I was told (last week when I made my own upcoming appt) that Dr Brantigan won't talk on the phone, only in the office. Dr Sanders won't schedule an appt without talking to you first and askign a bunch of qestions....

I think both are a pretty long was from down under, though, In which case I think both would probably talk to you on the phone.

Johanna

If a doctor, a good doctor doesn't have any medical information of a "maybe" patient in front of him it's hard for any doctor to comment on that patient. Also, a lot of TOS information a doctor gleams is from a physical exam. That makes it hard to do over the phone.

He has nurses that can answer any questions if you have them. He not only does TOS surgery but is a vascular trauma surgeon too and spends many hours in the OR with trauma patients. He's the doc the ER calls when there are life and death issues.

He's so well known for successful TOS surgeries many people who might see him want to talk about their case before they go see him. Which no doctor can do unless all they do is talk to patients and not take care of those they already have.

If one calls and sends their medical information there is a chance the docs might call, at the very least the nurses will. But don't let the fact the docs won't chat stop you from making an appointment with them. The Denver docs are all very busy.

Johanna,
Over the years I have had the chance to talk to many doctors, before seeing them. (Not all, as in referrals) Whether we were to be a patient or not for helpful information before making costly trips, advice and other help.

I know one forum friend that did make the decision to go out without a phone consult and totally wasted her money as the surgeon would not do anything.
The reasons stated why, could have have been discussed and resolved with a phone consult and faxed records reviewed. The person felt like they should have donated their money to charity and had more use.

So from my personal opinion and experiance, I would feel better when traveling and investing a lot of money in a visit with a doctor I want one that will review and and consult first. As I said that is my choice. I am sure others would go sight unseen.

I was lucky enough to speak with Dr. Fried, Dr.Annest and his staff was helpful. Dr. Schwartzman was accessable. Our friend DDaymmb, I know spoke with Dr Sanders before his trip, and Dr. Sanders called after his trip. This helps both the doctor know if you are a case he can help, or not, and if you feel comfortable in your decision to further pursue the trip.

Julie from Texas has a flight delay flying into our area to see Dr. Togut and he made arrangements when her flight got in to come back to the office.
I find TOS specialists' that are this dedicated are the strong advocates.

Good luck with your decisions,
Dianne

Just a reminder - Ozzy is not in the USA - he needs help finding a good dr in Australia.

ozzy14
New Member

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia

OH Ozzy - beth posted a link for finding vascular docs-
http://www.vascularweb.org/Software/...ntry=Australia

I am not complaining and I understand the rational both ways...just mentioning how each one handled my phone call last week.
Johanna

Just a bit of info. When I made arrangements to see Dr Brantigan I had to send all my films mri's etc first. I was told I would have 3d cat scan and know within 5 days the results.
He was very thorough in my examination. I was sent to Jason at Asbaugh Therapy to be evaluated also.
I was told I do have TOS vascular on right side. But we would know better after the 3d catscan was read. Instead of 5 days, I finally got a call with the results 6 weeks later. My cat scan showed more compression than first believed.
I was to complete 6 mos of therapy,& make job modicications.
I did the reccommended therapy for 4 mos at which time I had more & different neuro symptoms. At the advice of my therapist, I tried contacting Dr B. to find out what we should do.
In the mean time I quit working due to pain. I developed terrible pain in my rib cage and was seeing a pain doc with all the different meds. (long list) By christmas my right hand seemed to be lighter color than my left which really scared me. And my pain was worsening.
I tried calling and sending emails again to Dr. B. again with no luck. His staff always was very curteous and said he'd call but he didn't. I was very hurt.
I finally got a letter from him 3 months after my initial call. He thought maybe I should return to be reevaluated again.
I liked Dr B alot. A simple phone call to me would have helped me alot. But I had to go see another vasc surgeon close to home in Feb. I cannot afford to fly out there everytime I have new symptoms.
I have spoken to Dr Sanders twice by phone. Once last year and again last month. Just my opinion but if I decide to have surgery in Denver it will be with Sanders. His patients that I have talked to praise his followups.

I had several of the same problems---C5-6 and C6-7 bulging disks along with TOS. My Doctor made me have facet joint injections in my neck to see if the problems were more from my neck or TOS. That might be one more thing for you to try.....

The injections did not help me other than allowing me a little more motion in my neck. The rest of my symptoms remained unchanged. I ended up having TOS surgery and TOS re-do surgery a year later.

You also have to understand WHY doctors like this may not have called. Here's a clue. If you sent emails explaining what was wrong, and it was something the Doc couldn't and wouldn't DX or treat over the phone, why is that so hard to understand, then not see this doc because of it?

When there's a doctor with as many TRAUMA surgeries as he has all day and night it isn't always easy to get back to a patient that's why doctor's like himself rely on the nurses to help out.

If the patient expects the doctor in any field of surgery to call when any patient wants them too or needs them too the doctor would never have time to do what he has to do, save lives. If the other docs call you back, maybe they just aren't as busy as Doc B is.

Sometimes it depends on the patient and what was done. If it isn't an emergency issue, it may take longer to get back to them.

I work in medicine and I would never, and have never expected Doc B or any surgeon to call back patients. I would expect the nurses to do so. If that isn't something a patient wants to have happen then he isn't the doc to see. If you want terrific results post op, YES see him! He has the best number for post op success stories.

Phone skills isn't the thing I want in any doctor I see. It's there medical and surgical skills that impress most people.

Not all docs have the time to call back. Internal med docs, peds docs, OBGYN docs do. Not surgeons. It's rare that the actual surgeon calls patients back most of the time it's his nurses who will take the orders the docs give them for that patient. So it's not like the doc isn't seeing the information. Maybe some offices do it differently but that doesn't make that doc better then the next. Post up results do.

Remember, docs shouldn't DX over the phone. If docs do this, I would rethink seeing that doc.

To add one more comment, the trouble with traveling to see any doctor let alone someone that a special surgery like the Denver docs do, is that if you can commit to traveling back and forth at least a few times either for a DX and or surgery and or a follow up then yes, go out of state for care, any type of care. If one is unable to go back for treatment, follow up or if there is something wrong, then don't go.

It would be a shame to pass on a chance of successful surgery because patients may have a preconceived idea of what follow up consists of.

Just my opinion.

I just shows that everyone has their own preferences and needs when it comes to doctors.

but the main topic is about helping ozzy in Australia.

quote
[I returned to the surgeon (spinal surgeon) who organised the tests and he referred me to a "hand surgeon" who has a interest in thoracic outlet syndrome.

I seen the hand surgeon who stated that she could remove cervical rib but success rate for surgery was not very high & very painfull. She had only performed one other surgery similar to this. (Probably because she was a hand surgeon!)

She sent me back to original surgeon (spinal surgeon) and he sent me off to physiotherapy for 9 months. I have since stopped going to physio due to very little improvement. I havnt seen anyone since. My local Dr just provides me with pain relief like Panadeine forte.

My big question is this. Should I be on some other meds??? Does anyone use anti inflamatories? Do they work?

What about the Dr situation? Should I be seeing someone else?

I hear a lot of posts about other treatments scalene, botox etc. None of this has been mentioned to me. I just take meds (that rarely work) and hope for the best.

Any advice would be beneficial.]
[i have nerves/arteries/veins involved with a set of extra cervical ribs]

I posted a link for the VascularWeb.org's site find-a-doctor- page - you can look up Vascular Drs. in US, Canada and overseas - including Australia! I'll bump it up again and hope Ozzy spots it this time. Jo, can we add this to the Useful websites as well?

I was fortunately able to speak with both Dr Brantigan and Dr Annest by phone before going to Denver, and it really helped with my decision, mostly because they have different philosophies when it comes to patients with RSD. I'd be happy to share more about my experience in Denver by PM; it might be a couple-3 days before I reply but I will get back to you!

beth