surgery or no surgery???
 

any thoughts? pro or con?
It looks as if I'm going to need a rib resection with sclenectomy :(

As has been said so many times, get yourself to a top surgeon, with a lot of experience doing these surgeries. Take their statistics regarding success with a grain of salt.

I had a surgeon is SF who has done about 90 surgeries. I liked him and he provided good follow up. The surgery just didn't work. In the 3 years since surgery, I have gotten much worse.

But other people here have had some success..Maybe they will weigh in.

Kelly

I'd say my rib resection and scalenectomy improved my headache, circulation, RSD situation - but I cannot say that for everyone. In fact, no one should tell you one way or the other. It should be your own personal decision.

surgery was a walk in the park compared to actually having TOS.

my hand symptoms are better thus far, but my back still hurts a lot.

i am 10 weeks out on the right side, and 5.5 months out on the left side.

I saw Dr Ahn in LA, he does two surgeries every monday, and is considered quite and expert in the field. I would highly recommend him if coming to LA is an option.

No regrets here
 

I would have surgery again in a second. After surgery my pain relief from TOS was instant. I had acute pain from the surgery but the numbness and tingling went away almost instantly.

I was very happy to get rid of the symptoms....I had a very vascular problem so the relief was great...no more hand swelling.....

So I am pro surgery!!:D

Love and hugs,
Victoria:hug:

As others stated, It has to be your decision. I had mine 7 years ago and had 6 years pain free. The pain that I am suffering from now is minor compared to my life before. When I say pain free, I mean not even advil. But, due to driving too long (20 hours of stress) I aggravated the problem. But now it is minimal. Pain medication, percocet and pamerol and that is it. Not large amounts. I am able to live a "normal" life. Good days and bad but much better. It was a long road. I even had a baby in between who will be turning 5 next week. Planning her birthday and College shopping for my oldest. Life can be tricky!

Wish you the best in your decision. Linda

thanks everyone.
My dad actually had this surgery more than 30 years ago (he was a guinea pig at the time LOL) and he has never regretted it.
I'm now in the process of getting the name of the Dr at Hosp of Univ of Penn in Philly. I have to start over (sort of) to get my surgery scheduled but at least I have documented Venous/neurogenic TOS.
Now the crappy part, my office manager just gave me notice that I'll be let go on 12/31/07. What a nice way to start the new year:( Luckily my insurance is thru my hubby, but how am I to have surgery in the spring with just having started a new job???
I ought to go out on medical leave now and stick it to them! (it's not work related but they knew I needed this surgery) How's that for treating me after 8 years of service!!! (long story)
If it weren't for the fact of taking care of my farm I would have it done now, but I don't have the extra help in the winter:(
Sorry for the rant, I finally came to terms with needing this surgery and my manager is being a PITA.
I only hope my next boss is more understanding.

I am with you on reconsidering medical leave....even if you only mean it as a joke!, if you need the surgery, are you sure you aren't doing yourself more damage each day by working? If you are on the computer all day you may very well be. I really regret working those last 6 months or so In hindsite, it was a very bad idea to keep abusing my body that way. I am probably better now than i was then, but having a glimpse of what 'could' be (i see it only on the good days, which still come and go, even at home) i know that I was seriously in bad shape. The improvement I have gotten by tracking down my problems carefully and concentrating on fixing each individual one is essential if I am ever going to function close to normally again. I have gained 1000x more awareness of when i am using my body improperly and how much better it feels if I can get it to a proper position...of course it doesn't really want to be in that proper positioning, only gradual coaxing is helping it to get a little closer each day.

Just becuase they gave you notice doesn't mean you can't reconsider your personal medical situation.

just a thought.

warmly,
johanna

Dear HorseMommy,

I am sorry to hear about this kick in the Gut, of course the timing doesn't help. I cannot offer any advice re:surgery...wish I could. I am considered a 'Surgical Candidate', but in my case surgery is inadviseable unless an emergency arose. (I have severe bi-lateral, arterial and neurogenic TOS, plus much more.)

I can however empathize about the job. Several years ago, I was laid off in a RIF...(reduction in force). I worked for a large corporation and was told I did not have enough seniority. Eight years was my story too. Even though I knew it in advance, I was totally devastated. I was single and had no home or backup income.

The GOOD news is, that RIF was the best thing that ever happened to me. It took a few years, but I thought about what I really wanted to do and eventually landed the most awesome job I could imagine. I had the privledge of working in National Secuity, in a meaningful job, for many years.

I hope you have the resources to take your time to heal, then I wish all the luck in the world to find your dream job.;)

Warmly,
Anne

THANKS EVERYONE for the kind words. I really need them today. I guess due to the added stress of being laid off and the cold weather, I'm in such pain today. My hand is purple, my tricept muscle aches so bad I could cry and my left eye has double vision:(
it was so bad earlier I almost thought I was having a TIA !!! I know I have vascular TOS and it's acting up. I only worry about throwing a clot. The RN I work with took my blood pressure and the "bad" arm pressure is higher. Which means it's getting worse. STUPID TOS :mad:
I'm in the process of getting a new dr so hopefully I can get my surgery in early spring. My hubby is taking a job change (he's a federal employee) on 1/1/08 and won't be able to take time off of his new job to help me at home. So I have to wait. On the up side his new job pays more and I won't have to worry about being out of work when I do finally get my surgery.

You might think/list the pros and cons of taking med leave now-

use the off time to focus on self:)
but
if you would need to use your own vacation pay :(

there are plenty of other pro/con to consider
:grouphug:

I would make sure it is not a discrimination thing as to why you are let go.:(

Actually,

Jo55 has a good point. You mentioned your spouse works for the Federal Gov't, do you as well? If so, don't forget you are entitled to the Family Medical Leave Act. If you are just going to lose your sick leave anyway, it might be wise to go ahead and use it.

I might be able to help you with information on that, if you need it.

Anne

Please go see a work comp attorney BEFORE you do anything about leaving your job.

Are you 100% sure that your job did not -

cause the problem
exacerbate the problem
accelerate the problem
contribute even 1% to the injury

Or, that your lay-off, termination - whatever,

is properly motivated and carried out
has NO interest in "losing" you - dead weight in their eyes or to avoid later accomodations or cost?

I could think of more, but a good work comp attorney FOR FREE should be able to address these questions for you according to the laws of your state.

Just fyi, meant with love, always...

but before you go the w/c route, if you have good medical and some sort of disabiltiy insurance through the co or otherwise, even if you COULD go W/C, it might be easier to NOT if there are causes that are not work related.

I have had my own internal debate, I am sure work contributed to my symptoms, but I have good medical and disability insurance- it has cost a lot of my own money to be treated through my own health insurance, but I'll take it any day over dealing with the W/C nightmare that others have.

just a thought. It is important to weigh both set of options, i think, and CLEARLY there are more details that you are aware of that none of us are, probably more than you could stand to type to explain all the circumstance :) Just offering up my own reactionalry thoughts to what i read...

also meant with the warmest caring thoughts.

I don't usually disagree with Johannakat, but in this case, I don't see that she indicated you should make your decisions AFTER you seek a work comp FREE consult, which was my entire point. I NEVER tell someone they should or shouldn't file - it is a personal consideration. However, that consideration should be made when you know what you're talking about.

There are issues of permanent disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation and securing one's career legally despite an illness that a GOOD work comp attorney should discuss with you fully for FREEEEEE. There are many more considerations / rights you'd be losing - best to know what rights you are giving up before you do so, in general.

So it isn't that I disagree with what she's saying, but I like people to get a confidential, FULL, FREE work-up of their particular facts, state and information, so that when one makes a decision either way, one has ALL of the facts.

Many times private insurance and disability contracts have legal terms / policies that if a doctor later says something was work related, you could be dropped, or a protracted law suit could follow, whereas you might be too late to properly file for w/c, AND, in as for the private route, there are of course no lump sum payments or life pensions to pay for your permanent disability and losses in the open job market that work comp DOES compensate you for.

They are two totally different concepts, each very complex, and no non-lawyer should make such a decision without seeking a professional determination.

I personally sought my OWN advice from a respected attorney, even though I was one myself. I needed the objective advice.

I did the same on the Social Security issues.

I will soon do the same and seek a disability attorney's advice on disabilities in the public and work force, for my own edification.

This is just a general discussion and may not even apply to this person's post - I kind of got off-track, but I felt it should be mentioned.

Thanks for all the advise. I will take it under advisement.
I'm not feeling any better today but I did get a phone call from a large medical group I had very casually interviewed with. They want me to start Dec 10th. I really can't afford not to work until I get this surgery done. And No, it wasn't from my job.
Actually I believe I've had it for years. four years ago I fell in my barn isleway dragging a large horse on top of me, propelling this whole thing forward a few years!
I'm just trying to figure out how to control the symptoms at this point. I know I suffer from subclavian steal syndrome so I'm trying to be very careful. I'm pretty sure I can't throw a clot as my blood is very thin to start with.
But I worry about the problems it's causing with my eyesight and hand. I'm getting a "backflow" effect causing my visual disturbances and then the spasm of the arteries and veins in my arm. Yeah, not fun :(
Thanks for "listening" everyone.