In June 2010 I was in a Car Accident that changed my life: I was rear ended at a red light by someone going 45 mph. I was diagnosed with a sprained back and severe whiplash. I was treated by chiropractic for 8 months which only made things worse. I then started on PT for many more months that again, made things worse. In DECEMBER 2011 I was finally Diagnosed with TOS by Dr. Williams at Kerlan and Jobe. I got a right and left scalene block in Jan of 2012 and tried the Feldenkrais Method of PT through March 2012. The PT helped my posture but also caused more pain. I started on a new PT with weight lifting because I desperately wanted to get back in the gym. I got about a month of relief in 2012 from the block with the weight lifting and then the pain was back. Omg. So...I got another R & L Scalene block done in December of 2012. Dr. Williams said that because i got some relief, it meant it was worth trying again. I was in and out of the gym this whole time because my job relies on being fit. But every day, I was in pain, including now. I got about another month of relief from the second set of blocks and now I am back to square 1. I got botox injections 2 weeks ago as a last resort before surgery but now I can't lift my head to even wash my face. I am so over being in pain and I am scared that this is going to be the rest of my life. i am going back to Dr. Williams today to find out why the heck I can't life my head. After this last scare with the botox, I have decided to put off surgery, it's just too scary, plus I have TOS in both the right and left sides. I am hoping that I can find a good therapist to who specializes in Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Does anyone have a success story with a PT or Chiro In LA? I live in the Valley, so closer is always helpful. I just want to be healed of this already! I am early 30's and afraid I will have to live with this chronic pain for the rest of my life. Any advice is highly appreciated.

I really suggest stopping the gym work, it just aggravates the problem.. maybe in time you could go back to it, maybe not..
a good quick walking pace/treadmill can help to maintain fitness.

Did the PT or chiro , or MD even mention spasms, trigger points, top rib mobilization?
Any use of ultrasound, low level laser, Interferential ( IF) stimulation?

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread125577.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread135.html

There are a few members from parts of CA.

If PT was doing the usual standard protocol, it will make TOS worse, we can't be rushed into aggressive stretches or weights.
If any trigger points - those must be resolved before anything else will help for the long term. Same for spasms no use forcing a muscle to stretch when it is already " freaking out" LOL

It all takes gentle baby steps to move forward, pushing thru WILL set you back..

I'm not sure about locations but these are in orange county CA posted by nospam member
http://andoaston.com/
http://www.niren-angle.com/
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread165979.html

Hi - Bechtel Physical Therapy in Sherman Oaks is good. I saw a PT there named Jeff Loox who was very helpful and knowledgable about TOS. Phone number: 818.990.0267 / Fax number: 818.990.0261. Good luck!!

Alison

I was a patient of Dr. Williams as well. If you want non-surgical treatment your best bet is Dr. Sheldon Jordan. Just be prepared to pay out of pocket and your insurance may or may not reimburse a portion.

Sounds like Williams used too much Botox or bad placement resulting in paralysis of muscles that hold your head up.

I had a similar reaction to the botox except it was my shoulder and neck that was frozen and I couldnt use my arm. it went away tho after a few weeks. I am also in L.A. and saw Dr. williams but then picked Dr. Jordan as my main Dr. yes he is expensive but a great diagnostician.In terms of Pt's.I swa Joyce wilkinson first but was not improving then , I saw Dr. Ando in O county-for 9 months and he helped me tremendously-by adjusting my ribs mostly. Now I am trying Dr. Lider Chan who Dr. Jordan recommended . He is in Westwood. More of traditional modalitities but sees alot of patients with TOS. He is starting me gently on pilates exercises but this is after more than a year of treatment. DOnt lift weights or do anything that hurts! I also do trigger point injections with Dr. Aufiero at Orthohealing in W. L.A. and that helps me alot. You can read my thread : JKL"S Journery or how I saw all the Dr's in L.A. for more in depth info.

I saw a chiro, Paul Methot, whom you can find on yelp. He was very helpful. He does soft tissue work and uses the Activator tool for adjustments which is fairly agreeable. He was very knowledgeable and very aware of first rib adjustments and other issues.

He didn't cure my TOS. But then no one has.

Well, I just started seeing a new Chiro and he was able to see that my neck has a major reverse curvature from my car accident. So, no amount of doctors, therapy, or injections were going to help, because my neck is so jacked up. The good news is, that I finally have hope. The doc said, that if I can get the neck curve back to normal, then it could help my tos pain. Why did none of the other 12 doctors I saw for the last 3 years notice this? It's crazy folks, but do not give up. This could change my life. I will keep you all posted.

My diagnosing physician was Dr. Williams also. Im grateful for his knowledge, determination and proactive with the insurance company demanding my needs. My treating TOS physician is also Dr Jordan who was recommended right here by other patients back in 2008 when a Bilateral Decompression of the Brachial Plexus did not help. Dr. J provides a 50% discount for cash patient's since he no longer accepts Medicare and private ins. But does still accept Worker's Comp patient's. I have had blocks and Botox since 2008. Dr. Jordan uses ultrasound with his pain procedures so there is no second guessing, can view for scar tissue and blood clots.

Being in the OC my PT is local in Yorba Linda.