I was diagnosed with Arterial TOS today by a Vascular Surgeon and he is recommending that I have my first rib removed o both sides....separately of course. I am having very bad pain and numbness symptoms and I am terrified....

Good morning, I too have been DX'd with ATOS on both sides. I too was very scared, but I am so thankful that I found this website! Do a search on ATOS, look in the introductions section on this forum ( near the top of front page as a sticky) and introduce yourself as well! What are your symptoms? How long have you been seeking medical attention for your symptoms? What kinds of testing have been done??

I have posted my story in the intoductions section, and since I have recently had my left first rib removed/scalenectomy, I have also posted in the post op experiences thread.

I'd be happy to help! Where are you located?

Jocelyn

Hello,
I've been catching up on my gardening finally now that the weather is cooperating for me, so somehow I missed saying a hello & welcome.

my typing is limited a bit because of my gardening activities, here is the sticky thread links for plenty of start up info-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread135.html

and the forum search - it great for find specific info
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/search.php

Hi all thank you for the welcomes and the posts and advice. I have had a doppler ultrasound, and a physical exam by a vascular surgeon. I am having a ct scan tomorrow. I have been having symptoms for 3-4 years and I have also been trying physical therapy that has not produced any changes.
I am having extreme headaches, arm pain, numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers. I also wake up with complete hand numbness multiple times in the night. So bad that if I am on my stomach I can not even use my hands to roll myself over. My husband has to roll me over onto my back. It is miserable. I get finger numbness from typing...and driving and lifting. Basically my life sucks. I also have fibromyalgia and so I am miserable.

Just curious, how did they differentiate your guys' symptoms as arterial versus the more common neurogenic. Was it just the doppler ultrasound or?

Tummy sleeping is about the sleeping posture I think, places extra pressures on the low back..

Also are your hands/arms above or over your head when you tummy sleep?
Many of us had to teach ourselves not to sleep in those bad positions.