Hi all

I saw a PT who works with the vascular surgeon. He was hoping that he could help me without having surgery. Unfortunately he can't. I was told yesterday that I need to have the TOS surgery ASAP. He saw me for an hour and a half and just moving me around put my pain scale through the roof! He can't at all. I'm really bad and he can see that it's causing me to have vertigo and also chest pain and tenderness. I am in so much pain I can't stand it! I was having trouble breathing yesterday from the tightness in the chest/armpit area. What really stinks is that nothing can relieve the pain other than surgery. He said the elec stim won't work, meds won't work, heat pad...no can do cause it causes to much pressure on the neck. Nothing other than propping my arm up with pillows at this point to keep the stress of the BP area. I need to raise the ribs up..the pullng down is BAD!

I kinda knew surgery was a BIG possibility but after hearing it ..I lost it! I got quite upset and cried a lot yesterday. I don't want this ...I didn't want ANY of this! The PT said it's an awful thing to have and it makes a MESS of everything! A long recovery is expected and I will never be back to 100% again. I will have many restrictions and have to make changes. My life is a mess! This is awful and I am scared to death! I have to have the surgery and probably early Jan at this point due to the Holidays. He said I have no other options other than becoming permanently disabled. Without the surgery ..soon I will not be able to function. I'm close to that point now. I'm out of options.

he did say that if the Dr's I was seeing a year ago would have pointed me in the RIGHT DIRECTION surgery could've probably been prevented. Nobody knew what they were doing and I didn't get the appropriate care. It's a huge mess! He said the neurologist shoudl've referred me to a TOS specialist instead if saying "nothing I can do for you"

Anyways I have to take my Daughter to the Doctor's. I would like to read about the surgery more and hear some of your stories.

Have a great day