@userunknown I've read about Dr. Kaufman and the website says he is the only one in the country doing that surgery for a graft of the phrenic nerve.. I know it's not convenient, but you have to consider how much your life could change with the right doctor. I also live in IL and tried to get several surgeons to help me for a spine problem and none would. I was refused 5 times before I came to Mayo which was a 5 hour drive for me, but it was worth it. You definitely need another opinion to determine if your phrenic nerve was damaged because you will not get that from your current doctor. I had a similar situation once when I had carpal tunnel surgery that didn't fix the issues because they missed that I had thoracic outlet syndrome and the surgeon wanted nothing to do with me. He wouldn't even sign for physical therapy and claimed he wouldn't be able to judge if it would help or not. As far as he was concerned, his job was done, and he didn't want a poor outcome. One of the symptoms of TOS is impaired circulation that makes hands turn blue and cold which is what I was telling the doctor was happening. He took my pulse, said it was fine and accused me of malingering in his notes. I had to get another opinion from a doctor who was familiar with TOS and I did get a diagnosis and help. Carpal tunnel and TOS have overlapping symptoms.