I had a one month and getting ready to have my two month next week. But della told me about the same schedule as u

Laura,

I had surgery with Dr Thomppson on 10/4/12 and was released to back to work on 12/24/12 with restrictions. No lifting, pulling, pushing anything over 5 lbs, also no overhead work.

Also, BJH has a facility called the Barnes Lodge for low cost stays if you are interested, see their website.

I have now made 4 trips to St Louis with another scheduled in April,.

Regis

Hi Everyone!

I'm scheduled to see Dr. Thompson in a few months. I've been struggling with TOS symptoms for 8+yrs and have seen numerous Doctors although no-one who specializes in TOS. I have scoliosis so my posture is slouch a bit which I think might be the cause. All my testing, (XRays, MRIs, EMG/NCVs, sleep studies) have been negative so I'm wondering if anyone else has had a hard to diagnosis case like that and what to expect when I go to St. Louis? He's a vascular guy so is he skilled in the neuro side of things?

I've had some folks (Good Chiro & PT) say T.O.S and MD say not positive for venous TOS based on maneuvers.

My symptoms:
- Have to Wear Night Splints or else I wake up with painful frozen hands
- Constant Perceived Bilateral Hand Weakness when I do where splints
- Hands / Upper Extremities go numb / tingling / Pain when talking on phone or laying flat
- Hands turn blue in certain position
- Very poor sleep quality unless I wear splints and use Neurontin (This is actually the ugliest part of this all). No sleep = No Life.


It's puzzling as their are some venous issues and some neurogenic issues. Any info on what to expect would be great. I definitely don't want someone to operate without a cause (which is one of my fears).

All the best!
Sleepy Guy

I had similar symptoms to you. The vascular surgeons are best equipped to deal with all forms of TOS, much better than neurosurgeons who generally do scalenectomies only and generally cannot perform rib resections which is sometimes necessary. Most neurosurgeons don't even treat TOS. Dean Donahue is the exception as he is a thoracic surgeon and quite capable of doing everything the vascular guys do.

Generally you will have some vascular symptoms even if it is mostly NTOS. It sounds to me like you are having arterial symptoms (cold, blue hands) in addition to NTOS.

Dr. Thompson has some great info on his website which you should read.

Just wanted to correct this. When I went to yale initially I would have needed a thoracic surgeon along with vascular surgeon. Since dr Donahue is cardiothoraciic he does the entire surgery.

NoSpam-

Thanks for the info. It looks like you had a couple surgeries. I hope you are doing well. How did they determine that the rib was causing the issue where they needed to go in and do rib section? Was it a test or process of elimination?

Thanks so much-

I had an MRA which showed my subclavian veins were occluded with my arms raised (venous TOS). I only had a partial scalenectomy (transaxial approach). I was doing much better but symptoms are now returning and I may have to return to surgery to finish the full scalenectomy (supraclavicular).