I've been trying to decide for a while now if I want to go forward with a first rib resection surgery for TOS. I've tried PT (still going years on end now), massage, acupuncture, chiropractor, medications (currently Lidoderm patches and Lyrica), trigger point injections, and two rounds of Botox injections so far...still nothing has provided any significant relief since back, neck, shoulder pain,headaches, and numbness/tingling in left (dominant) hand started after a car accident 3 years ago.

From the various M.D.s is different practice areas I have seen (rheumatologist,physiatrists, primary care, and vascular) I've gotten mixed reactions about success rates and recovery time of this surgery. I feel like I've tried every option available now, and the choice is either to accept I will be in pain or to try the surgery...

Does anyone in the greater Seattle area have any surgical experiences with Lake Washington Vascular, particularly Dr. Minjarez? If so, could you please describe your surgical outcome (she quoted me a 60% chance of improvement), and your recovery time (she said a week...I've heard from patients its much longer).

If you don't have any experience with Dr. Minjarez at Lake Washington Vascular, but you know of a surgeon in the Seattle area that has done lots of TOS surgeries I'd appreciate their information and what your experience with them was.

Did anyone have the surgery and regret it? If so I would love to hear your experience as well. Just trying to make sure I do my research before I decide to possibly go for the surgery.

Thank you!

Here's a thread with some other WA members mentioning a dr Kaj Johansen -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread163201.html

Have they clarified at all if yours is mainly nerve TOS or Vascular TOS (vein or arterial)?

Nerve is usually the most tricky version, a the nerve can take a long time to heal after the compression is gone.