They are fine-they hold things in a bit but dont really effect the pain. I think Dr. Williams has a financial stake in alignmed also the kerlan Jobe surgery Center.

What is a MRA/MRC? I had a bracial pluxus MRI that showed neural edema.

Dr. J now wants to try trigger points on the remaining 4 shoulder muscles that are impacted and go straight to a deep tissue massage.He says if 2 sessions of that dont work then he can radiofrequency.

Congrats on picking your surgeon.

Marc, just so you know, "resection" is a surgical term that can also mean the entire removal of the rib. My operation was called a resection, but the entire rib and anterior scalene muscle were removed. I wish you the best on your surgery and hope you'll ask any questions you might have. LadyLaura and I just had resections recently, so feel free to use our knowledge!

I understand that. Surgical resection can mean partial or complete removal. I've read several stories here in which the rib is not completely removed and a stub is left. Dr. Angle believes it is important to remove the rib completely, "all the way to the spine" I remember him saying. If only 3/4 of the rib is removed, it is still considered resected.

I think I am going to purchase a Posture Shirt so I can post a comparison review vs the IntelliSkins.

MRA/MRV = MR Arteriogram/MR Venogram. My MRI of the brachial plexus from 2010 showed edema along the path of the plexus and "Anatomic splitting of the lower trunk into separate C8 and T1 roots which may indicate adhesions". Dr. Williams sent me to Pasadena, is that where yours was done?

Trigger point injections definitely have helped me. Deep tissue massage has only made things worse for me. Standard Swedish and trigger point techniques other than deep tissue have worked better for me. We are all different so learn your body responds. If you can get your trigger points under control, you can live with TOS. It wasn't until I started developing parasthesias and weakness in my hands as well as headaches that I decided I couldn't live with it anymore. Especially since my trigger points are more under control now than they have ever been (rest, massage, ultrasound/TENS, ice, heat, intelliskin, backnobber...you name it, I've used it).

Please, continue to contribute. Thanks to everyone for your support.

yes,pasadena. Dr. J doesnt take much stock in the mri. I also have trouble with my hand, and I draw for a living so I have to get it taken care of any way I can. The Botox helped my hand and arm but as soon as I start using my arm my shoulder muscles and triceps get all bound up. (I'm trying to do my taxes and am in agony)Dr. J says its because he coudnt inject alot of btox in the shoulder because you can get droopy shoulder and lose the use of it. Thats why he wants to do the trigger points.

also I forgot to mention the posture shirts are too big for me around the shoulders because I have very small shoulders, so its probably not doing what its supposed to do. My other doctor has ordered a shoulder brace for me but my insurance has been slow and its going on a month now that I dont have it.

I have a loss of dexterity in my hands (in addition to pain, numbness, & tingling), left much greater than right. Luckily I am right handed. Are you taking Lyrica or Neurontin? How about Cymbalta or Pamelor? These drugs help reduce the neurogenic symptoms. I take Neurontin and Pamelor as I had negative reactions to Lyrica and Cymbalta.

Right now just flexeril and mobic, but they dont seem to work very well and once in awhile a Tramadol or vicodin but those tend to wake me up at night with fierce spasming. I think its mostly muscle pain.My pinkie is just getting numb and I have trouble writing but I dont think the pain is nerve pain right now. hard to tell. Dr. filler gave me scrip for Lyrica but havent tried it yet.I am still trying to figure out the whole meds part of the pain management.

You pinkie numbness and trouble writing are neurogenic symptoms. Nerve pain can also be at the root of the fierce muscle spasms. I suggest you try the Lyrica.

Nerve pain can also be from swelling around the nerves. I would try motrin for a few weeks and see if that gives you any relief.