Hey Dale - I NEED to clarify something TOS is a fairly common condition - just my having a extra CERVICAL rib is what only less than 1 % of the population has. I am seeing Dr Thompson who is a Thoracic Cardio specialist on the 22nd next week. I am getting tired of traveling in trying to unravel this all. The TOS is real for me but many TOS patients occur the articles state due to the neck being injured or trauma. Even having the extra Cervical Ribs for them to become a issue is caused by the neck I have read. I am hoping i can get fruther diagnostics up in St Louis to wade thru this mess as the spine specialists are split down the middle on fixing my neck - I would feel stronger about them being split in fixkign the neck - but only 2 have seen me in person & those 2 both have said no to fixing the neck right now - the other 4 looking at the same MRI but have not seen me in person yet all have said fix the neck.
Not sleeping well & having my arms in pain constantly is getting annoying. I also realize I am not the only one having problems. Yes I know Dr T in St Louis which is about 5 hr's each way from us - is organizing this conference - his receptionist has been pretty amazing & compassionate so it bodes well for him. Have hear d good things about him but this surgery even with the best is a very iffy outcome. Articles I read indicate over time any improvement can deteriorate & they feel that could be attributed to further decline of the neck. I have to feel I am NOT the 1st one to have both Cervical Abnormal Findings & TOS but I feel or hope it will take the Thoracic Doc's to help unravel this in what they feel is the cause. I have Dr T's questionaire filled out it is pretty comprehensive & in looking at the tests I have completed some here but it is telling as there are more he can run up there that so far have not been requested down here yet so I am hoping to get down the bottom of this soon ! The PROBLEM with this is BOTH the neck for my levels & TOS the symptoms overlap so a patient AND a doc could easily be fooled by symptoms. One of my fears is I will have the wrong surgery & not be any better off. Dr Ninan is a Thoracic Cardio Vascular Professor here in Memphis like Dr T just he does not normally do TOS surgeries - he offered to look at all of my testing & wanted to see CD's & I am hoping he will get back to me - this week. He is pretty busy though but will be interesting as he should not have a vested interest if you get my drift in saying either direction. He just finds the case interesting and is trying to help. I guess i feell I need to get more than one Thoracic Doc's opinion - I have Dr R. Sanders in Co who did a interview with me over the phone but has not looked at any testing & said I have TOS, & Dr Garrett knows i have TOS but felt it was coming from the neck why he sent me to Dr Foley here in town but Foley said the 2 levels have wear but remove the rib. I hate to start chuking body parts without some diagnostics. Either discogram for the neck or tests for the TOS I almost think both - May sound crazy but I need to be thorough on this one. Jill
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