Curby,
I don't see a message in my folder. Perhaps I am too new of a member to get PMs?

It was sent thru forum as an email to whatever email address you registered with.

Also resent as private message, check both again.

Oh I see, in that case if something conclusive like that shows on imaging then
surgery might be indicated..
I hadn't seen that information or missed it..

Were you shown the images and was it pointed out to you?

I don't know if PT could fix that

Hi Junior, I just saw your post and wanted to respond right away. I am also in L.A. and also in the "Industry" I am a set designer and sit at a drafting table 10 hours a day. You can read my thread to get more of a picture but unfortunately I have been dealing with TOS for almost 3 years. I have seen many PT's and all 3 surgeons in L.A. who do TOS. I did not care for Dr. Ahn myself , I just went for a consultation, but if he does the pec minor tenomoty that is a good sign, and not as invasive as the other surgeries. I dont know if the other dr's here do that. I would defintley get a second or Third opinion and not rush into the surgery. I really liked Dr. Gelabart at UCLA, conservative but very trustworthy and knowledgeable.Also there is a new one at UCLA Dr DiRobertis that was recommended by another Dr. I also saw Dr. Mckenna at Cedars. Dr. Ahn wanted to do an angiogram on me and 2 other people on this forum. My TOS is neruogenic mostly so I didnt think an angiogram would help. I have seen numerous PT's, acupuncturists etc in L.A. The best I have found by far is Dr. Ando in Orange County. I just went back to him today after almost a year and he is a genius.

I am curious who your favote PT is? You are welcome to P.M. me if you want more info or we can talk by phone. Take Care,JKL

Hello, many of us Californians have consulted Dr. Ahn. You are the first I know of to go through with his angiogram/balloon angioplasty procedure. While I believe the principles of his use of this as a diagnostic tool are sound, I felt like he was using me and some other patients at the time (early 2012) as guinea pigs. This could very well be the future of diagnostics for TOS. However, I don't know of any other surgeons that have adopted this procedure as it is invasive and has risks.

Since you had relief for multiple days following the angioplasty, I do trust the diagnosis. I believe Dr. Ahn is the only TOS surgeon in CA that does the pec minor release. Before proceeding with surgery I would recommend you get a second opinion as Dr. Ahn may be rushing you to surgery (the list JKL provided is a good start). Everyone who has seen Dr. Ahn has a similar account: "PT won't help...surgery is inevitable". You should be able to take the images from the angiogram to any vascular surgeon. PT didn't help me (initially) and surgery was inevitable (so Ahn was right), however I went with another surgeon (Dr. Niren Angle, who studied under both Gelabert and Ahn at UCLA).

Whether or not you seek a second opinion I strongly recommend you see Dr. Ando. I'm sure he will tell you that surgery is probably not necessary and to try therapy with him for a couple of weeks. Do everything within reason to try to avoid surgery. Dr. Ando worked out my issues with pec minor (post rib resection surgery). I believe rib #2 and/or #3 can contribute to impingement at the pec minor. Dr. Ando was the first therapist I found that performs proper rib mobilization. It meant leaving the PT that I loved but she just wasn't equipped to deal with my TOS.

Surgery ended up being necessary for me because my 1st rib was a problem and compressed the neurovascular bundle every time I raised my arms (driving, exercising, and stomach sleeping were all exacerbating the problem). My TOS was vascular and neurogenic. Dr. Ahn would have seen this on his ultrasound angiogram, Dr. Angle found it using an MRI/Angiogram (less invasive but longer test).

First of all I want to thank Jomar, Curby and jkl626 for their assistance and input. I had the pec minor tendon release surgery on 2/17 with no problems. The recovery was not fun, but I was able to move around the house to do things. Ironically, the TOS on my right arm, which was less of a problem, became more of one the more I used it. Anyway, the ulnar pain which was my main problem on the left elbow immediately went away after surgery and has not come back. The ache in the back of the elbow and fingers is still there, but Dr. Ahn tells me that can be alleviated with PT. I am scheduled start with Li-Der Chan D.P.T., in the same office, next Monday.

Now a word about Dr. Ahn's staff. Apart from Heather, the office manager who is a tireless champion for you with scheduling, insurance, complaints, etc. the rest of them are horrible. I went in yesterday for what I thought was the removal of my stitches. First was an interminable wait in a room where they forgot about me and another nurse tried to bring in another patient. When my nurse finally came in she told me to pull down my pants so that she could remove my stitches. I gave her a look and coldly informed her that the stitches were in my chest. Without a beat she finally looked at the chart and told me that the stitches don't come out of the chest for at least 2-3 weeks. Whatever. When Dr.Ahn came in he didn't remember me and he thought I was there for post-angiogram stitch removal, as well. When I told him, no, I was there following tendon release surgery he said it could be 4-5 weeks before they were removed. WTF? I have heard on this forum about people's displeasure with Ahn's beside manner, or lack thereof. To me, he is competent but overworked. I am just another number on a chart, but I still believe in what he has done for me and would recommend him for this procedure and my particular problem. I will report back after PT next week.

juniorcorey

Just FYI, for all of us , some drs or staff will do searches online to see if they are being mentioned, good or bad..., so if you might have more dealings at an office..... just be aware of that possibility..


But what you say is kind of scary, reminds me of how my work comp atty's office was run.. very lax & totally unprofessional..

Thanks for posting your update. I needed that laugh today too (pull down pants to remove chest stitches). I'm sorry though that the visit was not a great experience. Wishing you continued recovery.

Junior- How have things been going with Chan? I start with him on Wednesday for Post-op (Scalenectomy - had Rib resection 5 years ago) PT.