Musician with TOS
 

Hello,

Was wondering if anyone out there could help me with some of my questions.

I am a classical guitarist and I have been having a lot of problems with my left hand.
About 4 years ago i noticed that my hand wasn't functioning as good as it was. I started to complain of my hand being dead and non-responsive. My fingers started to miss hit. Even if it was a simple passage of music physically to play, I would some how find it really hard to get there (fretboard).
About 2 years ago more worrying signs occurred. I would be able to play ok for say a week, then I would have to take a few days off. It then got a bit better after that, played for another week, needed those days off again. Then the rest time increased to say a week rest 2 days play. Than a month rest a few days play. Till I could barely play properly at all. All this time I didn't have any pain. My hand was just dead, numb and i got pins and needles.
Saw so many doctors and physios. Some saying this, some saying that. All saying I can fix you.
I was still getting no where.
People where saying it is all in your head. I thought, maybe it is. I tried different ways of thinking. Was trying to change things with my "mind power" total rubbish I thought, but I try to be open to everything until i can prove it wrong.
I then researched TOS. I had a lot of those symptoms. I saw a neurosurgeon, then a vascular surgeon.
I spent about 10 minutes with the vascular surgeon, then I was out the door and booked for surgery the next week.
Bit of jump after years of trouble.
Had the surgery (rib removal) surgeon came in really happy afterwards saying "you had huge compression on one of your arteries and nerves, from fibrous tissue" and other things, can't really remember his exact words. I have a cervical rib where there was tissue growing.
I was so happy, They found a physical problem.
I knew there was something wrong. Am pretty annoyed with those "its all in your head" people.


It is now about 2 and a half months since surgery and things have improved.
a lot of those symptoms of "dry" hands, numbness have gone.
I am now trying to play again.
Initial days of playing a bit shaky. But after playing my hand used to be all tingly and dry, now it isn't. Perhaps it is a little, but no where near as much.
Started to do some pretty intense playing but some of those symptoms of no being able to find the string are still there. some days are better than others but it is defiantly not 100%.

So does anyone know if this would be normal after surgery? to not be better yet? I know this would probably be a lot to ask but, not sure.
I'm not completely sure how the body works.

I said I Have had these problems for 4 years but symptoms started to occur say 6 years ago. I used to never want to stop playing because if i did and then tried to play say an hour, my hands felt "horrible"

It has been a long time I have been pushing through these symptoms. Making them get worse and worse.
Could I have damaged some nerves beyond repair?
Or does my body just require more months of recovery. After playing I can get a bit of a pulling sensation in the area of surgery.

Could scar tissue still be interfering with nerve function?

I have had a long spiel and I thank you for reading. I hope someone can help me out here a little.

Hope my story can help you understand some of your own thoughts/concerns.








p.s
I think my story is fairly unique, not sure though.
Since I am a musician I have developed areas of my body which would not be quite as well developed for a normal human being.
as most TOS suffers have trouble with pain, I didn't. I used the body in a different way and got an injury. Not like a sport injury where they can't move their whole leg or something, but another kind of "sport injury".
If anyone wants to ask me any questions feel free :)

Scar tissues bring more scar tissues and so on :hug:

I may help if you remember the exact word of your surgeon.

2.5 months is still the recovery time from most posts that I have read .IMO.
I would suggest you find some other activities to do for now and not go back heavy into the guitar yet.
I'm assuming they took the cervie rib out also?

lots of internal things got pushed and pulled out of the way during the surgery and it may take a year to fully know how it all it is doing.

You might look into Alexander technique or Feldenkrais to learn how to best use the body, many musicians do that esp after they had some injury.

i will have to get back to you. I will give the surgeon a call and ask him exactly what he did.

I'm nor sure if they took the cervical rib out, ill have to ask him that as well.

thanks for your comments. The surgeon did mention different levels of progress after 3, 6 months. So here's hoping.

Wishing you successful outcome :). 2 1/2 months is not a lot of time, so go slow.

What type of diagnostic testing did you have done prior to surgery? Was the cervical rib not visible in MRI's, CT's or even an x-ray? I'd be shocked to discover I had one too after being told I don't.

Anne

Hi Anne

thanks for your comment :)
Yeah trying to go slow. I'm young and impatient.

I did have x-rays and an mri. It is only a small cervical rib. Fist neurologist didn't say anything. Then gave the pics to the neurosurgeon and he said yeah here it is.

quite a frustrating experience.

With the MRI they said everything was normal, then he cuts me open (vascular surgeon) and there is major trouble there.

the surgeon said the muscles had "over developed". To big for my own body lol

You're still in the recovery period. It takes nerves a long time to repair/heal. I think it was near a year before the worst areas had recovered for me. I was sent to a hand occupational therapist to help with residual hand issues. Now, the hand/forearm muscles have recovered and look normal.

I was going to suggest Feldenkrais to you, but I see someone already has. If you can find a physical therapist who is also a Feldenkrais practitioner (which I have done myself), your insurance may cover the treatment.

the surgeon said the muscles had "over developed"

I prefere this. Do you know what muscles? Scalene, subclavius ?

well I'm just hoping it does recover eventually, so many times i have thought it was going to get better and it hasn't.

Yes I have been doing some Alexander technique. Haven't done it post op yet, but i plan to. my Alexander teacher is quite expensive $70 a lesson.

Again I'm not sure which muscles where over developed. I need to get some more information out of him.
Always hard to with a busy surgeon