Hi, all. Very relieved to have found this forum. Have read many of your stories and can relate to many of them, but definitely empathize with them all.

I am 36 yo. I've been a court reporter for 17 years. Three years ago I started developing left arm/neck pain and progressive weakness. I notice I was frequently dropping things, and I found thinks like stirring dinner and drying my hair progressively painful to the point of almost impossible. My left hand goes to sleep every night and anytime I hold it up, even to read a book.

I've seen my GP, a neurosurgeon, a pain specialist, four PTs, a chiropractor, and now a physiatrist. I've had negative cervical spine MRIs, shoulder arthrogram, and two negative EMGs. I finally had an MRA of my left subclavian artery, and it showed I have greater than 95% stenosis in about a three-centimeter section. They don't "think" I have a cervical rib, but the study apparently wasn't conclusive on that.

Doc has referred me to Hugh Gelabert at UCLA. (I live in Boise, Idaho.) Dr. Gelabert has said I need two surgeries; first the rib resection and scalenectomy, then I'll have to come back after recovery to have my artery ballooned/stented.

I've got six kids and own my own business. I've not done any actual court reporting for two months because with any activity, my hand falls asleep and swells and gets cold.

I'm very nervous about the surgeries, and wondered if anyone here has had both and/or knows Dr. Gelabert. My doc here helped me find him, as I have much family in that area to help post-op. Not sure how long I'll need to stay before I can fly home, how bad the recovery really is, and would love to hear from anyone regarding their ecperiences.

Thanks in advance -- I knew within about five minutes that I'd found the right place for help!!