found this info-
[Look outside the proverbial box for a First Rib Fixation Syndrome. A majority of doctors will overlook this syndrome as part of their initial examination and diagnosis. This is unfortunate because an elevated first rib can cause a myriad of symptoms and complications, leaving a patient to suffer unnecessarily for years. ]
http://studentdc.com/studentdc-blog/...tion-syndrome/

more -
http://www.google.com/search?q=first...ient=firefox-a

Hi Gerl; hope this finds you better! I had TOS from bilateral cervical ribs that kept getting worse until I had them removed which stopped most all the symptoms enough that I play vollyball 3 times a week at 72 y/o. I have read that one can have TOS without any obvious physiological problem. I have seen that some excercise is bad for the too little space there but there are some that help by opening up that space; some physical therapists know which ones. Good luck! Richard

I had surgery almost six years ago. Even with surgery, it's been a continual process of getting worse. Each year I am able to do less and less and medication that once provided relief doesn't any longer.

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have surgery until I'd tried everything. Even then, you have to know going in that it might not work. For those of us with long term neurogenic TOS, surgery often does not provide relief.

Each person just has to do a gut check to see what's right for him or her. One of the hardest things about TOS is knowing there are no sure things.

Good luck to all, whatever they decide about surgery.