[PittsburghTOSser]

I was on this board years ago - 04 thru 06 (guessing). I don't even remember my name before - might have been Lady Parrot.

I was dx'd 12/26/04 by Dr Togut with neurogenic TOS and have been seeing Dr. Nelson in Johnstown for pain management since 05. Due to a recent illness he unexpectedly closed his practice. So I find myself back to square one looking for a doctor who will treat me - I am not a surgical candidate (nor do I want surgery). I've been managing well with a mix of pain meds/muscle relaxers, stretching, self trigger point therapy, etc. All the doctors I've called so far, either won't even see me or only do injections. Does anyone know of a TOS knowledgable doctor (not surgeon) in the Pittsburgh area? I traveled 2 hrs one way to see Dr. Nelson because there weren't any 7 yrs. If I have to travel up to 50 miles I can.

[Jomar]

Hi there,
Yes, I recall a LadyParrot or ParrotLady ?? from the past.
And the location seems right so it must be you...

Check out our Drs & Pts sticky thread, maybe some names are nearby for you.

I had some great luck with an excellent & multi skilled chiropractor.

I hope some of the members in the area can suggest some names for you too.

[jkl626]

Originally Posted by PittsburghTOSser

I was on this board years ago - 04 thru 06 (guessing). I don't even remember my name before - might have been Lady Parrot.

I was dx'd 12/26/04 by Dr Togut with neurogenic TOS and have been seeing Dr. Nelson in Johnstown for pain management since 05. Due to a recent illness he unexpectedly closed his practice. So I find myself back to square one looking for a doctor who will treat me - I am not a surgical candidate (nor do I want surgery). I've been managing well with a mix of pain meds/muscle relaxers, stretching, self trigger point therapy, etc. All the doctors I've called so far, either won't even see me or only do injections. Does anyone know of a TOS knowledgable doctor (not surgeon) in the Pittsburgh area? I traveled 2 hrs one way to see Dr. Nelson because there weren't any 7 yrs. If I have to travel up to 50 miles I can.

Are you looking for PT or Pain Management? Or Both I have several lists I can give you-How far are you from Ohio?

[PittsburghTOSser]

Originally Posted by jkl626

Are you looking for PT or Pain Management? Or Both I have several lists I can give you-How far are you from Ohio?

Just pain management. When I was first dx'd I went thru two rounds (a few months each) of PT at two different places, before I quit working. It made me worse. It started out just on my left side. By the time PT was done with me, it was on my right side too.

It spends on what part of Ohio. I'm about an hour from the Ohio line. I actually grew up in the Akron/Canton area and still have family there. That's about 2 1/2 hours from me.

[PittsburghTOSser]

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

Hi there,
Yes, I recall a LadyParrot or ParrotLady ?? from the past.
And the location seems right so it must be you...

Check out our Drs & Pts sticky thread, maybe some names are nearby for you.

I had some great luck with an excellent & multi skilled chiropractor.

I hope some of the members in the area can suggest some names for you too.

Hi Jo - yes it's me. Lady Parrot. I found an old thread where I was chatting with DiMarie. I just don't recall my password and I'm fairly certain my email has changed, since Comcast bought out Adelphia since then.

The Doctor sticky was the first place I went. Hasnt changed since I was here before. Dr Togut, who dx'd me and helped with WC & SSD has retired (I traveled 7 hrs one way to see him. What a God send he was for me. Dr Gupta and Dr Rhee are both thoracic surgeons - I'm not interested in seeing any surgeon.

No offense to anyone who has had surgery and it worked out for them. I'm happy for you. But at my age and being bilateral, that's just not anything I would consider. Since I quit working, I've been managing pretty good with meds & my own exercises, etc. I just cannot believe that in a city the size of Pittsburgh it is so difficult to find a Dr that understands TOS and can offer more than just a surgical referal or lidocaine injection.

[astern]

Originally Posted by PittsburghTOSser

I just cannot believe that in a city the size of Pittsburgh it is so difficult to find a Dr that understands TOS and can offer more than just a surgical referal or lidocaine injection.

Welcome back, I remember you LadyParrot/PittsburghTOSser! 2004 was when I was having my surgeries for bi-lateral cervical-ribs and extra scalene. 2005 I had the pec minors cut.

Yeah, hard to believe every big city doesn't have a TOS expert. Once you know tho - you are better off, because one is left with no alternative than to hire the best!

Anne

[PittsburghTOSser]

Originally Posted by astern

Welcome back, I remember you LadyParrot/PittsburghTOSser! 2004 was when I was having my surgeries for bi-lateral cervical-ribs and extra scalene. 2005 I had the pec minors cut.

Yeah, hard to believe every big city doesn't have a TOS expert. Once you know tho - you are better off, because one is left with no alternative than to hire the best!

Anne

Hi Anne! I think I remember your handle. So how did the surgeries work out for you? Well all the best have retired in my area it seems. I went out of area to see Dr. Togut. I was still working then. Cannot afford to go out of area again

[astern]

Originally Posted by PittsburghTOSser

Hi Anne! I think I remember your handle. So how did the surgeries work out for you?

I think the surgeries worked out well, considering the size of the ribs and complications/abnormalities I had. I anticipate a redo just to clean up scar tissue. I'll never be the same, but I had already reached that point before surgeries.

The hardest thing for me is to keep pacing myself. I want to do more - lift more, type more, clean more. But More is bad and does no good for me physically. Staying out of pain is a full time job that most of my family still doesn't 'get'.

[DiMarie]

Familiar names lady parrot, following your saga on face book, I think whatapain is out your way too. Astern, gosh what a group of old timers,some back to the 1990's.
same ole, same ole?
I really miss our chats. Dabbo, Shelly, Peg i get to see when we are in Fl. So sad how many new folks here with TOS diagx.

I miss Dr. T. Last visit was one of the last patients he saw, cried almost the whole visit.
Really needed to see some familiar names, sad about he challenging issues. My son has ACDF surgery recently from a portable scaffold collapse. We have been fighting soc sec for years.
My baby is now a high school Jr. So that is how long it's been.
Di