The short story is, two years ago I was at work (auto technician) taking a transmission out of an audi. I was working over my head all day and it resulted in a blood clot in my left shoulder. After dissolving the clot the surgeon told me that I had to have my first rib removed or the clot would return. Since the surgery I have had constant pain when moving, lifting, or using my left arm in anyway. I have been to doctors all over New England but none have been able to help. I have heard that first rib resections often cause long term problems. I am just wondering if others have had the same problems.

I'll copy your post over to the Thoracic outlet syndrome forum, that's where you can find more info about rib resections.

You'll find it here-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

be sure to read in the useful sticky thread also - there are some Polls & info about symptoms, treatments, & surgery results.

i got a thrombus as well.it didn't dislove and i started warfarin 6 months ago .i have no syptoms but they offered me now to do surgery for first rib resections to avoid recurrence.what do you think?? is it a simple surgery?? plz advice me and thank you very much

Moved this thread over to the thoracic outlet syndrome forum so nabeel can get more replies.

Its sounds like your surgery did go wrong. Surgeries for vascular TOS are highly successful. It sounds like your surgeon may have injured your brachial plexus, left scalene muscles that have reattached where they are causing problems, or you could have scar tissue/adhesions compromising your plexus. You may need to travel to find a TOS expert with experience in fixing other's mistakes.

I have heard good things about:

Dean Michael Donahue, MD - http://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=16342

Julie A. Freischlag, M.D. - http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/surge...lty/Freischlag

Dr. Charles Brantigan - www.drbrantigan.com

Dr. Robert Thompson - http://surgery.wustl.edu/tos/TOS.aspx

I think Brantigan and Thompson are likely the most used to treating "out-of-towners".

Dr. Annest also sees out-of-towners and you can schedule two consults (one with Dr. Brantigan and one with Dr. Annest) during the same trip if you make the trip to Denver. I found Dr. Annest's TOS scheduler to be extremely helpful. She asked a lot of questions especially since I already had TOS surgery on the other side.

http://vascularinstitute.com/stephenannestmd.htm

Depending on where you are in VT, you're just a drive away from MGH. Dr. Donahue is very conservative, but an incredible doctor.