[Rhino1988]

Hello everyone,

I have been browsing this site for awhile, and reading all of your related topics on TOS. I have been diagnosed with TOS by an orthopedic specialist who has since turned me to finding a doctor that MAY do surgery.

I started with my general doctor and received x-rays, MRI, and EMGs all of both the shoulder and neck. As most of you have said, all came back normal. However my specialist in Phoenix stated that he believes I have an extra rib coming off of the C7 and probably needs to be removed along with my first rib. After testing he stated that when my arm is raised above shoulder height, my pulse decreases significantly.

He prescribed me to physical therapy which did nothing but flare my symptoms and cause increase in numbness. Now, by the time I am done brushing my teeth my arm and hand is numb.

I looked in the Sticky's for any direction of Doctors who may perform this procedure, if thats what they determine needs done. I can't find anything. I have called almost a dozen doctors and none of them perform the surgery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and hoping that someone from AZ that has had similar problems may be able to point me in the right direction.

Thanks Everyone!!

[Sheri_TOS]

Originally Posted by Rhino1988

Hello everyone,

I have been browsing this site for awhile, and reading all of your related topics on TOS. I have been diagnosed with TOS by an orthopedic specialist who has since turned me to finding a doctor that MAY do surgery.

I started with my general doctor and received x-rays, MRI, and EMGs all of both the shoulder and neck. As most of you have said, all came back normal. However my specialist in Phoenix stated that he believes I have an extra rib coming off of the C7 and probably needs to be removed along with my first rib. After testing he stated that when my arm is raised above shoulder height, my pulse decreases significantly.

He prescribed me to physical therapy which did nothing but flare my symptoms and cause increase in numbness. Now, by the time I am done brushing my teeth my arm and hand is numb.

I looked in the Sticky's for any direction of Doctors who may perform this procedure, if thats what they determine needs done. I can't find anything. I have called almost a dozen doctors and none of them perform the surgery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and hoping that someone from AZ that has had similar problems may be able to point me in the right direction.

Thanks Everyone!!

There was a member (josepentia) who saw doctors in Arizona. If I remember correctly, she had surgery on one side a few years ago. She might have had the other side done later.

You can do search for all posts by josepentia and you might find out who her surgeon was. In one of the posts, she did mention who she saw and there is one doctor she didn't recommend seeing.

Since Arizona is close to Colorado, you might consider consulting with the doctors in Denver. There's also Dr. Thomas in St. Louis, MO, and several people lately have liked Dr. Pearl (Texas?). I'm only suggesting these doctors due to the fairly close proximity to Arizona. There are other well qualified surgeons, too.

[jkl626]

Originally Posted by Rhino1988

Hello everyone,

I have been browsing this site for awhile, and reading all of your related topics on TOS. I have been diagnosed with TOS by an orthopedic specialist who has since turned me to finding a doctor that MAY do surgery.

I started with my general doctor and received x-rays, MRI, and EMGs all of both the shoulder and neck. As most of you have said, all came back normal. However my specialist in Phoenix stated that he believes I have an extra rib coming off of the C7 and probably needs to be removed along with my first rib. After testing he stated that when my arm is raised above shoulder height, my pulse decreases significantly.

He prescribed me to physical therapy which did nothing but flare my symptoms and cause increase in numbness. Now, by the time I am done brushing my teeth my arm and hand is numb.

I looked in the Sticky's for any direction of Doctors who may perform this procedure, if thats what they determine needs done. I can't find anything. I have called almost a dozen doctors and none of them perform the surgery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and hoping that someone from AZ that has had similar problems may be able to point me in the right direction.

Thanks Everyone!!

There is a Dr. Sucher in Phoenix
. He is a Rheumatologist but diagnoses TOS using ultrasound and he also has a pt he recommends. I spoke to him after I read a paper he wrote. He may know who to send you to for surgery if you need it. Good Luck.

[josepentia]

Hi there, I'm glad I checked in tonight! I had surgery done on the left side in April of 2011- and I'm 100% recovered. I live in Tucson- about to move to Nebraska actually, but my Dr in Tucson was Dr Michael Lavor and he performs the surgery at TMC. He is a FANTASTIC Dr, took my concerns seriously, did the appropriate testing, and the surgery was nothing short of flawless!! Please contact their office- Dr Lavor is currently on a deployment but will be returning shortly (he is in the Reserves and fullfilling his duty) and I'm sure that they can still have you come in for an evaluation/testing as needed. The Dr's assistants' name is Wayne- he assists in the surgeries, and he is wonderful as well- I have personally met with him during my pre-op and post op. Good luck and feel free to contact me with questions!

Jocelyn

[nukenurse]

Hi Josepentia,
I'm happy to hear of your great recovery. It gives me hope. I would like to have surgery this summer. Can you tell us if your surgery was under the armpit or above the collar bone. Also, how long before you can return to work? Thanks

[josepentia]

I had my surgery through the armpit incision, stayed over night in the hospital (though the surgery was at about 3pm and I was wheeled to my inpatient room at about 630-7) and the surgeon came in the following morning at 630am, and discharged me to go home- it was the NURSES that were too slow in getting me out of there! I was home around 11 or noon. Recovery was honestly very simple, the first few days were rough, mostly my shoulder blades hurt the most! Do a search for my previous posts to see how it all went. I wasn't working full time back then, but I can tell you that I was doing just fine at regular desk work within a week. It depends on the technique of surgery used, how well it went, how long you are in the hospital, how long you are on pain RX, and of course- what exact type of TOS the surgeon is treating in the first place. My recovery was very different than some of the posts from other members here, but we are all so very different and the above mentioned issues/circumstances really effect the outcome. HTH!
Jocelyn

[Rhino1988]

Originally Posted by jkl626

There is a Dr. Sucher in Phoenix
. He is a Rheumatologist but diagnoses TOS using ultrasound and he also has a pt he recommends. I spoke to him after I read a paper he wrote. He may know who to send you to for surgery if you need it. Good Luck.

Thanks for the help! I was actually referred over to Dr. Koopot at St. Joes and have surgery this Monday to remove first rib, scalene muscles, and have pec minor released. He feels mine is primarily being caused by the lower thoracic (pec minor), but wants to do the top as well to cover our bases.

Very knowledgeable Doctor and is part of the heart and lung division.

[josepentia]

Rhino,
How'd that surgery go? How are you doing these days?