NeuroTalk Support Groups - Complications after Rib Resection

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Complications after Rib Resection

I am 8 week post surgery and am in more pain now than before surgery! I had the first rib resected on the right side through the arm pit and my right arm has been on fire every sense, the middle two finger of my right hand feel like they have been hit with a hammer. I am taking 1200 mg of neurotin a day to make the pain tolerable but this is very difficult to deal with.
Has any one else exeriance these symptoms?

i am sorry you are in such pain. do you have good support? i hope someone is helping, 8 wks is a very short time for this operation. please listen to your body and do only what your body says is okay.

keep up a positive attitude if you can, as this promotes healing. eat a diet with protein and all different colors of fruits and veggies. a good diet will also help you heal. get a lot of sleep if you can. i recommend a multi vitamin and extra b12 for stress.

I have not had the operation but i have you in my thoughts for a positive outcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairgirl (Post 646059)

I'm sorry to hear about your continued pain. Do you mind if I ask who performed your surgery and what hospital? My son had rib resection performed by a surgeon who had performed 20 rib resections. One year later the rib had grown back and we are currently in the hospital recovery from a rib resection "redo" by Dr. Charles Brantigan in Denver, Co.

Hey,

So sorry for your all's surgical failures. For you, it's terrible to endure all that and not get good results for whatever the reason. This is tricky stuff. Not easy to treat or live with. Many do have a great recovery. Unfortunately some do not.

It takes a long to for nerves to settle down. I pray it becomes tolerable for you.

Keep us informed as you two go along. I'm sure others will come along and give you their experiences after their surgeries. I never had surgery but lived through 7 years of hell. TOS is terrible to deal with. It entails so many delicate parts of our body.

Maybe try some relaxation techniques. they do help.

Drink lots of water.

I did learn "palms up" here that seem to put your body in a better position. Have you seen the human atlas posters at a doctor's office or physical therapy department, where they are standing with their palms toward you. Kind of like that, even if you're laying. seems to help some.

I've had TOS almost 10 years now. It's been hell to live with. I'm not doing much better. I am working on my posture as my rolled forward shoulders are causing me some pain and problems. working on my core so my back will get stronger to support my upper body.

At this point of your journery, I would caution you to make sure any health care provider that touches you knows, in detail, about TOS and what they're doing. You have to inquire and know that they have experience working with TOS patients or just say no and wait till you do find experienced providers.

Hairgirl - My first rib was removed in the same manner as yours. It does take awhile for the nerves to settle down. The nerves were irritated during surgery and have to regrow. The first couple of months were not good but things did get better.

What has your doctor(s) said about the pain? Have they started you on physical therapy?

Geesh, I just hate to hear these stories...

BrokenWings you replied wonderfully!

Hello Hair Girl,

Just a few thoughts to share. I had the rib decompression at my neck, I know there's a "real name" for this, but after all these years, I can't remember what it is! For me, the pain relief I received was instantaneous-not full relief, but considerable. I did not have relief from the weakness, and knots I get in my arms.

I also accquired CRPS after some time. Some people get it immediately after a surgery. I don't want to alarm you, just want to suggest you read up on it on the CRPS/RSD site. Get to know some of the members over there and see if your symptoms are similar to theirs. Just in case it is CRPS/RSD, don't use ice on the affected areas.

In the mean time, just rest and do as little as possible with that arm. Relaxation techniques are super important as is posture, as Broken Wings said, and it does take time for nerves to settle as Sherri_TOS stated. Stress will exacerbate your pain, so try ,as hard as this is to do with that much pain, to remain as calm as you can. Deep breathing is really a good thing to do thru out the day. It also helps with your posture!

Also, I take 2400 mg of Neurontin a day. Obviously, it takes time to get up to that dosage, but maybe increasing your dose will help? Will your Dr. Rx opiates? Some do, and they can help.

Sorry you are going thru this. It's really difficult, but glad you found this site so that you have support!

First, Hi and LOVE to you!

I think the surgeries do stop the progresssion (rate) of the disease and actually took away my most horrific headaches pretty much completely.

Now I have heard of nerves burning under the armpit area by other posters.

I know you can call my surgeon Dr. Annest in Denver Colorado and he would end up calling you just to talk about generalities of the burning nerves, I believe. He really loves us TOSers. (Not to say that there aren't other docs, too.)

But I am leaning towards wanting another look at the incision cites, surgical report, etc., by just one other doctor. Couldn't hurt.

This is the stage where you definitely do not want to push yourself, strengthen muscles or arms, or do too much so that the room that was made by removing tissue now fills up with scar tissue which then becomes painful itself.

And, as someone else said, be aware of RSD. I actually had RSD the worst before surgery - but I still have to fight it now. It reminds me of chicken pox because it hides and then comes out with RED SKIN, HOT SKIN, possibly HORRIFIC PAIN, water blisters, rashes / spots like shingles.

Now RSD can have all sorts of causes - nerves ticked off because you are allergic to a medicine or you were outside too long, or you had a PT who was pushing your body too much...and more. But it's important that we all notice the different types of pain we feel, where they happen, and what seems to set them off.

Fibromyalgia is another one to watch our for. This is one that has pain to muscles or joints, but definitely adds a lot of tiredness.

All of these are possible work comp cases - get a free consult if it looks like you start missing work, for possible benefits. Also, if it looks like you'll miss work more than 1 year, seek a social security attorney for free. Lastly, I am bedridden since about 1 year of having TOS in 2002, (til now, after surgery also) and I have a nurse 5 days a week paid for by my insurance co. There are social workers who can hook people up with county home health aides also.

Hope this all helps everyone.

So sorry for your situation. I have experienced much pain and five major surgeries, including neck and back fusions with hardware and two surgeries related to T.O.S. and I can say the removal of my first rib from under my arm was a long and painful recovery. My first six ribs were fractured from my sternum and when recovering from my first rib removal, those other ribs had not been addressed - so I'm sure that didn't help. I felt instant relief when I awoke from that surgery, but that does not mean pain free. I had the same type of burning sensation and irritation under my arm and the whole back of that arm. Three years post-op, that same is area is still irritated, though not as bad - I've been told it is nerve damage.
I hope your recovery is short and the results are great. I am not in a position to give advise on how to feel better; almost eleven years past my accident and I haven't figured out pain management. T.O.S. is hard to deal with and I am excited I just found this website b/c it is good to know it isn't in my head. Have a blessed day.

Bilateral First Rib Fractures from MVA in 9/2012

I was happy to find this blog as I was in a car accident in Sep 2012 that left me with bilateral first rib fractures. My initial diagnosis was Right first rib fracture. I went 60 days before the follow-up xray showed that both sides were broken. The pain would radiate down both of my arms and into my hands, but has gotten better. I am still taking percocet 3-4 x per day for pain management.

My doctor said that first rib fractures are rare, and we have struggled to find anyone who "knows what to do with me".

It has been almost 8 months since the accident, and the ribs are finally starting to form calluses. I would like to avoid rib resection if possible. I found a study from Japan where orthopedic doctors used LIPUS/bone stimulators with great success.

QUESTIONS: Has anyone had any success healing their fractured ribs with bone stimulation? what kind of doctor has initiated your resections?...orthopedic? Thoracic surgeon??

I will be seeing a thoracic surgeon today, but I want surgery to be a last resort. Any feedback would be appreciated.