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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/Brachial Plexopathy. In Memory Of DeAnne Marie. |
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05-13-2013, 07:44 PM | #1 | |||
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[QUOTE=Jo*mar;983227]And there are the Pubmed articles/studies that state surgery does help for approximately 80% or so, and improves for 45%, no change for some and worsens for a small %. ( % are my best recollection - the articles are in the useful sticky thread somewhere)..
/QUOTE] what is the difference between "helps" and "improves" ? i am not advocating for one or the other. i am just playing devil's advocate to both sides to try to figure out things for myself. |
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05-13-2013, 08:05 PM | #2 | ||
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I think for me the reason why I decided to do surgery rather than continue to explore other options was two-fold...1) my age and 2) my condition downfall. I'm 26 yo, and I was at a place where I could afford to take the time off work and my body could heal as long as it needed. I don't have kids or anything else to take care of. Secondly, it got to the point where I couldn't do my hair, makeup, yoga, run, carry groceries, shake hands, write easily, etc etc. My condition was dramatically going downhill and I worried that if I didn't act, things would only get worse.
Looking back, I'm really grateful that I had surgery and would do it again no question. Dr. D did have to go back in at 1 am the night of my second surgery due to internal bleeding in my chest, but he said he's only had to do something like that for one other patient in his career. He has only had two patients that have had no improvement from surgery, everyone else has experienced at least minimal positive gains. I can't say enough good things about him. I will continue to sing his praises, as he has given me so much hope for my future when things looked really bleak when I started this journey over two years ago. |
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05-13-2013, 10:00 PM | #3 | |||
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Quote:
By the way, if you could write, shake hands, and do day to day things, but just couldn't say, type on a computer for more than 2 hours, and you could not swim for more than say 10 minutes, would you do it? |
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05-13-2013, 08:21 PM | #4 | |||
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[QUOTE=heybro;983230]
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Ok found the post w/ article - http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post959769-10.html related Pubmed article - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17985565
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05-13-2013, 08:41 PM | #5 | |||
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I believe this forum has been instrumental in identifying experienced, skilled TOS surgeons. I don't read the same horror stories that seemed to be common when you search the archives from 5+ years ago. I also think these surgeons are more selective when selecting surgical candidates in good overall health.
There are still some surgeons out there are experienced, but have their own agenda (trying to prove their theories or philosophies...at the expense of their patients). WE ARE NOT LAB RATS!
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Marc . ACDF C5-C6-C7 2/28/11 . . . . |
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05-13-2013, 10:12 PM | #6 | |||
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[QUOTE=Jo*mar;983247]
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05-15-2013, 10:10 PM | #7 | ||
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[QUOTE=heybro;983266]Heybro I am in the same boat right now deciding whether I should continue therapy after an unsuccessful surgery with a well known TOS Dr who did not do what he said he would do going in. I have been out of work for 10 months and am young, and I am in pain even typing this small paragraph, and doing pretty much ANYTHING with my upper body. I am leaning to going back for surgery and want to consult with Dr. D as well but a little worried that I picked apparently one of the best surgeons in the country but I got worse after surgery.. so I no longer even am judging whether a surgeon is good based on how many successful surgeries he has done, I do not even know what to judge on anymore. In your shoes, without pain, I would not go through with surgery but then again if you say Dr. D is picky with his patients and he thinks you would be good candidate and you do not think you could go back to work without it, then I'd lean toward it. Also, I have been speaking to someone who does training and installs the software for speech recognition software and he says he also has RSI and does not use his hands AT ALL. So because of this, I do not think it is impossible to go back to a computer job with that and ergonomic workstation. That was my plan, but since I am not getting any better and my rib should have been removed and my left side is worsening, I am more for surgery than not. Hope some of what I said helps you in your decision.
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