So I had a talk with him and he said it would be as simple as 3-4 days of 8 hour sessions and that's it.

Now of course to someone who is desperate like me, this sounds like the Mecca of healing. I can't be objective about this, I want my life back, who doesn't?

Needless to say it would be a very expensive "adventure" and if it doesn't work? I haven't even tried PT or anything else, I guess I am simply very impatient. I want it over like....yesterday...if possible.

Do I go to Chicago? Do I go live with some Buddhist monks who can teach me about patience?

Doe she give any kind of guarantee?

I just don't know how he can say that only by talking with someone and not actually seeing a person in person..and doing an assessment..

IMO it nearly always takes time to get a handle on these kinds of injury/conditions..

Did you add up the total costs of travel, food, hotel and his fees for that kind of time frame work?
Did he give any fee or pall bark cost for that kind of treatment?

I'd do that first off - just to see if it is in your ball park or not..

I don't know what to think about this guy.
8 hours a day of body work for 4 days seems pretty intense on the body.
And, promising a "cure".....just seems sketchy to me.

I have been to many highly reputable doctors and they just don't make promises like that...

How much is he charging you?

It is very expensive, I think with travel, food, hotel etc it would be about 6-7k. If somebody could really cure me in 4 days, I guess it would be worth it no matter if you can afford it or not.

The question is...if TOS could be cured in 4 days there wouldn't be a person in this world suffering for months or years, right?

And how would the body be able to handle 8 hours of deep tissue massage, for 3-4 days in a row?

I am wondering...is he willing to connect you with some of his previous patients so that you could discuss your questions/concerns with them??

When I told Dr. Jason Lee that I was scared of the TOS surgery, he offered to connect me with some of his previous patients so that I could discuss my questions/concerns with them. Now, of course, he is only going to connect me with someone who had a successful outcome...but still.... it shows he does have some successful outcomes and was willing to help me connect to another patient to get a patient perspective on it.

All I can say is some things will work for some people , and some things won't... I know that doesn't help you decide though...


my best suggestion is to do lots of web searches for pts of his and try to get any direct info story from them..

OMG, after 20 years, No Way!!!!! Can the mechanisms behind TOS be cure in 4 days. The expense to, run, keep your cash. There is really nothing that doc is going to do you can't find with your own treatments. Know what causes your flares and reduces the pain.

Biofeedback back can be learned with medical coverage for psych that deals with chronic pain patients, or a great PT that massages, heat, Biofreeze ultra sound, TENs, being proactive to avoid flares of type A, personalities.

Many people that end up with TOS. Have an injury or anomalies. If the injury does not go away in a few months, such as a whiplash, then it is a long term issue.

Half of society has short fibrous bands that hold up the neck, repetitive activities, an injury, extra cervical ribs, larger ribs, many things could be in place only to be ignited from TOS incited flare.

The spasms of the muscles are trying to protect nerves. They are creating splints. That is why there are compressing tight spasms. Some things help loosen them, but the nerve is STILL flared!

Some meds, take away the activity that causes flares, massage, hot tub, Biofreeze, the modifications to your life help reduce or put into remission the flares. I use Valium for spasms as needed, pain meds as needed, trigger points, but more so....my maintenance plan is cervical epidural in the C/5 hump on the back of my neck.

The daily control then is the traps, the butcher knife in my back, and hands/wrists.

I have heard in our family twice from docs with statements to fix or cure...they have no idea what they are dealing with. This is not a sprain or typical spasm! They can do, and did so much harm it was breath taking looking back on it. But, when you hurt so bad, you pay anything to feel better.

I saw one on Judge Judy the other day. The woman signed the contract, he took the money, no where in the contract did he "state" cure. Promise to feel better, then you do have a response noted in the office records you left happy and feeling better...contract fulfilled. It is not cure, your best friend could rub your neck and shoulders apply a heating pad and you will feel better.

My dd was sent to PT early in her injury....as the top PT massaged her, he could feel the spasms travel, across to the other side, down her neck and her arms pulled up in pain to her chest.

Instantly she worsened never to even get to the point prior to that visit. THAT is how a typical PT can manage to escalate you, not understanding the mechanisms and feel your body responding, TOS specialist treat you with kid gloves, not promises.
Would you take a chance to lose that money and feel more pain?

Run, go to plan B. a physiatrist may be the best doc for now until you know if you are getting better or worse.
I do hope you find help, but concerning is the promises or statements said.

Sorry for typos, hands are cringing after holiday a activities took a toll.

I have never been diagnosed with TOS but the title of your thread caught my attention so I read all the posts to date. I found each and every one of them extremely interesting and very good points made by each poster.

My gut reaction when I read the thread title and your first comment was to say RUN, RUN AWAY as fast as you can. I am sorry but from what you have said in your posts, this guy sounds like he is selling snake oil to me. Maybe he has helped some people but maybe that was a fluke. Maybe they would have gotten better without him. Again, I am not well versed about TOS but it just sounds "fishy" and "too good to be true" to me. Just my opinion.

After starting PT and chiro and seeing how sore and painful everything is, I am now 100% sure that I could not have handles 8 hours a day of massage if that were indeed the cure.

Glad common sense won the fight.

I'm a former patient of Dr. Stoxen.


He is a chiropractor working on a probationary license with the illinois dept of financial and professional regulations. He has been disciplined several times. That is public record.
Google it. I put the link on but had to remove it since I'm a newbie here.


He hides his license on the wall cuz it's not active. Red flag......

Sigh......


And no he did not cure me in a few days. I could go on and on but the bottom line is I regret ever going to him and wasting my time and
money. he is knowledgable but extremely unprofessional in his comments and actions. he violated hippaa so Many times. (He trash talks other patients) .

I had that massage Assist machine. it was okay . he tried to get me to buy it.