Howdy. Was recently diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and prescribed 6 weeks of PT. That did nothing for me and my local BCS orthopedist referred me to a Dr in DFW for the surgery. Problem is he can't even get me in for a consult until May 10. The discomfort is getting worse and not sure I can wait 4 months for the initial appointment, let alone the surgery to alleviate this issue.

This does not sound like a surgery you just want to have any Tom, Dick or Harry do, so inquiring if anyone has any incite or recommendations for vascular surgeons in Texas? TIA

How was it diagnosed? Is it neural, venous, or arterial thoracic outlet syndrome? Do you have a cervical rib?

Had ongoing pain for sometime and did therapy, nerve study, x ray for the extra rib, and all checked out fine.

Finally went to an orthopedic guy told him everything that was going on and he had me raise my arm and make a 90 and turn my head the opposite direction and based on that, diagnosed me.


During PT, my therapist said he thought my symptoms could be a result of a disc issue based on what he saw. No form of therapy has seemed to help and the discomfort in my arm and trap only seems to get worse. I have been taking Gabapentin and seems to help to an extent but I'm looking for any input on options to get this fixed.

Thank you

Do your hands turn different colors if you hold your hands above your head?

The discomfort in my arm increases when I do that. Hard to tell if they change colors

That's basically how he diagnosed me. Said pulse basically slowed or stopped and when he let my hand back down there would be a rushing sensation of all the blood going back into my hand. And it definitely does that

Jeff Apple in Austin

https://ctvstexas.com/about-ctvs/our-physicians/vascular-surgeons/jeffrey-m-apple-m-d-f-a-c-s/

Alan Lumsden, Houston Methodist

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/provider/alan-lumsden/

Any possibility this could all be symptoms of a herniated disc?

I'm a vascular surgeon who does occasional thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and just wanted to chime in

With everything you have described so far, I would be concerned that this is not the cause of your symptoms. I don't do these procedures for nerve symptoms because the diagnosis is difficult to confirm

The test you reference with loss of pulse raising your arm is not very good for determining who will improve with surgery. I know Jeff Apple personally. Excellent surgeon and person. He is with the group in Austin

If you can travel, there is a center in Denver where they probably do this as much as anywhere where I send my neurogenic patients for evaluation.

https://richardsandersinstitute.org/Home