[sueofct]

Hi. My symptoms are so very similar to your including the pain all over. I've had it for years. If one part of my body has pain, it seems to spread all over most of my limbs. Diagnosed with Fibro, have had brain surgery for Chiari I Malformation, and after years of shoulder, arm, neck and hand pain, just diagnosed with TOS. Started on he left but now I have it on both sides, left being much worse. Now looking at surgery after years of PT, trigger point injections, chiropractors, accupressure, etc. Not sure abou he surgery or exactly what the surgery entails. He wants to go in under my armpits.

[Jomar]

Hi Sue,
Please read as much as you can here about all the testing, therapies, the pros & cons of surgery.
It can do good , but is not always a cure, and sometimes can make things worse.

We have some polls about symptoms, surgery outcomes, articles, and special saved threads in our Useful sticky thread - up above the thread list.
also a Drs & PT sticky...

Quite a few long time w TOS do have Fibro and or RSD....I think after a few years of pain the body gets worn down and these other pain syndromes move in also.

I'm assuming you've had xrays & MRIS so no extra cervical rib or bony anomalies have shown up.

PS - just saw this in your other post -
[Surgeon talking about removing 1st rib going in under armpit. Said I'd be back to work (on a computer asll day) in 1 week. From what I've read, this sounds unrealistic. Looking for info on the surgery, recovery, etc.]

I think I'd run from that surgeon!!!

* how many successful TOS operations has he done per year - that's a question to ask any surgeon you get an opinion from.*
skill & experience is important for this surgery, there are so many delicate structures involved and the issue of post op scar tissue/adhesions is another possibility. This scar tissue overgrowth problem may not show up for 6-12 months or more after surgery.

Read as much as you can and ask questions too.

[sueofct]

hanks for your reply. I'll be sure to check out he threads. This surgeon is a Thoracic Vascular surgeon who specialized in the lungs. I also have an appt w/a surgeon at Yale who specializes in this and found a doctor from he list here in Hartford, about an hour away. What is the expected recovery time after surgery for most?

[Jomar]

If I recall most have said about 3 weeks for the worst of it to pass- but still slow going after that and you have to be cautious not to do any quick reactions or have any falls.