I have put myself on the waiting list for surgery to have the first rib removed, could take up to 6 months until then i will continue with physical therapy and see how things progress.

My question is how do you avoid scar tissue from forming, the surgeon said that the way they remove the rib is so complete that scar tissue wont form , not to sure exactly wat he meant by that but i will confirm in a few days.

But back to the question how do you avoid scar tissue from forming when recovering?

From what I understand keeping things moving by stretching is key. I will also be doing ultrasound therapy, and cold laser treatment to help with the healing process. At least this is my plan.

Hellothere,

I thought you were making progress with PT?

Or is the scheduling just a "plan B" in the case that PT doesn't resolve the symptoms over the next few months?

KY

That sounds a little suspect to me, I'd be leery of that claim. I could see if he said "we do our best to ensure we give you the best chance." But to say no scar tissue will form seems a little overzealous.

I agree with you there, 343v343.
Referring to myself, apparently the whole of my first rib has been completely taken out. I'm 3 and a bit months post op and beginning to feel the effects of tissue tightening despite gentle stretches daily. I also experience tenderness around the incision still and I'm pretty certain that the tightness is from scar tissue formation. Maybe I'm wrong but I know that its irritated in there. Never say never with regards to scar tissue.

So how are you feeling 3 months post op? Would you consider the surgery a success?

[QUOTE=kyoun1e;828684]Hellothere,

I thought you were making progress with PT?

Or is the scheduling just a "plan B" in the case that PT doesn't resolve the symptoms over the next few months?

KY[/

I am making very slow progress with PT i guess but as i said it is very slow. I dunno how much more of this i can take. This is a plan B in motion but i dont know for some reason im not feeling to hopeful that PT alone will resolve this

What is your pain level? I thought it was manageable?

Also, from what I remember you're pretty young. If that's the case, I'd really give PT an extended run and just forget about bodybuilding. It may be that you need an extended period of unwinding. Once you take that rib out, it's not going back in...and you have many years left to deal with the potential implications.

KY

I would agree that, if you are making progress in PT, you would do well to delay surgery. I had surgery 6 years ago and am much worse for it.

Even if you have surgery, it is highly unlikely that you can return to the same activities that caused TOS in the first place. I've only seen people with vascular problems go back to their activities after surgery.

I understand your fatigue with how long and slow this whole process is. I would be very careful about any "silver bullet." In my experience, there is no going back. Life is simply different, and the challenge is wrapping your head around that reality -- at least that's been the challenge for me.

I wish you good luck.

Kelly

Hellothere,

I should also mention that I developed more problems post surgery because of scar tissue. I had an MRI with a doctor who specializes in them for TOS patients and he said I had scar tissue on my brachial plexus that was still forming 8 months after surgery. My doctor said scar tissue on the brachial plexus equals chronic pain for life.

I would be very skeptical of anyone claiming he can avoid scar tissue. I don't think anyone knows how your body will react until you are post surgery.

Kelly