I've read most of the TOS postings and know that quite a few people have negative EMGs, etc. How did you get an official diagnosis?

My WC Dr. just called & told me my EMG was negative. I don't see how that is possible since my pinkie & ring finger are numbish & shake constantly. Then again, the technician who did the EMG was very snotty about it being a work injury - apparently she thought TOS was entirely congenital. No idea where I should go from here. The p/t says I have TOS.

He's sending me back to work Monday. My husband thinks I should just quit.

i don't think we ever actually get diagnosed with TOS.

i first heard about it, actually right when i got it, which was by a physical therapist who said that is what she thought it was. her remedy: improve posture.

i was in the workers comp system and they refused to pay her so i stopped going to her.

i ended up just quitting because it was just a temporary job out of college.

i recommend that NO ONE use the workers comp system. if you have your own insurance, you will be more likely to be heard (not that you will be heard though) about your TOS.

i had one doctor flat out tell me that he is very reluctant to operate on workers comp cases. non workers comp cases (as mine finally was), he was ready to cut me right there!

by the way, my understanding is that TOS does not show up on EMG. my EMG is perfect. even when i was compeltely debilitated, it was perfect.

Thank you!

How debilitated were/are you?

I lived in Mpls many years ago- it was a lovely city.

TOS & WC is a very tricky thing..hard enough to get good & timely treatment with pvt ins... wc is a real pain.. mainly because it is so hard to dx & prove.

If you go forward with a wc injury claim...
Have you sought out a very good WC atty to represent you?

If your symptoms & pain levels are low/moderate or intermittent and you can afford to get by with 1 income for an extended amount of time, by all means quit, just to save your sanity.
Your new job will be focusing on your health & healing.

I did the wc thing, up to a point, but wasn't majorly disabled for the long term, like some that have posted in the past. I was recovering being off work & doing much self care & chiropractic & adv PT, which I found on my own, not thru the wc system.
I was only majorly disabled for a couple months - barely could brush my teeth, & trouble with other bathroom things
Barely could cook or clean...
I did get some decent PT so luckily those worst things resolved, but was still limited as to uses/time.

EMG pretty much just rules out that there is definite nerve damage already happening when it is positive.


What type of job do you do?

i compeltely rested after quitting my job and went in to a non computer work job. it has bought me time but slowly it is all returning. i limit this and i limit that. i am getting to the point where there is nothing left to cut out of my life and it is all catching up with me. i am trying to solve this once and for all.

considering surgery but want to exhaust all options before doing so. i cannot find a pt that knows about tos (well, they all say they do but they only make me worse).

every doc i have been too as told me there is no such thing as conservative treatment that will actually work. BUT, the websites say there is. in fact, some say most people are cured by conservative treatment.

my next stop is my personal trainer to help me with posture. i have been to every health care type of person imagininable.

Hi Holles, I actually found out I had TOS after blood clots formed in my chest and arm turned blue and swollen. The Vascular surgeon I met at the hospital though, confirmed his suspicions of TOS on the CT scan. He could see the area in the scalene triangle was too small. If you have not had CT scan may be worth the shot, since no tests will actually show compression. I know its not a common test and take a TOS savvy dr to see. Not really sure. So sorry for your pain and frustration! Lauren

Holles Don't give up. I was diagnosed after a clot in my subclavian vein moved to my lung. The first vascular surgeon I went to see said I had TOS but didnt do much in the way of test's for a more formal dx with all the facts. Check the doctors list above to find a Dr close to you. You might find that a neurologist useful also to check on the nerves as well. Good luck. Your not alone there are many of us who have been on the TOS round about.