I just had my first rib removal four weeks ago and like Bex, I spent hours searching the internet so I thought i'd add my experience

1.How was it right after surgery? Day of? The first couple days?
The surgery took 4.5 hours and longer than expected as I had big dense bones and when I woke up my whole shoulder was completely numb, so had no pain at all. I wasn't allowed to leave the bed for 12 hours after the GA so I had a very sore back from sitting in the same position for hours. Next day was much better and started to move about and all the drains and oxygen were removed.

2.What was it was like when you left the hospital?
I was discharged 2 days after the operation and although I was stiff and sore, I managed fine on 4g paracetamol/day and diclofenic. It was hard to sleep for the first few days so I used several pillows.

3.What was it like getting around?
Left the house after 4 days to walk around, I was pretty tired and it took longer than expected and I avoided the crowds, 15 mins of walking was all I could manage.

4.What did you need help with? ie. how steady were you, how well could you take care of yourself? Help going to the bathroom? Showering/bathing?
It was all fine, only needed help with shopping as I live 20 mins walk from shops and couldnt carry much.

5.Did you need help with the incision at all? Anyone just have incisions above and below the collarbone?
I went to the Dr to change one of the dressings and then I changed it for the second time.
The incision was really neat and was stitched closed with subcutaneous stitches, so no need to have them removed.

6.How did you manage pain? Did you need ice a lot?
I was never in much pain as the area was (and still is numb) but used paracetamol and diclofenic.

7.What was it like the first couple of days?
(see above)

8.The first week?
It was traumatic going out in large crowds for the first time as most people in London don't pay much attention to what they are doing and will happily barge your shoulder!

9.The second week?
I got back on my feet fairly quickly, I was back at work after 2 weeks, walking around to a normal pace after one week and back in my bike after 1.5 weeks. I wasn't given any physio instructions so after 3 weeks I was back running and now after 4 weeks I am able to run 15km with some soreness around my neck. I have been to see an osteopath so help move my muscle back into place and losen them up.

10.a month post op?

12.How did you deal with meals, dishes, laundry, shopping? Did you use public transportation?
Traumatised by my first trip out but friends helped for the first two weeks and then I was back on the tube to work.

13.How active were you, ie. walking around?
I was walking about after 4 days but very slowly, noticably better after one week so I could walk at normal pace. Out on the bike after 1.5 weeks for a light cycle and then running after 3 weeks. 4 weeks after the operation I have been able to run for over 4 hours in total this week and 2 hours on the bike.

I am training for triathlons so I went into hospital with a high level of fitness, I think I have been very lucky to recover so quickly when looking at other people's experiences but I think my fitness level helped a lot. 4.5 weeks down and I am almost back to 100% with some neck soreness and numbness in the chest area.

Well done! having read some bits on this website, it seemss the the post operative recovery can beinfluenced by what sort of TOS and rib resection you had and by the level of fitness before the op

I am 7 weeks post op for a rib resection and scalenectomy and its a bit of a roller coaster. I only had 10 days from initial symptom & diagnosis to the actual operation as mine was arterial and had already had a blood clot in my hand.
It was a whirlwind of tests, specialists and second opinions and almost wish I had more time before the operation to prepare mentally. I went from being quite fit (still need to shed a few kilos!)with a cold, numb finger to the operation and completely imoble and that was the real shock.

The operation was abouto 4.5 hours and the first few days after the op were agony with shoulder pain and breathing problems. My diaphram had come right up my chest due to nerve paralysis adn was extremely uncomfortable. I take my hat off to all those people who were discharged after one or two nights, I was in hospital for over a week and had physio twice a day from day 2. I was on morphine for 3 days which gave me migraines and for the first 2 weeks after the operation i was unable to sleep for longer than 2 hours at a stretch.

Things do improve, I have been lucky with complete home help ( we live in Singapore) and so I think my recovery has speeded up as I have been able to rest as much as I want.

7 weeks down the track, still having pain in my elbow and this last week periodic coldness of my middle finger (this is not painful just irritating). It seems that the pec muscle may be pinching as this is very tight and painful. I have been back to my surgeon who has put me on muscle relaxants to see if it is truly the cause ( I think this is why, Singaporean surgeons are great but not at explaining things).

I have begun to exercise again, managed 20 mins on the runner today and am feeling very chuffed with myself.

My scar has healed really well, if anyone is contemplating the surgery its worth asking if a plastic surgeon can close up. Its not much cost in the relative scheme of things and because of the location of the surgery lots of insurance companies will pay for it.

I have been shocked by the total cost of the whole procedure and thank god that we had great medical over. So far my bill has come to approx SGD $60,000 ($48,000USD aprrox) and that is without any of the physio which they estimate for another $5000SGD.

I had Arterial TOS so there was no option to not have surgery but I have realised I will rpobably take the full 3-6 months to fully recover

Hi, Can I check with u which surgeons performed the surgery for you? I live in Singapore and was diagnosed with TOS for 2yrs. I have yet to go for the first rib removal surgery as I am indecisive of its outcome. Thanks.