I did not have Cervical ribs. I had 1st-rib removed on both sides. Also had neurolysis to clean up scar tissue and repair nerve bundle. Post-surgery was not too painful for me. I did have a lot of numbness, weakness, and loss of dexterity (I am still recovering but improving steadily day by day).

Here are some links to my thread posts on each surgery:

Surgery #1: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...038#post872038

Surgery #2: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...325#post883325

This thread could be helpful to you: Advice on Nerve Meds

I noticed that ladylaura418 and Limoges posted in this thread. They are both patients of Donahue's who had surgery around the same time as I did. You can click their user name and show other posts they have made.

Half the battle is done, at least you know about the extra c ribs and that they are a major factor for your TOS.

I think the skills & knowledge of the top TOS drs is much better now than 8 yrs ago. There are also many more qualified surgeons than there were back then.

Recovery isn't easy but there have been many more good results being reported this last year.
Having a good support system at home is very helpful.

Many have traveled for surgery and with lots of extra pillows/padding and a careful driver, they made it home fine. The dr won't release you until they feel all will go well.

From what I've read...if I had c ribs I would get the surgery sooner rather than down the road. Good luck! You've come to the right place

My PT said that i have great posture and yes when the pain starts to kick in full force i tend to stiffen up, I do make myself very conscious of this and try to avoid any weird positions that will make the situation worse. Oh I thought that the botox was like a One time thing and if it worked it worked, symptoms would be gone . So, well maybe he is doing it to give me some relief until he can get me set up for surgery. However he was pretty honest w/ me (which I like) and stated that the botox prob. isn't going to do much for me considering that it's extra ribs we are dealing w/. How was the ride home??? The roads up here are HORRIBLE Ok so maybe the lady doctor who referred me to him will do my post op care, yeah i'll have to talk w/ him and make a plan for that.

What is the edge low breathing? I don't think i've heard of that?

Edgelow - it's named after a PT guy (Peter Edgelow) that used it as a main focus of his PT protocol. He's retired now.

I haven't done or studied his specific plan, but I believe it is very similar to diaphragmatic breathing also called belly breathing.

Probably easiest to get the details by watching some you tube videos that show how to do it.

The basic idea is that when stressed, or in pain, we limit our breathing to the upper lungs - which limits oxygen intake as well as making for a shallow exhale breath, which is when the "air type toxins" are expelled from the body.

diaphragmatic breathing -
https://www.google.com/search?q=diap...-a&channel=rcs

http://www.youtube.com/results?q=dia...-8&sa=N&tab=w1

I ordered the kit and my PT is checking the stuff out before I start it. The PT protocol at Mass general is pretty similar to edgelow.

This sounds like part of what I learned in biofeedback. A few years ago when TOS was first suspected I was given a prescription for biofeedback. It was a clinical psychologist who connected electrodes to me to monitor whether muscles were tensed or relaxed. She taught muscle awareness, relaxation techniques, and diaphragmatic breathing. She had me record some of the relaxation sessions so I could play them back later (not really hypnotism, more like visualization). My insurance covered it (minus copay). I attended either 6 or 8 sessions. Ultimately, it turned out I was already breathing diaphragmatically (likely from being an athlete). It was a good experience but ultimately didn't prevent the need for surgery.

Yeah i will have to check into that a little bit further, see what i can't pull up on youtube. So i've had a pretty bad past 7 days, i would say this was prob. one of the worse episodes yet, i called my doctor here and she is going to prescribe me Neurontin to see if this helps with the nerve pain, i've also been given Hydrocodone a few months back but i just don't want to have to take it everyday because it can be addictive. So, hopefully this new med works! I did however make a call to Dr. Donahue to see there were any cancellations for the Botox injection because i'm still 2 weeks and a few days from my Oct. 4 appt for the injections. I just don't know if i can handle another week like this one, on the plus side i think im on the tail end of the flare. I'm still working 40+hrs a week which I know causes my symptoms to get worse but i can't afford not to work either.