Declined Surgery

Tanya's Story

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

Surgery
Amanda's Story
Primary Diagnosis: Neurogenic TOS
My TOS story is long and dramatic but I will try to keep it as brief as possible! I grew up on a farm and I always had trouble doing things my brother and sister could do.For instance, in the hay field, I struggled lifting the bale up to the wagon so I was eventually labeled the "lazy" one. I always thought the reason people didn't like washing windows was because it hurt them! Things like carrying a purse either on my shoulder or as a handbag always gave me trouble.  I guess I have had problems all my life but it was "normal" to me so I never complained. read more 

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