I had surgery on my right side to remove the rib and have had 3 inches of muscle out from under my left arm to help with chest pain.

I had the swallowing problems and the breathing problems at one time. I spent 3+ years in PT and it did help with some of the issues. If you are In PT you might ask them to take their thumbs and stretch the neck muscles. My PTer would put her thumbs together on my neck the opposite way and move them apart and stretch the muscles. It's a deep massage. It did help.

There were a lot of my symptoms that stuck with me until I had the surgery. Mainly the pain. I have noticed a lot of people on here have to still have surgery after PT. It's not always the case but a lot of times.

After 3 years of pain, I just told my PCP I needed to have the surgery and he finally relented and helped me pick the Dr. to do it. At the time I would have let them cut my arm off and he was afraid that I would let them. My depression got so bad with the TOS that I just couldn't think straight.

I'm doing great now. Even though I have RSD I am doing things I honestly though for about 8 years I would never do again. I lift weights, I do antiquing again, I know I won't ever go back to work due to the other problems I have but I am soooooo much better with the TOS. As a matter of fact, I forget I have it these days.

Ada