Hi All,

Long time lurker but finally needing to post as in need of some help and hoping you can help me.

I was diagnosed with VTOS in 2010 and had a first rib resection (Right side) in October of that year, followed by angioplasty in March 2011.

Following that, I have never been fully symptom free but was able to manage this as it was minor compared to pre-surgery. However as the years go on, I seem to be having severe flare ups more often and currently have been in agonising pain in my neck, shoulder and arm for around 6 months solid now.

I've been back to my GP and have a referral for PT. However, one thing I've recently noticed is that my right shoulder is significantly lower than the left. Being honest, I can't say I have ever noticed this before. I'm just wondering if this could have been caused due to the rib resection or is it possible that I've always had this and just never noticed until now.

If anyone has any ideas on this, this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer on this.

I had first rib resection on right side for NTOS 3 years ago. My right arm does hang lower than left as well. I've been to countless therapists and one of them brought this up before the surgery that the right arm droops lower than the other. It is much more apparent to me since the surgery that it is lower than prior.

I have yet to find the answer to correct the issue, but I can tell you what I am going to do to try and fix it: Look up postural restoration institute
PRI | Home

Click on find a provider, then find one in your state and reach out to them. There is only one certified provider where I am from (michigan) but I plan on giving it a whirl soon. They are trained to look at the body and correct muscle imbalance. They also work on different breathing patterns/compensation that contribute to the syndrome. Best part is they have been successful with a college football player with thoracic outlet syndrome. I believe the scapula and drooped shoulder are causing most of my problems right now.

http://www.posturalrestoration.com/r...all_Player.pdf

i mean if your shoulder hangs low your need to str your upward rotators in the shoulder girder I would work on lower trap upper trap and serratus anterior work. you need to str the whole back so start off by doing basic rows. you can also research downward depressed shoulder blades. also stretch out the pecs minor and your rhomboids also contribute to the shoulder to be low. this does should like a muscular problem that can be easily addressed by str training.

you need to str your back... most likely this is a muscular issue. i would first start off stretching your lats and pecs and rhomboids. from there STR your upper trap, lower trap, and serratus anterior. the rib has nothing to do with the way the shoulder sits.

ive seen this before with someone who has VTOS and he had success with simple rowing and scapular push up exercises. also releasing the tight muscles pec minor, lats , and RHOMBOIDS. most likely your shoulders are suck in a downward rotation... look up articles about downward rotated shoulders or depressed shoulder girder.

Michael - both scap pushups and rowing would strengthen the rhomboids too (in the retraction phase).. plus the scap pushup will recruit the pec
Can you ask your friend about which specific exercises he did, or what you would recommend?

Hi, may I ask who your surgeon is? Dr Ahn is the only one I know that does Venoplasty/Angio plasty pro and post ops.