Hi I was just told I needed a scalene reduction. I'm in Orange County CA. Going to UCLA for a MRI/A/V. Any suggestions on surgeon. Has anyone had this procedure done at UCLA?

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Hi,
What kind of symptoms are you having? Vascular, nerve, both?
What is your avg pain level in a day?

We may have some self help ideas that might help you feel better.


Scalene reduction?

Did they clearly tell you the reason why, and how it will be a good thing for you?
Any other options, PT chiropractic, etc?

Hi and thanks for all the info.
Short version
Diagnosed neurogenic TOS in 2007 bilateral SSEP positive 2009 by nudleman in Santa Ana
Became coach potato
Started to get pulsating Tinnitus and venous hum which has taken over my life.
So decided to figure out why. Had cerebral angiogram found cerebral aneurysm which was clipped last year. Still have tinnitus and now syncope.
Found Collins at UCLA. Talked to him and he said there was connection between TOS and tinnitus. So he sent me to Dr Lawrence Miller. Doppler ultrasound showed damage to scalene and vertebral occlusion with arm extension.
Miller suggested PT but thought a scalene reduction was necessary. Have appt for MRI/v/A with Collins and just made appt with Ando (Wu) for PT in Anaheim hills. Who does everyone recommend at Ando PT?
Pain is 0 - 10 depends on what I have done in past few days.
So arterial TOS is new diagnosis.

Tic2,

Thanks for sharing your history, I recommend Dr. Art Ando to be seen first and then Dr.James Sposa, they both do different kind of mobilizing but very necessary stuff. I always make my appointments with both of them whenever I travel to LA but in that order if possible. Hope that helps. Mine was/is bilateral arterial TOS too. Still doing great on right side(scalenectomy 2002), left getting much better with (scalenectomy 2010) and really good PT.
What did Dr. Collins say about Tinnitus, will it get resolved with the surgery or is it a totally different matter?
Good luck with your appts Please post once you have your visits.

Collins says Tinnitus is connected toTOS
Hard to post - too much pain
I'll try later

Dr. Hugh Gelabert
UCLA Gonda Vascular Center
200 UCLA Medical Plaza Suite 510-6
Los Angeles, CA 90095-6908
310-206-6294
FAX: 310-206-3885
Website: www.surgery.medsch.ucla.edu/asp/doctors.asp

The UCSD Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

My recommendation...give PT with Ando and Spousa a try before opting for surgery.

I second Marc's recommendation. I used to have a lot of scalene pain even after my scalenectomy(2010). After few visits to Dr. Ando and Dr. Sposa in Anaheim hills, they have been able to help me tremendously with my scalene pain along with the couple exercises that they have taught me.
It's really worth giving them a try first before you think surgery. ( I am not against surgery if it is needed further along the way.) Surgery definitely does not fix everything, but these people are masters at what the surgeons can't fix, in my case and opinion. I can't recommend Ando and Aston highly enough. I travelled from Northern Cal to see them and it was worth every mile. Good Luck!

I also have a thread on Ando and Aston on this forum, if you would like to read it.

Thanks for your reply. I found Ando and Astons name on this forum. Called today for appt.
Does anyone have pulsating tinnitus or venous hum? It is literally. Driving me crazy.

I don't know if those are the same or similar to a bruit?

For a long time I had a whooshing/pulse like sound that I could hear inside my head, very annoying... mine was the worst during times of severe spasms.
Some nights it was like an old time train running thru my head chug a chug all night long..

My chiro was the one that actually told me the name of those sounds.
Luckily he was able to resolve those bad spasms, took about 2 months and then my top ribs were stuck in a raised position from the spasms..
An adv PT guy found that and dropped them down, and then chiro followed up after as they tried to raise every once in awhile.

But all has been pretty good for about 4 years now.