do therapy or get scalenectomy only. My previous therapists were never able to get my 1st ribs to lower. In two weeks of trying, Ando was not able to get my 1st ribs to budge. However, he did reveal to me why. The ribs below were pushing up on the first rib (subluxations and torsions). This convinced me that my problem was rib related and not scalene related. My ribs have been easier for Ando to align on the left side since I had the resection. I will start therapy on the right side next week.
__________________
Marc . ACDF C5-C6-C7 2/28/11 . . . . |
|||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
05-31-2012, 06:48 PM | #24 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
[QUOTE=jkl626;884561] he was so-so on a Mac or SSEP test.(Has anyone had either of these? Were they helpful in the Diagnosis? Where did you have them done?I'm particulary interested in the Mac,because my pec Minor is really tight.)
I had a MAC test done in Denver. Before my unsuccessful pec minor surgery with Doc Sanders, he had me get one with Dr. Machanic. Apparently it shows some nerve issues that everyone else misses. Mine was positive. I had an MRA with Doc Collins and he said that if I ever decided to get surgery, I should go with Doc Gelabert and not Ahn. I told Dr. Angle that and he laughed. He knows all three of the Doctors and said Dr. Collins is an excellent radiologist and knows his stuff. Dr. Angle looked at the report for Collin's MRA and said it was accurate based on his exam with me (I have subclavian vein probs and neuro). |
||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
05-31-2012, 07:02 PM | #25 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
Quote:
|
||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
05-31-2012, 07:07 PM | #26 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
[QUOTE=TOStrojan;884908]
Quote:
So you had Pec Minor surgery based on the Mac test and it didnt work? Do you think the test is unreliable then? Did you like Dr. Angle? I cant remember have you had the surgery yet? |
||
Reply With Quote |
05-31-2012, 07:16 PM | #27 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
Quote:
|
||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
05-31-2012, 07:24 PM | #28 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
Quote:
The Facet block he recommended is for my disc also to see if some of the pain is coming from there. He thinks Cervical epidurals should be the last thing because they are more risky.Did you do the epidural and facet block together? Who did them for you? Did it make your TOS symptoms worse? |
||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
05-31-2012, 07:31 PM | #29 | |||
|
||||
Member
|
This is where mine was done as well, Jay S. Tsuruda was the radiologist and Gelabert knew him and said it was a good study with very clear images.
__________________
Marc . ACDF C5-C6-C7 2/28/11 . . . . |
|||
Reply With Quote |
05-31-2012, 08:30 PM | #30 | ||
|
|||
Member
|
Quote:
The doctor who did these in NJ (as I am from NY). After I went back to him for follow-up to tell him it didn't help, he told me to go to physical therapy (for the second time). I went for 10 weeks and I got worse. So I am not sure if the epidural or block particularly made me worse, or the physical therapy or the combination of all this. But I am much more worse now. But on my follow up after 4 weeks of physical therapy, the same doctor told me I was faking my pain (in better words) and that he had no idea what to do next. The entire time he was also only focused on my neck and told me he did not know where my right shoulder, arm and hand pain or the pain in my occipital lobes was coming from. The epidural is basically a lot of steroids injected into your cervical spine. The block is usually either a numbing medication, steroid, or a combination from what I was told. Even if you are able to confirm that the bulge may be causing some of your symptoms, I don't believe these procedures can make you entirely sure. My current doctor is also having me do a block to my brachial plexus (lower trunk). I am going ahead with it next week to see if my cervical ribs are compressing my lower trunk since that is what he believes (and I need some answers). Let me know if you have any other questions. |
||
Reply With Quote |
"Thanks for this!" says: | Akash (08-30-2014) |
Reply |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Perilous Journey... | Multiple Sclerosis | |||
My journey to SCS | SCS & Pain Pumps | |||
My journey with RSD | New Member Introductions | |||
My Journey! | Myasthenia Gravis | |||
Mom's Journey | Coping with Grief & Loss |