Hi Everyone,

I'm going to be booked in for a 1st rib resection for "TOS, Vein compression" due to a car accident May 2012. the JUST found out 2 weeks ago, scar tissue is severely compressing the nerves, and subclavian vein.

I haven't been able to find any information regarding returning to work post-op???? being a work-a-holic i'm just curious on people's recovery period and being able to return to work. I do a desk job, Stats Analyst.

Aswell I have concerns hearing AVOID public transportation, and needing help post-op. i'm just worried, because I live in Toronto, and that's my only mode of transportation (mainly the subway), and I'm also worried because I won't have anyone to help me out post-op. and of course I HATE not being independent, and what's worse is i'm right handed and that is the side i'm having resected.

Any suggestions????


Thank you

You'll be able to do MUCH more than you think you'll be able to post op. Your arms will be virtually unaffected in terms of basic manipulations (no lifting though and your ROM will be limited). By the time you leave the hospital you will be able to care for yourself. I had both sides done at the same time so they sliced my sternum in half and I was still functional.
You're going to need to stay home for about 3 weeks to get through the pain/sleepiness of being post-op. For the first week and a half you're going to do nothing but sleep, eat, and stare mindlessly at a television. After 3 weeks, you can probably return to work if you feel up to it and you have proper arm support at work (bring a few pillows and you can probably make it work) but know that healing from this surgery is a ***** and your body is going to crave rest so it's not about "toughing it out." If you're not ready to go back you just physically won't be able to go back.
That being said, my TOS surgery apparently triggered fibromyalgia and I have additional problems that I thought were caused by the TOS but, instead, were caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. So I have not returned to work and will not be able to.

Recovery is different for everyone. I was in a great deal of pain for two months following surgery. I also couldn't drive for 2 months. I could bath and dress my self. But I couldn't do food shopping and meal preparation. If I'd needed to do that I would have eaten a great deal of oatmeal.

I was an attorney before TOS. I also have never been able to return to work. It's been 10 years now since I stopped working.

Generally speaking, patients with vascular TOS have much better surgical outcomes. You may recover very quickly. I hope so. But you should build in as much support as possible -- make sure your house is stocked with food. Have all your laundry done. Clean your house. Do everything in advance that you can because you may be out of commission for several weeks.

Sometimes people wear slings following surgery as a way to alert others to take care. This may help ease your mind if you're riding public transport.

Take care,
Kelly

Find someone...family, friend, or even co-worker to help you get home and at least check on you periodically post surgery. You don't want to try this alone. Depending on the nerve damage/scarring you may not have much use of your arm/hand initially (or you may be just fine). Start practicing using your left hand primarily now so you'll be ready to do everything with the left for a while.

The only way I could imagine you doing this alone is if they keep you hospitalized for several days until you can fully get around and care for yourself.

I second kelleysf's advice regarding a sling. You might not "need" it, but if you are dependent on public transport its a very good way of making people aware that casually bumping into you is not OK. I hate wearing mine and do anything to avoid it whenever I can, but sometimes I get paranoid that someone is going to walk into me, and when I feel like that the sling really really helps.

My personal experience leads me to suggest that you err on the side of caution when trying to plan a return from surgery. I wouldn't have been able to take care of myself when I left the hospital after my 1st/2nd rib re-sectioning. I'm 2 months out and only now am I at the point where I *might* consider returning to work (if other more recent developments weren't preventing me from doing so). My body still constantly craves rest. If I don't set an alarm, I sleep 12 hours. Every single night. I hope I don't sound like a downer. But be prepared if you can, just in case.

Follow-up appointment with my surgeon today, turns out they are doing 2 procedures, not just 1. thankfully they are keeping me admitted for at least 5 days, probably more because of my past medical history, due to allergies, pain control and swelling.

I asked how long I would be off work for. He was blunt and said 2-3 weeks and I should be back at work (I'm kind of hesitant knowing the type of surgery this is going to be).

Now the waiting game... for a date of surgery...

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!!

I saw my thoracic surgeon this morning, for the pre-surgical consult. Turns out they are doing 2 surgeries at once.

Thankfully, I will be admitted for a minimum of 5 days, due to my medical history (allergies to: NSAID, Fentanyl (most common pain med given in surgery). and the fact i'm immune to most pain meds other than hydromorphone (and that barely works).

When I asked about length of time off work. He said 2-3 weeks I should be good enough to return to work (hmmmm I wonder if that is accurate).

I am DEFINITELY taking 'kellysf' & 'BDBomg' advice on using a sling!! today alone i got bumped into 4 times!! (hurt like a *****, had a few tears drop - blamed it on the rain haha).

nowwww it's the waiting game.... for the date of surgery....


Thank you again!!! if anyone has any other info/suggestions re: TOS surgery please let me know!!!

Great news. I hope they have internet access, the food is good and the nurses pleasant so you don't get cabin fever.

2-3 weeks to return to work if optimistic IMO, 5-6 realistic...if all goes well.

Good luck to you!!!

In addition to WHEN you return to work, also give some thought to WHAT you'll be doing when you return. I think you mentioned that you have a desk job. If by that you mean that you do a lot of computer work (who doesn't?), then you are going to have to be exceedingly careful during your recovery.

My surgeon told me point blank that even if my surgery was a success, I should not expect to return to my old job (as an attorney) because my work was what caused the problem in the first place. Most people -- even if they have great surgical results -- cannot just go back to doing things exactly the same way in exactly the same amounts. Most of us are forever changed.

I don't know what caused your TOS. Regardless of how it began, you will want to be careful about overdoing and potentially causing scar tissue. Best advice -- if it hurts, don't do it. This is no situation where you want to try to power through.

Good luck,
Kelly

Thanks Kelly,

Yes, my job is computer based (statistics analyst). That is exactly what I was thinking swell when he said 2-3 weeks and I should be good? I get a majority of my symptoms WHILE at work, my co-workers are the ones who often inform me "oh your hands purple again" or "did u not realize you dropped that?". But your right that makes complete sense, I don't want to screw anything up after dealing with what I have heard a VERY tough and painful recovery.

I will definitely take that advice. i'm just dreading having to deal with our "occupational health" *****! (if my surgeon and/or specialists mandate I take that time off.

I hope i'm able to return to work... at some point....


Thank you again!!