Parbie,
I am sorry I don't have much experience with pain meds but wishing you a very speedy recovery and hope all your pain goes away soon. All the best always. Hope all your smiles come back real soon.

I'm told Suboxone is much safer than Methadone but Percocet should be tried first.

Hi all! I am sorry for the late response in my update on my recovery. I was trying to take it easy for the first month since typing increased a lot of my symptoms pre op.

Anyhow, so far as I am typing, very little pain (good sign). The operation went well, I mentioned in my previous update what Dr. D did, removed my c-rib, first rib, cut back my scalene muscles more, had to go through tons of scar tissue and found I had metal clips in there which I was unaware from Dr. Annest's surgery.

As for symptoms, I am VERY glad to say I am already doing so much better! Dr. D was so impressed at my progress. He said I am doing as well as someone in my situation would be doing at 3 months post op I am no longer in constant pain but I do some great days and some real bad days, but it is still early so this is expected. Most of my pain is still surgical, and I do still feel pain in my fingers and arm depending on use but my back of the neck pain...GONE completely! Feels great. The biggest issue I am having is my shoulder pain, scapula pain as well as the burning pain to the permanently damaged nerves. In addition, I have developed a seroma. This developed a few days after surgery, right when I got back to Toronto. It grows and shrinks depending on my activity level. Dr. D and 2 other drs have told me this will go away over time and it is nothing to worry about, it is just lymphatic fluid right under my incision. It does cause me pain in its surrounding areas though but I can deal with it. I also still have pain in my chest area, hopefully this will all reduce over time.

Dr. D has been calling to check up on me every week, he is so kind. I see him for my 1 month follow up since my post op follow up on the 27th. Will update again after I see him.

So glad to back on here, lots of catching up to do! Thanks for everyone's support, I really appreciate it!

Oh, forgot to mention. So I ended up being on valium, gapabentin, cymbalta, naproxen and morphine. And I decreased my morphine dosage on my own right away which Dr. D was also quite impressed with, considering I am not on any narcotics anymore which I am so glad to say. Btw I was on Percocet pre op and that did not work well enough for me. I think I am tolerable enough to pain especially considering my symptoms are disappearing or decreasing that hopefully soon I will be weaning off a lot of my meds.

Parbie

Glad to hear you are doing better.....have a couple of questions
Is the nerve pain still occuring in your legs? & you mentioned that there were metal clips...what was the reason for them and were they causing, along with the scar tissue alot of your pain, etc.?

chloecasy

Excellent news all in all! Keep on getting better!

Parbie,
So good to hear you are doing better and getting out of your pain, it makes my heart smile.

Parbie,

I'm very sorry to hear all the difficulties you've been through in the last many months. It's hard enough to be in chronic pain, let alone add physical and emotional abuse.

I had hoped that the surgery would have helped. Perhaps you will get your illusive recovery once the seroma is taken care of. I sure hope so.

I'm glad you've returned to let us know how you're doing. It's important for people here to support you but also to learn from your extensive experience.

Take care,
Kelly

Thanks Kelly, I was about to respond to your pm I am sorry I did not even see it until today. I guess you will get your answers soon, I think the seroma is causing a lot of problems for now. I will keep you and everyone posted on my next visit and continued recovery and I pray others are having better success with or without surgery. TOS is such a huge battle to fight, it is really difficult when those closest to you don't even try to understand that.

Welcome back, though I wasn't here when you originally were posting. Like kellysf mentioned, people have learned from you sharing your extensive experience - that includes me, so I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for your surgeon search thread. Sorry to read you've had so many difficulties - wishing you well.