So I was told by the neuro that I am completely normal. EMG Negative! This cracks me up as that test was done to both of my arms but yet I left the with only one arm with total nerve pain. It heightened all of my pain. I would say it was just the test if my other arm hurt too....yeah it doesn't....but it's not nerve pain. I just don't understand this test. I have had five of them and they all have been negative yet I have had eight nerves corrected and it has relieved all my symptoms except some numbness and pain when the weather is bad. Normal stuff after a nerve surgery. I am being referred on to vascular. Maybe it's vascular too but I am sure it is nerve. I mean give me the benefit of the doubt...yes you have a medical degree but I have lived in this body for 40 years I know a thing or two about it. I am so tired of dealing with neurologists if it's not there in black and white it doesn't exist! I have been dealing with nerve crap for 13 years I just can't do it anymore. I am so tired of being told I don't have nerve pain or pain in general or that it's stress or I am nuts. I think I am just going to cancel that appointment I just can't hear a no again....afraid I might go postal in his office....lol! Nobody in my life gets it or understands what it feels like to be in constant pain. Having one of those days where I just want to cut myself off from the world.....After PT I am pulling the covers up over my head Yes, I am bitter and angry party of one

According to some of the top TOS guys, an emg doesn't mean anything if it is negative. Mine was negative BTW. It only means something if it's positive. My mom's was positive and she has neuropathy. I still have TOS even with a negative EMG.

My NC/EMG was negative. It doesn't mean a thing with TOS! It should only be used to rule out other issues. Iris is completely correct.

So with a negative emg and minimal to no arterial compression found via a Doppler study, do many people pursue surgery if they are in severe pain?

Yes. If the symptoms suggest TOS and everything else is ruled out many people pursue surgery for a chance at reduced pain. Many NTOS sufferers go in blind which is why it has a lower success rate. In a good chunk of those cases, TOS was never the actual problem so the scalenectomy or first rib resection wouldn't have done them any good. But you can't "see" NTOS so it's a calculated risk.

Prior to my two surgeries, I had x-rays, EMG, CT scan, nerve conduction study, vascular study, and a vascular ultrasound - everything came back normal aside from the vascular study, and I still had symptoms. I had tried PT twice with two different providers, and both said they could not assist me. That's when I decided surgery was the best option...I'm 26 and didn't want to live a life where I couldn't open a jam jar, carry my groceries, do my make up, etc.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions.