I've read allot of information here and I'd like to thank everyone who participates. Its nice to know there are others facing the same things..

Mine is somewhat of a complicated situation. I had a motorcycle accident 10 years ago in August 2004 in which I thought I had just broken my clavicle. My girlfriend then, now my wife of almost 10 years was seriously injured. To the point, we didn't know if she would survive or not. I had some problems with my break but was told they didn't repair collarbones anymore. They said id probably never have an issue. My advice to anyone that breaks their collarbone. Have it repaired. My focus wasn't on my issue....and honestly, I forgot much about it. Thank God my wife has done great even though her vision has been affected. Over the years I developed symptoms that I thought were related to carpal tunnel. My hand would swell and I'd have pain in my arm but naproxen helped lots. I just dealt with it and promised myself I would have it looked at one day when it worse. Then in August 2014 almost to the day of my accident I had a subclavian DVT. I went to the emergency room and was told by the ER doctors that treatment with anticoagulants would probabily fix my problem. If I knew now what I knew then, I would have immediately asked for a vascular specialist. I'm sure most of you already know this but anticoagulants don't do anything but help prevent the issue from getting worse. They need to get to a clot within 2 weeks or the clot busting drugs dont work due to hardening of the clot and scare tissue. Needless to say a little over 3 months later I get a worse. I think my subclavian vein is pretty much fully occluded. I have a venogram scheduled this week. I'll know just how bad then. They suspect TOS and I agree. I don't really have any neurological pain. I do have a little muscle pain if I use my arm much. I do have a little tingling at times in my hands. I've lost weight and am doing stretches and exercises I've found online and I think it's help. I Thank God for His helps thus far.

I'm looking for some advice or input. My collarbone is still seperated and Ive seen an orthopedic surgeon and a vascular specialist. The ortho surgeon, at first wanted to repair my collarbone, then he found out all the information and he immediately changed his mind. My vascular surgeon is of the mindset that my damage is already done and I should just wear a compression sleeve and live with it. He thinks my symptoms arn't bad enough to take the possibility that surgery will not make me better. I have about 2 to 3 cm swelling at rest in my left arm. It does swell more if I use it certain ways, it will get discolored. When I take a shower mostly or when I try to reach across my body. I have collateral veins forming. I can generally, at the moment, work my desk job with just some tingling and a little pain. Heating pad helps. Tingling does bother more than anything. I realize that I can't use my arm anything like I have in the past but I've read the horror stories some have had with surgery. I'm not worried about the pain and post op. I just don't want to get worse after surgery.

However, I realize that I might get worse anyway with the clot spreading and hurting my collateral veins. My vascular surgeon has mention Dr. Thompson in St Louis. That he would refer me if I want him to. He's about 11 hours away from me. John Hopkins is about 5 hours. I have insurance and from what I can tell online, the hospitals are covered on my network. (they are listed). I do want my clavicle removed or fixed. Either way, thanks for reading this far and I appreciate any advice and experience you might have.

I would call and schedule with whatever TOS specialist you are seriously considering. Then go in the order of the appointments - if you don't like what the first surgeon tells you, then go to the next appointment. Regardless, you need to be seen by a TOS specialist soon.

Also, I think you should also consider Dr. Donahue and Dr. Pearl. Dr. Donahue is in Boston. Dr. Pearl is in Texas.