new member TOS, just had first rib resection
 

I was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome with effort thrombosis about 2 months ago. I was working out and felt like my arm muscles ripped. After that, my arm became swollen and would turn blue when it wasn't elevated.
I waited a few days then went to urgent care and had an ultrasound which confirmed I had 2 blood clots in my upper arm/neck. I was admitted to the hospital and told I have TOS and would need surgery.
I just had the first rib resection surgery last Thursday and spent 3 nights in the hospital. Now I'm at home trying to recover. I still have lots of pain, numbness and not very much range of motion. Has anyone else had this surgery? Just wondering what to expect as far as recovery and if anyone has any tips for me? I've been trying to do stretches I've learned in PT, but I'm still in so much pain. I'm trying to stay positive, but it has been difficult. Its hard because none of my family or friends have even heard of TOS. I'd love to hear from others who have TOS and their experiences, this is still all so new to me.
Thanks,
Lisha

Did your surgeon suggest stretching so soon?

Only a week out seems quite soon,
*do move the arm gently and lightly keep range of motion to keep fluids moving & tissues healthy, and so you don't get frozen shoulder.*

If Dr didn't approve or mention of stretches I would not do any til he OKs it..

Usually take it easy & slow for a couple of weeks is the general time frame post op.
Most have had a good amount of pain for a few weeks..

Avoid fast grabs/reaches or no rough car rides..:eek:

Take time and let it heal awhile...

Thank you for the feedback. Your right, I need to take it easy. I've been doing some simple stretches that the PT at the hospital showed me, but I agree I'm not ready for all of them. I'll just keep with some of the simple movements.

I was fairly active before all of this, so it is hard to not do much. I know I need to take it easy so I can recover, so hopefully I can become active again down the road.

Thanks,

Lisha

Hi Lisha,

I agree with Jo, a few days out of this surgery is way too soon to be doing stretches. I didn't do much at all for the first month and if you do any stretching, it is best to do them in the shower under hot water but it is definitely too early for that.

Please don't push yourself as you can compromise the results of this surgery.

FYI: I had 2 first rib resections.

Hi Lisha
I just had a first rib resection last week as well. Doing well, just stopped oxy today. Ibuprofen and Tylenol are working to keep pain tolerable. I agree about the slow/no stretching. Dr.Donahue at MGH has me doing head tilts and arm walk up a wall but only to tightness, not pain. I also have numbness in my left arm and hand. I was told it would take a few months for it to subside. Like Jo*mar said watch the quick reflex motions.
Best of luck to you

Thank you all for the advice. It's been 2 weeks since my surgery and I'm doing really well. I'm starting to get some range of motion back and some of my numbness is going away.

Lisha

Rib Resection Recovery
 

I have had 2 first rib resections (left in dec 2012 and right in August 2014). I was at vastly different levels of fitness when the surgeries were preformed, so the recovery process was very different the second time around. My best advice for you is to do what you feel comfortable with, and follow the instructions of your doctor. After my first surgery, it took nearly 4 months before I could raise my arm all the way up and touch my shoulder to my ear; after my second surgery, it took 5 days - obviously, I was in vastly better shape at that point.

After the first surgery, I could barely get out of bed for the first 48 hours - I was very sore and my lung capacity was severely reduced. The second time, I was walking a mile each morning around the hospital hallways within 48 hours of surgery and a mile before bed each night in the hospital (I downloaded an app to map my walks).

The point is, it is hard to say what it the right way to go about recovery because the whole experience can be very unique (even within the same person). Best of luck with recovery. Feel feel to email me if you have questions.

Elizabeth

Just had surgery ...
 

And I was told to start stretching and doing to light PT the very next day. Of course you have to be careful to not stretch to the point of pain or any other symptoms.

Now I have Neuro TOS, so maybe that makes a difference?

I am now 16 days out and recovering (very slowly but recovering 😃)

Hope you are recovering well! 😄

Teeners

I was likewise prescribed head tilts, look to the side, nods, and look up (10 second holds per rep, 5 reps three times a day). In addition I was told to do wall climbs to the front and to the side. I started these before I left the hospital.

Everyone is different, but in two days I had nearly full range of motion. I can get my torso flat against the wall with my arms up in front. The side raises were a little painful in my back at first, but not any more. . . .

The longer you wait to do this stuff, the harder it will be to get your range of motion back. You want you body to heal adjusted to movement, else you'll probably end up ripping something later or be saddled with a frozen shoulder.

Stretch, but not into pain. The recommended 10 second holds probably aren't long enough. I started holding for 30 seconds, else you can relax into the stretch.

At first sneezing was very unpleasant. I just sneezed twice and it didn't hurt. (I'm a day shy of two weeks out from surgery.)

Years of Pain/Now Post FRR & Scanlenectomy
 

Hi,
I just had a FRR/Scalenectomy for TOS on right approximately two weeks ago. Unfortunately I suffered with neck/shoulder/back pain for many years which eventually progressed to numbness and tingling in my arm and scapular area over the past couple years. Finally I got a diagnosis and just had the surgery in May. I was out of the hospital the following day. I have full range of motion and have been able to do stretching exercises. I must say that I am still pretty active while I am at home and I am wondering if anyone thinks that this could be making my healing worse? I take Flexeril and Gabapentin for the muscular and nerve pains. I have only taken the Dilaudid a few times since Ive been home. Ive never experienced any sharp pains but I do still have the same TOS symptoms that I experienced before surgery such as the neck/shoulder/back pain. I do have some hand/forearm numbness/tingling that worsened from the surgery b/c of so much scar tissue but that seems to be improving. I'm also wondering about the scar. I don't see many people commenting about their scars. Mine was a supralavicular approach but seems to be thick and firm and protruding out a bit. Will this settle out? I appreciate any comments. Thank you.