How I was diagnosed - A 20 Year Journey
"I can make a diagnosis
of thoracic outlet syndrome but the etiological factor can escape at the present
time unless there is a severe case of a large cervical rib."
-Carlos A. Selmonosky, M.D
Someone recently asked how I was diagnosed
with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The answer is complicated, as it seems to be
for most folks with TOS.
I began having symptoms of Torticollis in 1987, with many repeated rounds of my neck muscles painfully spasming and locking up. I was given several meds to try, physical therapy, xrays, MRI's, CAT scans, referrals, chiropractors, at-home traction, neck braces, heat/ice packs, TEN's unit...you name it-I tried it.
I went on
living normally inbetween these episodes of frozen neck until 2003. I was in
a car accident and the whiplash stopped me in my tracks.
I was sent for more x-rays and physical therapy. When three months of that only left me in more pain, I sought out yet another chiropracter, who, upon inspection of my xrays, informed me I have cervical ribs. Wait...what?!
The following summer my teenage son went through a growth spurt and his arms began aching terribly. When xrayed, it was noted he has cervical ribs and would need to consult a specialist for possible 'surgical decompression'.
It was in the appointment with my sons doctor, as he was receiving his diagnosis of TOS, that I knew I also have TOS.
But it would be four more years before I would visit the same doctor for my own symptoms...because my teenage daughter cropped up one year after my son with arm pain and-you guessed it--cervical ribs and TOS!
So, two years after my daughter went through surgical decompression, I decided pills, physical therapy, massage, deep breathing, Tens stimulation, chiropractors, neck traction, were not going to change the situation with these extra bones causing pain in my body. Besides, if my kids could be brave enough to go through rib resection, so could I.
Once I went to see our family TOS surgeon, I was an easy diagnosis.
My Dr. ran tests-the in office tests-bp, raise hands, twist, turn, strength check, push, pull--then Doppler tests, MRI, x-ray, emg, nerve conduction. Doctor said with my history, test results, my childrens history, and the presence of cervical ribs, it was plain as day I have TOS and could benefit from decompression.
And there you have it, my twenty year journey to a diagnosis.
-Carlos A. Selmonosky, M.D
I began having symptoms of Torticollis in 1987, with many repeated rounds of my neck muscles painfully spasming and locking up. I was given several meds to try, physical therapy, xrays, MRI's, CAT scans, referrals, chiropractors, at-home traction, neck braces, heat/ice packs, TEN's unit...you name it-I tried it.
I went on
living normally inbetween these episodes of frozen neck until 2003. I was in
a car accident and the whiplash stopped me in my tracks.I was sent for more x-rays and physical therapy. When three months of that only left me in more pain, I sought out yet another chiropracter, who, upon inspection of my xrays, informed me I have cervical ribs. Wait...what?!
All those years, all those tests and Doctors and xrays... and no one thought to point out to me I have these two extra bones in the exact area where I have had so much pain?!I began reading and learning about cervical ribs, and continued attempting therapy at home.
The following summer my teenage son went through a growth spurt and his arms began aching terribly. When xrayed, it was noted he has cervical ribs and would need to consult a specialist for possible 'surgical decompression'.
It was in the appointment with my sons doctor, as he was receiving his diagnosis of TOS, that I knew I also have TOS.
But it would be four more years before I would visit the same doctor for my own symptoms...because my teenage daughter cropped up one year after my son with arm pain and-you guessed it--cervical ribs and TOS!
So, two years after my daughter went through surgical decompression, I decided pills, physical therapy, massage, deep breathing, Tens stimulation, chiropractors, neck traction, were not going to change the situation with these extra bones causing pain in my body. Besides, if my kids could be brave enough to go through rib resection, so could I.
Once I went to see our family TOS surgeon, I was an easy diagnosis.
My Dr. ran tests-the in office tests-bp, raise hands, twist, turn, strength check, push, pull--then Doppler tests, MRI, x-ray, emg, nerve conduction. Doctor said with my history, test results, my childrens history, and the presence of cervical ribs, it was plain as day I have TOS and could benefit from decompression.
And there you have it, my twenty year journey to a diagnosis.
**Hugging can sorta hurt when you have TOS, so...gentle hugs~
