I've been doing mobility exercises for 3 years now, so here's an update.

I guess I should give a quick recap. I had TOS surgery on one side almost 22 years ago now.(Scalenectomy only) It made me worse so I never had the other side done. However, I worked that way for 11 or 12 years before I was ever diagnosed. My symptoms started when I was about 18 and I'll be 51 in a couple of weeks. My hand used to swell, and turn purple before the surgery, so I had a lot of vascular symptoms on that side. The nonsurgical arm never did that, but I did have pain in it. My pain levels have been much worse ever since the surgery. The swelling in my hand got a little better, but overall I felt much worse. It's kind of like my body got really tight after, and I was never able to get loosend up, no matter what I tried.

After three years of joint mobility exercises, and myofascial release for about the last five are six months, mainly with a Thera Cane, and my thumbs, here's where I'm at.

The surgical arm is the best it's ever been. It's not perfect, but it's still improving. A lot of the symptoms, like burning, redness, tingling, and pruney fingers, are mostly gone. Also, the pain in my shoulder is getting much better. Overall, I have much better use of that arm.

The nonsurgical arm is feeling much better as well. Most of the pain used to be on the inside of my arm and in my armpit, kind of where the bicep attaches. That arm probably feels the best it's felt in about 30 years.

My lower back and legs are starting to feel a lot better, also. Both from the mobility exercises, and tons of myofascial release in the last few months.

I still have much work to do, but I'm very encouraged with the progress I've made. I keep learning new things all the time and I'm looking forward to seeing how much progress I can make this year.

One thing I've learned is, the right kind of therapy after surgery is crucial. Without good therapy, you probably won't get better. Myofascial release, and joint mobility are very important. I think that probably, the longer you have symptoms before having surgery, the more therapy you will need afterwards. Tight fascia will not release itself. It must be done with massage and movement. That's probably one of the reasons younger people have better results from surgery. The fascia hasn't been affected as much.