Did you find the TOS sticky threads? Drs & PTs, Triggerpoint, useful info? I suggest reading those as sort of a crash course for TOS and therapies.

Did PTs, or any one, look for trigger points that might be some of the problem?
Triggerpoints and soft tissue "stickiness" can be a big cause of many sx & pain.
I think that can be some of the reason why some surgery outcomes are poor.
They might be able to remove some adhesions during surgery, but not all, and it can return in time.

Ok I will check it out. I'm going in to see Dr. Brown tomorrow morning

Hi fdup- just saw your post. I am in L.A. and went through all the dr's. I have also had symptoms for 2 years and 1 year diagnosed. Read my Thread:
JKL'S TOS Journey or How I am seeing all the doctors in L.A.

Most of these Dr's you listed are not surgeons- Better to look on the threads hee than to go by the internet. Dr. Jordan is one of my dr's. He is a good neuro and TOS pain dr. but expensive. I had the scalene block test and botox with him and I may do some other injections. I also see a pain dr. at Orthohealing in L.A. for Trigger pt injections. Have you done PT? I have had good luck with Dr. Ando in OC but he is far. i will be trying some new ones up here.

I saw all three surgeons here in L.A. last year and decided againt surgery for now. I saw Dr. Williams, Dr Filler and Dr. Jordan for Diagnosis -they are all TOS nonsurgical neurologists and decided to go with him. Dr. Knight is a hand surgeon and not a TOS specialist. I second Marcs opinion on Dr. Filler.

Surgeons here in L.A.:

Dr. Gelabart-UCLA
Dr. Ahn-Westwood
Dr. Mckenna-Cedars

In O.C.-Dr. Angle

San Diego- Dr. Brown
Dr. Braun-

These are all vascular surgeons except Dr. Brown. The neurologists only will do scalenectomy - and if there is any need to take out the first rib- they will have to get a vascular surgeon to come in. There was a patient on this forum who this happened to-

let us know how your appt goes.

Hey JKL thanks for the info. I just saw Dr. Brown today and he gave me my first official TOS diagnosis. He'd like to perform a scalenectomy and as you and others have said, won't do anything with the ribs. He said if he finds that something is going on with the ribs during surgery he will be able to do it, but will wait until the next surgery to do so. Yikes..

I'm seeing a vascular surgeon named Dr. Clark Fuller tomorrow and then Dr. Angle on Monday. Also Mayo Clinic just admitted me but the appointment isn't until May, so I'm going to see if there's anything I can do to get that bumped up.

How did you find Dr. Clark Fuller? Let us know how it goes.

I think I found Dr. Fuller by searching something along the lines of "Los Angeles TOS Vascular Surgeon".

I just got back from his office and had a very different experience. He said that he doesn't have enough information to conclude TOS. He did not look at any of my imaging and instead kept insisting on reports only- I didn't have my brachial plexus MRI report with me, just the CD. Also, his exam of me lasted about 30 seconds and did not believe he found anything, compared with Dr. Brown's half hour that he spent with me leading him to in fact find something. Upon leaving, he told me to send him my reports and also my MR Neurography report after I get it done this Friday. I won't be returning.

Tomorrow I'm seeing USC Vascular surgeon Dr. Fred Weaver. My orthopedic doctor sent me to him after I sent him an e-mail yesterday with my new diagnosis from Dr. Brown.

I believe Weaver treats more vascular cases than neurogenic. Here are some old posts:
neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=17070
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...555#post100555

I havn't heard of Weaver or Fuller.Where is Fuller? Make sure they are very experienced with TOS before you let them do surgery. I would recommend Dr Gelabart or Dr. Angle.

Fuller is in private practice I believe at an office at Robertson and Wilshire. Seeing Angle next week. Also I just got an appointment at Mayo Clinic for May 7

I just got back from Dr. Weaver at USC. He found my lack of pulse when holding my arm up and back. He said that he thinks its TOS and ordered a scalene block to confirm. He strongly advised against doing a lone scalenectomy because he believes full removal of both scalene and first rib is the most sure way to relieve compression. He wants to see the results of my scalene block and believes we should proceed to surgery. Just another option!

Next up is MR Neurography tomorrow and then Angle on Monday. Also calling Mayo Clinic every day to see if they will bump up my appointment