I think from past reading, many years ago, that some surgeons would suggest surgery thinking they could help (or to get in more practice,, ), but in reality they didn't have the expertise to do a good job.. Or another reason to suggest it would be to make money for the dr & hospital... sad to say , but it could be a reason also.


Usually surgery is best as a last resort, unless there is some clear & specific reason to do it when there is no pain and symptoms are tolerable.

I think it is being recommended because my artery is being compressed.

Does your hand swell or turn purple?

Is it only compressed if your arms are up? or in positions you don't often use, or can avoid using?

There are probably differing levels of compression too. Mild, moderate, severe - I would think severe would mean compressed constantly and that sx would be very constant and problematic, certainly surgery would be indicated for that level..

I'd say mine is quite mild, I can hold my arms up for over a minute before having to start alternating to let blood get flowing again. I don't have to hold them up very often at all. I can still paint ceilings with a roller extender since my arms are in motion so blood keeps flowing.

I don't know if this is true or not but logically it seems it could be , my chiro told me that vein compressions can be more serious and more risk of clotting than arterial.
Probably due to less direct pulse forces.

Jo Mar you are so right, if you don't have pain issues and you are improving with physical therapy , i would give it some time.
Also, sometimes we need more than one physical therapist to heal us and we need to keep researching, as in my journey I have learnt that many of us have musculature, postural and structural issues that the compression can be coming from and that it's the muscles that hold the ribs in place. Things can go into dysfunction because of that and surgery may not be the only answer! Theres a list of therapists on this forum that you can refer to if you need to.

Also, if you are still having coldness in your hand try abdominal breathing exercises at least for 20 minutes at a time and your hand should warm up. If you are already doing them thats great.

Or see if it's positional for you, does a change in position improve your symptoms, which means the compression can be mild and it doesn't warrant surgery atleast for now. I am an Atos patient and pain, swelling and coldness was definitely a big issue before surgery and I don't have any swelling or pain in my fingers now.
Hope that helps good luck!

no my hand does not swell or turn purple.

can you tell me more about abdominal breathing exercises? I am willing to try anything. I had numbness and coldness in my fingers but that is better now.Thx!

Also called diaphragmatic breathing.

this describes & shows it better than I can -
http://www.normalbreathing.com/learn...p#.UDu1RKCXfXo

Jo Mar has pretty much nailed the abdominal (Diaphragmatic) breathing with the link posted,

I learnt mine from Peter Edgelow but unfortunately he does not practice anymore due to health reasons, but he has trained a Steve at Physiotherapy Associates, Hayward CA, but I don't know what part of the country you live in?


In my journey I have realized
1. I need to do a 30 to 40 min cardio everyday
2. I need to do the diaphragmatic breathing exercises,
3. Soft tissue massage and myofascial release along with exercises taught by my local therapist to bring function back. She also uses a infra red laser light on the more painful areas, which I just love. ( I see her once or twice a week)
4. Currently I am seeing Arthur Ando (CFMT) in southern Ca for more structural issues and he is quite the expert on the body's stucture and posture and does manipulation to prepare the body for exercise as well has prescribed specific exercises,
But doing them all has really helped me and I am beginning to improve.
Earlier I could only do a limited range of Edgelow's breathing exercises, but now I am finally progressing because of the latter two.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for all of this help! I am starting to do more exercises now and hopefully that will loosen me up.