A Long Journey : Tanya's Story of Hope and Perserverance

Primary Diagnosis of Neurogenic TOS
My journey started when I was very young.  I was always very flexible. As I grew older, my joints, primarily my wrists, became increasingly unstable and painful, There was also some numbness and tingling in my pinky and ring fingers.  I had VERY tight shoulders and neck muscles; I had spasms in trapezius areas on both sides.  Read Tanya's Story

In a landmark decision, a Social Security judge in Northern California has issued what amounts to a bill of rights for thoracic outlet syndrome victims. Judge Erickson gave the claimant everything a T.O.S victim could ever hope for and stated in clear and precise language why thoracic outlet syndrome can lead to total disability. Even more important, however, is the fact that the TOS patient had gone back to work on a part time basis, and the Judge rewarded her for going back to work and granted her training benefits which are now available under the Social Security law. The TOS patient testified at her hearing that her own doctor had given her a job on a compassionate basis as a receptionist and part time secretary, but that she was unable to type and could only drag a mouse on her computer. The judge accepted the patient's testimony and awarded her full benefits up to the time that she went back to work and then construed her present employment to be compensable training under the Social Security Act. Judge Erickson bolstered his decision with the opinion of a vocational rehabilitation expert who testified that if a claimant could not effectively type in an office job, the claimant was currently taken completely out of our modern economy. At the time of the hearing, the TOS patient had suffered from thoracic outlet syndrome for 4 years as the result of being hit head-on in a motor vehicle accident case by a drunk driver. At the time of the accident the TOS patient had been in excellent health and had been working. The TOS patient applied for Social Security and was turned down but appealed.  copyright 2008  Neil D. Eisenberg and the American TOS Association. Edited version

Traveling to see a TOS specialist
Most will agree that there not aren't enough TOS experienced physicians to go around. With about 20 TOS experienced physicians nationwide it is not uncommon for patients to travel hundreds of miles to seek consultation, have surgery or for ongoing experienced care. One of the most difficult challenges is the financial aspects of traveling but in the long run these financial challenges may pay off. The long term financial consequences of inexperienced TOS healthcare can have far greater consequences than the immediate cost of travel. It's not say that traveling will guarantee a successful outcome but your odds do improve if you seek help, wherever that may be, from a TOS EXPERIENCED physician.  Insurance companies and workers' compensation often waste thousands of dollars sending patients to physicians with little to no TOS experience which puts the patient at a greater risk of lifelong permanent disability and can potentially lead to or increase life and limb threatening complications such as DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and PE (pulmonary embolism). In any event, traveling outside of your homestate may be your best bet in the long run as the cost of inexperience and delay can be devastating and lifelong.