TOS: The Perspective of the Patient

Abstract

As all who care for patients with this problem can attest, thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is perhaps the best example of a diagnosis that is slow to be made. Symptoms can be obscure and at first mild, many primary care physicians are unfamiliar with the syndrome, and some even doubt its existence. As a result, the diagnosis is frequently delayed by months or even years, and patients are often told that “it’s all in your head” in one way or another.

Although this is a textbook for practitioners, we felt that because of these factors hearing about the process directly from patients would be extremely helpful. Practitioners who care for these patients pride themselves on doing the right thing, but this is inevitably after the diagnosis is made. What does the patient with Neurogenic TOS go through?