I just had my cat scan angiogram at Massachusetts General Hospital. I wanted to know for those who had it done there, were your arms resting at your sides? I was surprised because my arms were resting at my sides and I thought (through conversation with Dr. Donahue's nurse) I would have had one arm above my head to reproduce the compression symptoms associated with TOS. The nurse who setup the IV in my arm for the CTA assured me that the "arms down position" was the typical Dr. Donahue protocol. I was kinda disappointed because I've had MRAs/MRVs of the neck and chest in the past with the arms down and of course they found signs zero signs of compression so wouldn't the CTA with the arms down at the sides be no different? Just to point out the obvious, arms down I have no symptoms and arms elevated I have symptoms. Thanks!

Hi, I had Donahue's CT. Arms were down. Counting the days to my first surgery. Donahue determined my arteries would also be compressed when nobody else did.

Everybody else just said it was tos, didn't name a kind or it was disputed.

Did you get the botox???

Did Dr. Donahue determine that from a physical exam or did the CTA actually pick up compression with the arms in the down position?

I'll be getting botox in a month, I'm looking forward to that.

I'm also getting an epidural in the neck in two weeks (not from mass general) to see if that has any impact on my neck issues at night. Hoping that will reduce inflammation in the area.

He determined from the CT that the arteries and nerves were compressed. My arms were down during this.

I found the botox to be amazing. It was a true wake up call to how awful I am really feeling, because I started to actually feel good. I think at one point I said I was at a two on a scale of one to ten scale for pain. I haven't been there for more about two years. For the last year, I normally I rate it between six and eight.

Eight, I too am seeing the same DR and had the 3D CT scan. I have had tow rounds of Botox and loved them. What happened for you next? Did you have an operation? Thanks!

Please let me know if the epidural works!!

How long did the Botox effect last?

Akash,
I had tow round that lasted about 7 months total. The left side is still amazing, but my right side which I am dominated is wearing off and it is about 4 months now.

Hi
I had my Ct in 2011, w Dr donahue. I'm not + remember having arms down most of time, then arms up for short time. He found cervical ribs & narrowing of the arteries, Lt worse than Rt in the Costcoclavicular Space. Dont think they can see scar tissue on Ct scan like on mri. I had sx with arms down and up. Also had a awful tight pulling pain from neck, under clavicle to front of shoulder on my worse side. This was the 1st thing I noticed was gone after surgery!
When do u get ur results? Good luck!

Botox ran out at 8 weeks the first round and I decided to have surgery. I have had TOS for 11 years. I just had surgery, see other thread.


I felt great with the botox, realized how much of life I was missing out on.