unfortunately, your story is not uncommon at all for a TOS'er, shellie. i am so sorry this is happening to you and i really hope that you will join us over on the TOS forum because i think you will find some great information and meet some incredible people there in the process...
lots of us went through years of misdiagnoses, unnecessary surgeries and damaging PT before finally receiving the accurate (if not welcomed) dx of TOS and landing here.
listen, one thing jumped out at me from your post and hopefully it is just a misunderstanding. it is extremely important that your surgeon remove your entire first thoracic rib when he performs the rib resection on you. naturally, he will have to partially resect both the anterior and the middle scalene muscles in order to get that rib out, shellie, as those structures are anatomically attached to your first rib. but your post says he's only taking part of the rib out, too - PLEASE say it ain't so, girl!--
because believe it or not, there is a danger of the rib growing back (and causing compression problems again, and worse) unless the TOS surgeon very carefully removes the whole first rib. i believe you stated that your surgeon was using the transaxillary approach; that is what my surgeon (dr. steven annest of denver, CO) used, as well. he then reattached the cut end of the middle scalene to the cut end of the first rib in order to leave a smooth surface for the nerves to glide on. most of the top TOS docs have their own, slightly different approach to things... just to keep us on our toes i guess (like we don't have enough on our minds already? puleeze!). lots more about these general approach issues on the TOS forum.
PM me if you have questions about this particular aspect, though, and i'd be happy to point you towards the scientific research or we can even talk on the phone if you'd like. if you're anything like me, you're starting to get pretty nervous right about now - august is right around the corner, after all!--
this is a good support group and we'd be pleased to help see you through the perioperative process, shellie. you have been through so much already and i know you bring a lot to the table as well. i'm looking forward to getting to know you.
if i were you, i'd be careful of that other shelley, though... she bears watching! --
alison