What's your scar look like from supraclavicular surgery?
 

Just considering options. Wondering what the supraclavicular scar ends up looking like if 1st rib resected and scalenes out, cervical rib resected?
Thanks!

I believe Blurto has some pics posted in his profile photo albums.

Edit: Here you go. It's a slight over-share, but I chose to post the whole pic instead of the cropped version because it seems like the best way to show you its overall visual impact, as opposed to just zooming in on the incision site. Forgive the unkempt facial hair, I've lost a lot of dexterity in my right hand over the last month.

http://imgur.com/tK0goS8

and

http://imgur.com/gW66O73

A couple more questions if you don't mind...
 

What exactly was done?

Is there any kind of "divot" (for lack of a better word) that can't be seen on the picture?

How long was the surgery?
How long were you in the hospital for?

What has recovery been like so far?
What kind of help did you need postop, and for how long?

driving?

Do you do PT, and how often?

What kind of estimate were you given for a return to work?

Thanks so much for any insight you can give!!

That's a lot of questions! I'll try to keep this brief while addressing all points. There are a lot of good stories from others in "Intros & your TOS history" sticky thread which is at the top of the forum listings.

What exactly was done?

Left side 1st rib resectioning, with a portion of the 2nd rib removed as well (they were fused together at birth, this is not a typical TOS scenario as far as the 2nd rib is concerned).


Is there any kind of "divot" (for lack of a better word) that can't be seen on the picture?

No divot whatsoever. I hope nobody else has one, either! The only results of the surgery that are externally visible are the scar and a smaller scar slightly apart from the primary scar it where the drainage tubing was inserted during my hospital stay.

How long was the surgery?

I believe I was in the OR for 3 hours. From what I have been told this is far longer than a single rib re-sectioning generally lasts.

How long were you in the hospital for?

I was released during the afternoon of the second day after my operation.

What has recovery been like so far?

Slow. Steady. Painful. Hard.

What kind of help did you need postop, and for how long?

Food prep/cleanup was the most obvious area where I needed help. To be honest this is tough to answer, as if there is anything I don't *need* to do that I would need help with, I have simply cut it out of my life. If it requires lifting, motor control, or more than one hand, I avoided it for most of the first month.

driving?

I avoided driving for a month after surgery. To be honest it still hurts and makes me sore, but I think these days that is largely due to the massive increase in the severity of symptoms/weakness I've seen in my right side since the left side was operated on.

Do you do PT, and how often?

I was advised not to begin PT. That may change at some point, I still have scheduled checkups with my surgeon.

What kind of estimate were you given for a return to work?

No estimate. I'm currently not working (I had planned to travel in Asia/ hike the Appalachian Trail before my symptoms spirally out of control) but I don't know that I could have worked any earlier than around the two month point. Most people with a single rib re-section seem to be fine going back after one month +/- a week, though.

I hope this helps,
Ben

Pictures in Album
 

Hi guys,

Pop into my profile and check out images from two surgeries, the second one was the rib resection after the first surgery didn't solve anything.

Its one year since then and I haven't posted many results because my recovery has not been a great experience, but its more in line with work not looking after me very well and placing me in a high pressure, stressful area while I recuperated. (Gotta luv working for the government).

Now my head space is not a healthy one, I'm getting help for that, and my right lung has herniated into the surgery site and it is causing pressure on the second rib, causing pleura issues at the vertebrate. Essentially i have had pleurisy type pain and shortness of breath for a year, and I'm not enjoying life just at the moment.

I don't want to put others off having rib resections as required, my situation was two surgeries in the same place which has weakened the muscle walls. If you look at the images, I have a nice ten inch scar that now pops out quite a bit when i cough etc. (It looks like a small frog just below the clavicle) and i have to be wary when i want to laugh.

Will post properly later on my thread.

Cheers for now.

Thanks so much for the info!
 

Thank you!!!

Hi there, I had this same surgery. 14 mos. Postop. My scar is about 3 inches long & barely noticeable. The 1st 2 mos. it was puffy. I covered it with bandaids when I was at beach or lying in sun, I think this really helps, also sunscreen.
Hope this helps!