not sure if this is any help but i have just had a rib removal experience. october 2012 i had eight ribs removed and about 1/3 of my sternum to correct an injury. i now know the meaning of ouch, i thought i already did with my last four surgeries to try and repair a fractured dislocated sternum but i was wrong! ribs 8,9,10 and 11 were removed on both sides. i went in for exploratory surgery with the possibility of removing 1 or 2 ribs and maybe the lower part of my sternum and awoke 8 hours later moaning. i was in the hospitol for 5 days. had a moraphine pump set up and other meds but it was excruciating. after i left the hospitol i chose to not take pain meds, not because it didn't hurt but because i don't like thier effects. i was very sore for the first few months as i am still now. laying down is a pipe dream i can only assume i will sleep in a recliner the rest of my life. outside of bathing and some light cooking and a little driving someone else has to do the rest. i am still phenominally numb around my areas of surgery. it is very slowly going away. my dr says it will not go away completely, time will tell. i have also just received a copy of a letter sent from my dr to the insurance company informing them that i likely won't be returning to work. if you combine the physical pain and disability and the games with workers comp together i would have to rate this a less than pleasurable experience.

I know this thread hasn't been used for a long time but if anyone happens to see this- advice would be great!
I am 5 weeks post op after a first rib resection on the right hand side for TOS. My incision is around my clavicle.
Immediately upon waking after the op I had intense tingling in my hand and the loss of sensation. I can move my fingers but not normally and I have little strength. My arm mobility, particularly when stretching up or out, is very limited and the muscles in my arm hurt A LOT. I feel this may be a result of some nerve damage during the op, the consultant was surprised and assured me they didn't cut any nerves and has no idea why this has happened.
I am on stronger meds now to try and help with the tingling but I still have problems with the movement and sensation. Has this happened to anyone else? Particularly the hand tingling?

I had the hand tingling after the surgery. It is normal, I think. My hand was useless and swollen too. 4 months out and it is about completely gone. It does improve a bit each day, so don't worry, it won't stay like that forever!

Wth??

What happened to you?

Ditto. That's what I was wondering, what the heck was your original injury??

Hello there,
Just wanted to know if anyone could tell me about their experiences recovering from this op please?

My b/f needs to have rib one resection due to on going blood clots. He's had 3 in his upper right arm in the last 2 months but no other symptoms. They don't really know what is causing the clots as he's also having chemotherapy and had a PICC line fitted in this arm originally that the vein kept rejecting

However he is a roof tiller by trade & the arm that clots is his lifting arm.
How are any of you now with lifting heavy weight? We are concerned he won't be able to go back to his trade again after the op.

Thank you for any advice anyone can offer, there seems very little on the internet of personal recovery stories.

Hi Lynsey,

I suffer(ed) from TOS in both arms, i'm right hand dominant, I'd been experiencing most of the common symptoms (tingling, no pulse, shooting pains ect.) and have had had it investigated for the last 6-7 years, finally had it diagnosed in 2013.

The condition got notably worse over the years, I was very active and was climbing/kayaking/cycling pretty much every day, eventually had to stop all sports except cycling as if my arms were raised above chest height my symptoms would come on.

I had my right arm operated on in April (2014), had a 1st Rib Resection and partial scalenectomy. I'm now symptom free in my right arm, and would consider myself fully recovered from surgery, however it took a long time before I was back to full strength in that arm post surgery.

Following the surgery I was in hospital for 3 days then released home, pain wasn't 'that' bad as long as I didn't move the arm. Following a 5 hour drive home from the hospital (which was hell), home life and re-adjusting was OK, pain was uncomfortable but not severe.

I was given a set of physio exercises to-do immediately after surgery, it is crucial to do these and stick to them for proper recoverery. My range of movement went from only being able to move my hand, to having my arm above my head within a week; I got a little more movement and a little less pain each day. Just stick with it.

As far as strength went, I took it very easy for 10 weeks and didn't really lift much, but I don't think I could to be honest, it was uncomfortable. Around 2 and a half/3 months later I was able to start lifting properly, and could actually do a press-up for the first time in months. I wouldn't bank of being back to full strength for a few months, unfortunately it will only delay healing if you push too hard.

My line of work does involve lifting and moving product around, however my employee were very understanding and I just did as much as I could, which was not a lot for a few months.. I would have been worried if my line of work was in labour though.

I've got to have my second operation in 2 weeks time, for my left hand. I'm hoping recovery will be about the same. I'm looking forwards to being able to go back to all the sports I loved next summer, hopefully within 2-3 months of surgery I can focus on getting fit and building strength again.

Good luck to your BF, hope the surgery goes OK for him. Feel free to message me if you would like any more information.

Thanks,

Jonesy

I'm a 29yr old female that was recently diagnosed with neurogenic TOS after suffering 6 years going to doctor after doctor and specialists,. My symptoms got worse the last few years and recently in July. Symptoms were severe shoulder and neck pain on the right side, numbness and tingling in arm hands and fingers, discoloration and swelling in fingers, unable to lift heavy items or lift my right arm all the way above my head, lose my radial pulse when arm is above head. After all the years and numbers of tests done, MRIs, X-rays, CTs, EMGs , dopplers, ultrasounds, nerve studies every single test came back normal.

Anyone who has gone through this know it's tough but don't get discouraged even though tests came back normal. I was told by a few that I need a shrink and that it was all in my head, but deep down inside and my gut feeling I knew something was wrong. I felt a sigh of relief when The doctor I saw told me the news and looking forward to a better less painful life.

My surgery is scheduled for November 25th just under 3 weeks away. My vascular surgeons name is Dr. Enrique Criado who is through the Uniiversity of Michigan and is told he is the best in the state of Michigan for TOS cases. I've never had surgery before abit scared about it. I was told they will be doing a first rib resection with neurolysis and scalenectomy. I understand what is gonna happen with the surgery I'm wondering how the recovery is and what the first week is like. Any info helps thank you .... Lindsey

Hi Lindsey,

Replied to you through your other post.

J