Quote:
Originally Posted by Toronto,Canada
Hi Everyone,
I'm going to be booked in for a 1st rib resection for "TOS, Vein compression" due to a car accident May 2012. the JUST found out 2 weeks ago, scar tissue is severely compressing the nerves, and subclavian vein.
I haven't been able to find any information regarding returning to work post-op???? being a work-a-holic i'm just curious on people's recovery period and being able to return to work. I do a desk job, Stats Analyst.
Aswell I have concerns hearing AVOID public transportation, and needing help post-op. i'm just worried, because I live in Toronto, and that's my only mode of transportation (mainly the subway), and I'm also worried because I won't have anyone to help me out post-op. and of course I HATE not being independent, and what's worse is i'm right handed and . that is the side i'm having resected.
Any suggestions????
Thank you  |
You'll be able to do MUCH more than you think you'll be able to post op. Your arms will be virtually unaffected in terms of basic manipulations (no lifting though and your ROM will be limited). By the time you leave the hospital you will be able to care for yourself. I had both sides done at the same time so they sliced my sternum in half and I was still functional.
You're going to need to stay home for about 3 weeks to get through the pain/sleepiness of being post-op. For the first week and a half you're going to do nothing but sleep, eat, and stare mindlessly at a television. After 3 weeks, you can probably return to work if you feel up to it and you have proper arm support at work (bring a few pillows and you can probably make it work) but know that healing from this surgery is a ***** and your body is going to crave rest so it's not about "toughing it out." If you're not ready to go back you just physically won't be able to go back.
That being said, my TOS surgery apparently triggered fibromyalgia and I have additional problems that I thought were caused by the TOS but, instead, were caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. So I have not returned to work and will not be able to.