Wow, just started my life as a college student and my future seems so bright when i am finally told that i need cervical rib removal next semester.... i've had this problem all my life and gotten cat scans before and now when the pain is excrutiating is when they take another catscan and they know what i have. since then the extra ribs have grown and are now 5 inches long. now i lose feeling in my left arm all the time and my extra rib is trying to fuse with my clavicle because they are always touching! i cant drive with my left arms because that slight raising pinches the veins and nerves in between the clavicle and rib and does no good. its a constant struggle to even fall asleep and i need to get this removed because i might get blood clots or worse TOS or when im older and want to have a family and swell during pregnancy i wont have any use of my arm or even blood circulation into it. Good thing i only need one removed! although im thankful i know now and i am sure it happened this way for a reason. im glad i joined this blog sort of thing, reading posts make me more aware of things! I'm so glad that for a lot of you things have worked out and for those that haven't... let the lords strength give you the power to move forward! although i know some general things, i want to still ask basic questions if anyone is willing to help!!

- first off what MD performed the surgery on you? Nuero? vascular speacialist?

- how long is the recovery time after rib surgery?

- i might be having to travel out of city limits so will i have to wait to recover at the hospital before getting in a car for a 5 hour drive?

- one of my doctors is very calm about the procedure and always assures me im going to be okay, the other is always reminding me about my risks-- nerve damage, possible stroke during surgery, collapse of lung, muscle loss and no arm growth, scar tissue... has anyone here actually had any of those symptoms? it scares me very much!!

- what did you do after the surgery? did you wait a couple months before serious physical movement and go to a PT to help with the different movements?


Any feedback is welcome, this is so "alien" to me, especially since im so young thank you all for everything! HUGS

P.S. sorry for the words that dont start with capitals and should, instead it enters the code to design my text!!!