Folks
I have lurked here for several months.

Since I have gained much from what was written here, I thought I would post about my surgical experience in case someone might find it useful.

PROCEDURE: Transaxillary first rib resection, with partial removal of anterior scalene and a prominent fibrous band. Two inch incision under my armpit.

Surgery took 1.5 hours, spent one night in the hospital. They did a chest x-ray of me in my hospital room the afternoon of the surgery, and then another in the morning. Concern was about lung function.

Taking demerol three times a day. It takes care of most of the pain IF I stay still and lay down. Walking around makes my shoulder and arm throb.

PLEASE NOTE: You will need prune juice and miralax at your house for when you get home. Begin taking one or two glasses of warm prune juice a day, and also a dose of miralax, and maybe stool softeners too. If you don't, you will quickly be dealing with narcotic induced constipation in addition to the pain of the incision. And, yes, the prune juice really does need to be warm/hot. I found that putting a tablespoon of marischino or calvados in it made a tolerable.

Went for post-op today and was told I am doing great. I tend to heal fast and am very fit, so that's probably what has helped.

Instructions are to "let your arm tell you when it is ok to do something.... if it hurts, don't do it." I plan to be off two weeks, because, as they say "you only have one chance to heal right".

I hope this helps someone and please feel free to ask questions.

That's great that you are doing so well and thank you for posting your experience thus far. It's nice toread about someone who has had a positive outcome. I have a few questions if you don't mind. What type of TOS do you have (arterial, venous, and/or neurogenic)? How long did you have symptoms or a diagnosis before undergoing surgery? And finally, what made you decide to get the surgery? Good luck with the rest of your recovery!

Oh, I'm also curious, did the surgeon only find the fibrous band once they were in, or did they already know it was there?

Hi Pix

Regarding fibrous bands, there is no way to see that they are there except for visual inspection. I also had one constricting the nerve on my elbow. The presence of these bands is what makes folks still have symptoms despite lots of strengthening and phys therapy and posture improvement.

My case involved two different things going on: 1) shoulder instability and 2) TOS neurogenic and maybe arterial.

Duration: For about 18 years, tingling and numbness in my little and ring finger, sensation of hand weakness and shoulder pain.

Diagnosed back then with TOS and told "get phys therapy". It worked for a while and I settled on twice per month deep tissue massage ($$$).

Fast forward to 2005, had shoulder stabilization surgery (with a re-do in 2008). Most symptoms resolved. Shoulder symptoms fixed, but then gradually hand and forearm symptoms returned. (The weak feeling is strange, because my grip strength is good, but the sensation is that I have to "think" about holding the glass or I feel like I'll drop it).

12 months ago, I had had enough of this, so went back to shoulder surgeon. He sent me to a vascular (TOS) surgeon and also a hand surgeon. Decided on the carpel and cubital tunnel release (9 months ago) first since its an easy surgery. There was a tight band constricting ulnar nerve. Then sent to more physical therapy to see if we can get the TOS symptoms resolved. I do strength training and there wasn't much the phys therapist could do for me.

At christmas, having so much trouble even using my hand to cook I decided "this is it". Saw a few different vascular surgeons, did the procedure last week. I am very very glad I finally tended to it.

I had a scalenectomy 2006, worked great,now I'm having some problems, it keeps flaring up, I have that tight knot in my neck, I'm waiting for more physical therapy, but work comp is jacking me around as usual, I did'nt need any pain meds after my surgery.