Hi Sheri
Would you recommend him as a surgeon?? I really like him. I just saw him for a follow up last week and he recommended a "first rib resection and brachial plexus neurolysis decompression." I just had another scalene block on the left and pain was instantly gone and still is (nearly 48 hours later) so the physiatrist told me I would have a good result with surgery.

Did you have surgery at Overlake? How many days in the hospital? Recovery time? I'm thinking of having this done in late April/early May. If I can get relief like I did from the scalene injection, the surgery would be worth it to me.

My docs all tell me Ombrellaro is the guy to do it in Seattle.

Thanks!
Diane

Surgery was at Overlake, 2 days in the hospital. He had come recommended by my physiatrist and I heard good things about him from others. He also did the transaxialliary approach which I felt (my own opinion) was better based on my understanding of anatomy from my A&P courses. I will be back for the other side, when the sx warrant it. Personally, I don't want to go through that surgery again, nor consider spine surgery but I realize both may be in my future.

I owe my ability to return to work to him as it was getting impossible for me to work pre-surgery. Pre-surgery, I couldn't hide the situation anymore from clients as the pain/spasms were bad. It was taking it's toll on me. I just remember distinctly not being able to use that hand to grab anything. It couldn't hold a fork or a pen pre-surgery. The forearm & hand looked sickly (like someone who's aneroxic). There was a lot of muscle wasting/atrophy in the hand and forearm. Now, the arm is somewhat affected by the neck situation (stenosis at C5/C6) but it doesn't affect the intrinsic hand muscles & forearm muscles like TOS did. I think my hand looks normal especially compared to the other side that is beginning to show signs of atrophy/wasting.

Hi Sheri

wow. Sounds like we have the same stuff going on! I also have the c5-6 stenosis. Who is your surgeon for that?

Right now I am feeling pretty good after my scalene block on Friday. I am surprised the relief lasted this long.

I'm also down in palm springs and the warm sunshine is helping as well.

How long was your recovery from surgery?

I had two surgeries with Dr. Kaj Johansen. Unsure of spelling. The one side had a rib removal, the other side did not. He was wonderful and for years I have experienced little to no pain post op. Lately, I have been going back to him recently for a build up of scar tissue on the side that he didn't remove the rib. I've been having Botox injections and they have worked very well. However, that doc has retired and now I don't know of any other doctor in the greater northwest area that does the botox for TOS symptoms. Does anyone out there know of anyone?

Many thanks,
Karen

Try Dr. Campbell or Dr. Seroussi.

I just saw Dr. Kaj Johansen and I really liked him. I am scheduled for to have a scalenectomy on March 3rd with him.

I have been seeing Dr. richard Seroussi for diagnosis and also consulted with Kaj Johansen (at swedish) and so far both have been helpful.