Hey there!

Please get answers to the questions above if you don't already have them because that is risky. I had a nerve block but before I found out I had TOS and for my medial branch nerves in my neck (very small nerves). Obviously that never helped especially since I had been misdiagnosed at the time,
I am from Toronto originally and before I even considered Drs in the States, I did a search and made calls in Toronto. I even saw a team of vascular surgeons at Toronto General. They don't know anything! Well they def do not know enough that can be said for sure. If I know more than the Dr does, that Dr is not coming near me. Try the same approach. Honestly, I have done tons of research and very few not just Toronto but Canadian Drs know much about TOS and that is probably why your surgeon did not remove your entire rib in the first place. Be very cautious about this next step...

I haven't seen any of the vascular surgeons or specialists in Toronto General.... my surgeon was Dr DePerot Thoracic Surgeon (at Toronto General). But your right noone really knows much about TOS here. The block is being done at Toronto Western hospital. I swear i'd LOVE IT if my private insurance would cover a consult with "Dr. Donahue".

Do you have TOS under control?

Is your surgeon the one following that 1 surgeon that apparently was the only one who did TOS surgeries in Toronto? I cannot recall his name right now.

Anyway, I was lucky with Dr. Donahue and access to US surgeons because I lived and worked there for several years. I do not unfortunately have my TOS under control, Dr. D said I am one of the worst he has ever seen and he has seen A LOT. I am technically still recovering from my re-do and it did help but not enough for me to return to work or a normal life. I believe the seroma (complication) I got has a lot to do with the remaining pain in my arm and hand, so I am finally getting rid of that next week, but paying out of pocket for this surgery with Dr. D. I do not trust any other surgeon. Even though this is a smaller surgery. I did give it a chance, trying to get referred to someone here, but they said 6 to 12 month wait. No way I can wait that long, the surgeon I wanted to see obviously did not go over my notes properly to realize how severe my TOS is.
By the way, Dr. D has someone who has scans that show things like scar tissue, one more thing showing how much more advanced healthcare is there. I wish Cdn Drs would catch up already or at least keep up with the current research and new tests etc developed in the US.

Anyway, if you go through with this, good luck and keep us posted!

i'm not sure to be honest about the surgeon, I'm not sure who all does TOS surgeries, I know mine does at least haha.

Sorry to hear your TOS isn't under control


I'm highly considering going to see Dr. Donahue, not sure if he will be willing to see out of country patients, and hearing about his background, and reviews. Do you happen to know if you need a referral to see him? Do you know how much a consult out of pocket would cost? I do have private insurance (Sunlife) here... but i highly doubt it would cover a consult in the states. A consult from Dr. Donahue I think would be amazing, and I would know more about my TOS. Since like you said Dr's here don't know much...

Your 100% it would be nice if we (Canadian healthcare system) would be up-to-date with the medical system, that you's have. It would have been really nice to see the significance, and amount of scar tissue prior to surgery.

Thanks again,

Hi,

I didn't need a referral however, I was on insurance through my company in the States then so different situation. Seeing him from here, you probably wouldn't be covered but you can check with Sunlife. A consult out of pocket would be around $200. He does see international patients all the time.

I however, am not getting any better since I had to cancel surgery for my seroma with him due to the out of pocket costs for the hospital and OR alone. Nothing to do with his costs, the hospital just charges a ridiculous amount and my surgery is much smaller than a TOS decompression surgery. Dr. D is doing me a favor he feels so bad and is going to try to convince a surgeon here to do it sooner than the LONG wait, since this complication is completely hindering my recovery.

Anyway, good luck if you decide to go through with the block! Feel free to ask me anything else if you have questions about surgeons in the US.