Pec Minor Tenonomy
 

Has anybody had this to start out with and got better? I saw a thread from ihtos, who reported she was better after her surgery and then said goodbye - like I'm better now, I get to live a normal life.

If you have had this surgery alone, how was it? How long was the recovery? What movements are limited by this surgery?

I am thinking this might be a better surgery for me based on my symptoms than the first rib resection I have scheduled on November 21. I called my doctor, but have been playing telephone tag... he apparently does not do this surgery and suggested that I go to Denver for it. I am in Nebraska - but on the other side, it is about an 8-10 hour drive to Denver.

Also, I called Denver, and I guess Dr. Sanders did not retire...


:)

I have had bilateral pec minor decompression surgeries
 

Hi, I had a both side skalenectomies, both side pec minor decompression and now I have several rare neurological problems and I'm looking at finally having both ribs removed. I have two doctors communicating and a scan scheduled later this month. So sorry to hear you are going thru this and please fill free to ask me any questions.

SO Sorry to hear about this. Are the neurological problems a result/complication of the previous scalenectomies/pec minor surgeries?

Yay! My mom is coming out on the day of my surgery to help me after the surgery and to fly home. Plane tickets bought, hotel booked.

If this doesn't work, I guess I can try the scary surgery later on, but I have the chest pains that and it is more my pinkie and ring fingers that are affected rather than the thumb and pointer finger.

Since being here I read about the PM surgery, and have been doing some myofascial releases for the PM, and have been extremely sore from this. I have a steroid shot schedule for Monday for the PM, they said that was fine, it is still 4 weeks away, and I have a lot of time sitting at a computer between now and then.

They said I can't lift more than 10 lbs for two weeks. Does this surgery hurt afterward if you had it alone, anyone?? How long do you think I will be off work? I am having both sides done at the same time.

I had this surgery a week and a half ago and so far it has been no big deal. Compared to a 1st rib resection it was a breeze. Dr. Donahue indicated that recovery is about two weeks.

Sadly yes!

Thanks for your reply -- and I appreciate your sharing your experience. I think its important to acknowledge the potential benefit as well as risk that is associated with these surgeries.
Are you seeking care in SF area? or maybe Davis? What kind of scan are you getting?

Otherwise -- for everyone who has experience with with Pec Minor Tenonomy --- what symptoms did you have that lead the doctor to think it was the pec minor causing the problem? Did you have any tests specific to the pec minor? Botox in the pec minor?

I read about the pec minor on here, and that made a lot more sense based on what my symptoms are, than the first rib resection. My pulse does not completely stop when they do the TOS tests, but my hands become freezing and then tingling. Also, the pec minor syndrome causes a lot of chest pain - similar to what people describe what a heart attack feels like. I have gone to the ER a couple of times with chest pain, as it was only on my left side to start out with. They looked at me like I was a nut job both times, as I am only 33 - I think I was 26 the first time I went, and I have an excellent heart.

Als

Long term recovery?
 

Any indications on the long term recovery of this surgery? I've read people have trouble pulling things apart, picking up things, opening jars, etc.

I had pec minor surgery with Dr. Sanders in 2008 ---- my first surgery. It did nothing. It is an easy surgery and recovery is easy. I had a final the next week and was able to take it.
The problem with TOS is that they need to fix the reason you got it in the first place. For people with extra ribs or DVT's, they fix those and the people can get a lot better ---- they fixed the problem causing the TOS. For other people with screwed up shoulders, clavicles that are sunken down and unstable, hypertrophied subclavian muscles, etc...the pec minor surgery or the rib/scalene removal does not fix the problem. Don't get me wrong --- it does help, but mostly because of the neurolysis and decompression of the inflamed/lesioned nerve that is hypersensitive and chronically irritated as a result. For these people, their TOS can come back if they continue with their old ways and don't learn how to adapt and move their bodies in new ways. For example, the structural problems of the shoulder, clavicle, scapula, etc. will still cause nerve stretch problems with certain movements. Over time, these movements can stretch the nerve and irritate the BP enough that it gets irritated/inflamed again and TOS is back. There are so many ways TOS can be caused and hopefully surgery addresses the cause.

Why TOS is so tricky: the medical community doesn't really understand all the variations of TOS, and its causes. Also, the diagnostics just aren't there yet --- making TOS a bit of an exploratory surgery.

Gotta go. Sorry for the lengthy post. I wish everyone success with their TOS journey.

Dr. Sanders is still doing diagnostic testing, but the actual surgery would be done by Dr. Annest with Dr. Sanders assisting/observing.

Thanks, TOStrojan. Any long term ill effects of the surgery (struggle lifting things a certain way, instability, etc.)? Have read a lot of people on this site warning people of that.

I had it done and noticed no instability

Heh, same here. ER first and cardiologist later. Cardiologist geeked out about how perfect my heart was. I guess he looks at bad ones all the time, so it was notable to him.

Sorry? That was an excellent post with a succinct explanation of why TOS is complicated and why people get different outcomes from the same surgery. You should probably post it separately and ask an admin to make it a sticky.

Thanks Eddiemaverick. Were you forced to keep your arm down for a period of time during recovery (I've heard this is the case)? Have you ever been limited in activity since then (other than during recovery)?

There is quite a bit of information out there about the causes and procedure for this, but very little about the aftermath.

What exactly are the possible causes?

I have not been forced to keep my arm down; in fact I've been given range of motion exercises that include overhead motions. I am no more limited in activity than I was prior to surgery; but that isn't saying much as I wasn't doing much prior. One thing I have noticed however is that my range of motion overhead is greatly improved.

I can honestly say that the pec minor tenotomy has been an easy recovery so far compared to a first rib resection.

Thanks for the update. Have you tried any moderate overhead physical activity? Lifting anything overhead?

No, so I can't offer you anything on that front. Dr. Donahue did say that he has professional athletes who've had it done and had no detriment. He also said that thair shoulder specialists there at MGH are unable to find any significant detriment to the tenotomy procedure.

Tostrojan,
That's a genius post. I want to make it my signature. I agree completely

There's too much emphasis on compression and not enough on stretching and irritation

Dry Needling - I have in the past two weeks had this done twice, it is extremely painful. I had it done in the pec minor muscle both times. However, it was a great diagnostic. The day of the dry needling I felt terrible, the next day I felt bad, the following day decent, and then that night I went to bed and woke up with in the morning with my arms above my head and my hands were NOT asleep. That hasn't happened in 10 years! Then that day I felt pretty good, I thought maybe I should go do something fantastic, like paint the ceiling, but my muscles are too weak for that, also I did still have some symptoms, but it was a major improvement. Then the next day symptoms came back, by the day after that, everything was back to prior to the dry needling.

The second time the PT also did the traps and either side of the lower neck between the C5 to C7 area.

9 days to surgery, I go to Denver in 6 days, I am extremely excited!!

Eddie I am seeing Dr. Donahue and he is doing this same operation for me in a few weeks. I have NTOS. How are you now? Have the symptoms resolved?

I am much better, and again the surgery was nothing compared to the first rib resection.

Thanks. I am getting anxious for the operation and hope it will work.

Hi I was wondering how ur Pec minor surgery went w Dr D? I had this done on 3/26 w Dr D wasn't given any Instructions on post op activiity except not to lift more than 10 lbs for remander of the day. Had my Rt side done so been reaching up to get things & blowdrying hair. Was doing ok past wk, except burning & sore in armpit, til last couple days, pain in chest & top shoulder been lot worse! Hope I haven't been doing too much.

Can anyone give me any tips on what I should and shouldn't be doing? My followup appt isn't. til a month away.

Hi,
I am fine. I literally did nothing for two weeks after. I am now 11 weeks post op and doing great, as long as i don't push it. I had the burning a little too, but that was just nerves the healing. I had some chest burning the 3rd week, but that was from pushing it hard on cardio and i was breathing heavy. My shoulder only hurts now from typing. My problem as soley the pec minor tendon.

Thanks for replying
Were u told to do nothing for 2 wks? Do u mean excercise or everything in general, like cooking, cleaning, reaching up? If u dont have tos too, how did u get the Pec minor problem? How was it dx? Just curious cuz its supposed to be rare.
I will be 2 wks on Thurs. I walked 1 mile 2x in 1st wk fryer to keep my surgery arm in pocket most of time. Walked again yesterday, but little faster and used my arm more. So today having worse clavicle and top shoulder pain.

Hi Ciarrai,

I'm hoping you might list your pre-surgery symptoms. Did you have any face/head symptoms (e.g. headache, jaw pain)?

Thanks!

Felt my arm was being pulled out of the socket, cold hand, white hand, numbness of the ring and pinky finger, severe handwriting changes, not able to grab items of feel temp changes.