Hi Googndoog,

I had rib resection and scalenectomy in 2005. I would not have been able to live as I am had I not. All stories are SO different that you can only do what is best for you.

I was/am a registered nurse in oncology I haven't worked in over 6 years. I lifted a patient up from a toilet and wrecked my neck back and shoulder. After the huge run around I finally realized I had to find the doctors and do all the work....very difficult when in extreme pain. I get it I so get it.

I found a tos vascular surgeon as I have both neuro and vascular. He was about the only guy in the province Ontario Canada who does the surgery. I had mine done due to my very poor quality of life. I was in so much pain and could not do much at all. Hence the surgery decision. I couldn't work anyway so no loss.

I was fortunate. I had an amazing surgeon who did a fantastic job and before I got to physio post op I was off all my meds and feeling AMAZING.
UNTIL PHYSIO......they wrecked all the surgery by having me do all the wrong exercises and my tos came back with a vengence. NOT a nice thing after having 6mths of pain free life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would not change what I did for a second. I know I made the right decision. I would do it again so I know it was the right decision!

But this decision is not an easy one and you really need to get a pro and con list going here so that you can make the right decision for yourself.
We are all so anatomically different in our TOS and we all have different symptoms of the same syndrome. Hence the name syndrome a name to catch all of the symptoms into one tidy little box that medicine likes to do.

My pain now is at 7-9 or 10 on a migraine day........but still would not change my decision for anything!!! I know I did the right thing!!

Difficult to decide.....go with your gut you know how you are suffereing and what it is doing to you.

hope some of this mess I have written helps you!

love and hugs,
Victoria