Bi-Lateral surgery experience and results?
 

Hi all,

I had a first rib resection and anterior scalenectomy in Aug. 2012 on my right side. Overall, symptoms are now MUCH better- not perfect and still have occasional flare-ups but hand strength has returned and I'm able to do much more. I can go on the recumbent bike at the gym or the elliptical (no hands- hands on hips instead) for up to 40 minutes several times a week now! My neck still gets tight and I have to be careful not to overdo it, but it's manageable. I was considering the pec minor release but opted not to do it as I was still making progress. I feel I may still need it but am hoping to avoid it.

However, I've been having TOS symptoms on my other side- vascular and neurogenic. No nerve pain like before, but whole arm and hand go numb and I've been losing strength in my left hand. After months of PT (symptoms actually started on and off last year), I decided to do the TOS surgery on my left side this coming December, given how much alleviating compression helped on my right side and that it is clearly anatomical versus mechanical. My PT and dr agree.

Does anyone have experience with having bilateral surgeries, both post-op and long term? I'm worried that my original side will go back to being bad (and that it will become chronic) and that I will end up worse than before. On the flip side, nothing has touched the numbness so I'm not sure I have a choice...

I basically went through the same thing...left rib resection in May 2012, and decided to go back and have right rib resection in February 2013. The tipping point for me, is I am right handed, and it became painful to write. I am 100% sure I made the right decision. I woke up from surgery and my whole hand was pulsing...like the flood gates had opened.

Recovery was harder the second time, mostly because I could not lay on either side and sleeping on my back hurt, so I basically didn't sleep. However, I did not do physical therapy in between surgeries. Your PT will be able to help you hopefully prepare your body for the second surgery.

My left side seemed to continue healing just fine, if not better. The right side is on it's way. I expect after two surgeries like that, let alone having to recover form the years those nerves were compressed, that I will have chronic issues for another few years, but the point I am at today compared to when I had the second surgery is significantly better. Good luck.

Shoestringlover,

Thanks so much for your reply! I'm so sorry to hear about what you've been through, though it is encouraging to hear that surgery was the right decision for you!

Did you have nerve pain on both sides prior to surgery? I did on my right side- the one I had surgery on (it's now mostly gone)- but not on the left, just numbness and some hand weakness.

Also, how long did it take you post-op to get back to activities- work, light cardio, etc? I had an extremely difficult recovery on my first side because I had burning nerve pain for several months and had been in pain for a year and a half beforehand; without that, I think I might have felt better a little sooner, and I'm hoping this time may be easier.

I'm a little worried that all the work I've done on relieving tension is going to be undone because of how my neck will compensate after surgery. I did have Botox in my anterior scalene though...does anyone have thoughts on whether the muscles are already learning to compensate and recovery may be *slightly* easier in this respect or doesn't it make a difference?

I had bad nerve pain on both sides, although it was so intense on the left side, i barely noticed the right until after my left side was 'fixed'. Still waiting for that burning to go away...i dont know how long that will take. It is much less intense pain than before the surgeries. After the second surgery, I went back to work after four weeks which was probably a week too soon. I was surprised at how different the recovery was in small ways. If you have a good PT then they should be able to get you back after surgery. Good luck!