Thank you all for sharing your stories, and offering words of encouragement.

I'm indecisive about the surgery because for every positive result I read, there's a negative result story to go with it.
I have this fantasy that the surgery would be the end of TOS forever. Wouldn't that be wonderful! But then I have the fear that surgery might not help... then I'm left still suffering from TOS, without a rib and some muscles. And from what I've read, the pain and recovery time is ridiculous.

I know for certain that I'm at the point mentally where I just do not want to deal with TOS anymore. It has changed my life. I used to be a fit, strong, athletic, independent young woman.
No more. I resent TOS. Is it even possible to resent a "syndrome"?

The doctors I've seen believe I have mostly neurogenic TOS. I suspect there may be some vascular thrown in there; my right arm/hand often feels like it's sitting in a bucket of ice, and both arms get so heavy and fatigued easily if I do anything over my head. But the doctors aren't convinced. Haha!
I also suffer from lower back pain, sciatica troubles, and pain/stiffness in my back and ankles (this all came on gradually, after I had already been dealing with the TOS for over 1 year). I mentioned these ailments to my main doctor. Since I am a worker's compensation case, the doctor suggested I just focus on the TOS for now.
I was concerned that all my aches and pains may be connected. I hoped the extra ailments would be explored more. But the doctors and worker's comp stay focused on the TOS.
My MRI showed disc bulge/herniation in an area (I forget the actual letter/number combo for the vertebrae.... I have my medical records stored in my bedroom and I just don't feel like getting them now. Hahaha!)... but he said the herniation was not in a place that would cause or contribute to the TOS, so he dismissed it.
My Xrays showed that the natural curve of my neck is reversing. So instead of (, I'm more like ). But those xrays were taken a while ago. Maybe I'm normal again now?! I was told that over time things could change.
My physical therapist insisted I have arthritis in my neck. When I mentioned that to the doctor (the very first doctor I had), he told me I was too young to have arthritis and ignored the possibility. I'm 34. C'mon! Needless to say, I switched doctors after that.

So most recently I've been consulting with a vascular surgeon. I was referred to him by my usual doctor. The surgeon is considered a specialist in TOS. According to him, he has about 4 new patients a week who present with TOS symptoms. He does a surgery for TOS every few months only. Which means about 1 out of every 50 patients he sees has the surgery. He is one of the only doctors who does this surgery regularly, in the New England area.
I've read up about him and I am confortable and confident with his background and skills. Each meeting with him, he has been compassionate, informative, and kind.
If I had the surgery, I feel like I'd be in good hands with him.

Now I'm rambling and my gabapentin and muscle relaxer are kicking in. Feeling sleepy. Forgive me if I talked too much with no point. I am so excited to have found this forum that everything I've kept inside wants to pour out.
Thanks for listening!