Hi katherineb,

your surgery is next Friday?
don't be scared, knowledge is power right

There are just things that some have been thru already and others can learn from that.
Like-
speaking up for adequate pain relief if needed
preparing for surgery and post op recovery tips
what is normal for recovery {pain or whatever} and what is not
things to be cautious of - re injury, falls, car wrecks, just plain over doing too soon
bad PT vs good TOS PT

Just remember that the majority of most surgeries go with out a hitch.
If your surgeon is experienced and skilled at what he is doing and you feel confidant of that you should be just fine.

If you have any questions about anything just ask.

I'll copy this post of yours and make it a new thread for more replies and Hellos.

here is the new thread link- http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=20014



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below is from-

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

Ann Vasc Surg. 2004 Sep;18(5):558-65. Epub 2004 Aug 6.

Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery: long-term functional results.
Degeorges R, Reynaud C, Becquemin JP.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, Creteil, France.

[This retrospective study was carried out to assess clinical outcome 2 years after TOS surgery and to determine predictive factors of outcome. Between 1979 and 1999, 155 patients underwent TOS surgery. Of these patients, 140 (90.3%) had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Thirty-six (25.7%) patients underwent bilateral procedures. A total of 176 procedures were reviewed and served as a basis for study. Presenting symptoms were neurologic in 15 cases (8.5%),
arm or hand ischemia occurred in 38 cases (21.6%),
and venous compression or thrombosis in 27 cases (15.4%).
In 96 cases (54.5%), symptoms were mixed. A transaxillary approach (107 cases) was chosen to address venous symptoms and minor arterial dysfunction.
A supraclavicular approach (69 cases) was used when there were large abnormal bony structures, neurologic symptoms, and/or severe limb ischemia.
The first rib was resected either extensively from its neck to the sternal attachment (54 cases) or partially, including the mid-rib and neck or the mid-rib and sternal attachment (121 cases), depending on symptoms, approach, and surgeon's choice. Whenever present, cervical ribs, anterior scalenus muscle, and various fibrous or muscular compressive structures were also removed.]

Functional results were
excellent = 87 (49.4%)
good = 61 (34.6%)
fair = 14 (8%)
poor = 14 (8%) procedures respectively.