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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/Brachial Plexopathy. In Memory Of DeAnne Marie. |
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11-12-2013, 10:09 PM | #21 | |||
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Sorry, but I disagree with heybro on that one. I had surgery 22 years ago and have been miserable ever since. However, in last 3 1/2 years I have improved greatly, by doing joint mobility exercises, self-myofascial release, and vacuum cupping. I never had the right type of physical therapy following my surgery. In my experience, the right type of therapy, even years after surgery, can make a huge difference.
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"Thanks for this!" says: | jzp119 (12-11-2016) |
11-13-2013, 12:50 AM | #22 | ||
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I also have to chime in on this one.... and I tend to agree moreso with Coop.
At the very least -- range of motion (ROM) exercises should to be done daily as soon as possible post surgery. I haven't had anything as serious as the TOS surgery, but I have had several upper extremity nerve decompressions. At each one - I was told to get back to normal activity as quickly as possible and start ROM exericises and nerve gliding ASAP. You want to be using/moving your muscles and nerves through their full range of motion while the scar tissue is forming in your body. This way, the scar tissues forms around your active, moving body -- and is less likely to 'clamp' down on key structures. Its tough balance to find -- as you don't want to do 'too much' and cause inflammation (and associated scarring) but you also don't want to 'over-rest' and let you body lay dormant for too long. Again, I haven't had TOS surgery and I recognize there are a number of issues specific to the nature of this surgery. I suggest you do further research to figure the best type of PT and the appropriate timing of PT -- post surgery for TOS. |
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11-13-2013, 01:07 AM | #23 | |||
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I just wanted to clarify.
As far as I know, Range of Motion done yourself under the instruction of your doctor should be done after surgery yes. Physical therapy after surgery for the continued treatment of TOS may be helpful, yes of course. But, do you need physical therapy in response to the surgery itself? No, as far as I know. Further, no physical therapy should be done with someone that has not treated TOS before. Finding a good PT that knows TOS is key regardless of when the PT is done. Last edited by heybro; 11-13-2013 at 01:37 AM. |
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11-19-2013, 09:49 AM | #24 | ||
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How is your post-surgery recovery going? |
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11-19-2013, 11:09 AM | #25 | |||
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I have the same opinion as Heybro- I was given ROM exercises only, no PT. But I didn't need PT either, I was in great health, great physical shape, no muscle wasting, and I didn't have nerve involvement. Every patient is different, their surgery/complications/condition of TOS is also different. I had my left side rib resection and scalenectomy done in '11 and right side done this last aug. No PT before or after, and I'm doing wonderful.
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11-19-2013, 08:22 PM | #26 | ||
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We are looking for a dr. at Hershey that treats TOS..do you mind telling me who you are seeing?
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11-19-2013, 10:57 PM | #27 | |||
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Iris (11-20-2013) |
11-19-2013, 11:29 PM | #28 | ||
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11-20-2013, 12:25 AM | #29 | ||
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Hi everyone!!
I have been looking at this support group for several years but have never posted. However, I've recently found a way out of the TOS nightmare, and I decided to share my story to try to help someone else. I first started having symptoms about 6 years ago, while I was writing my PhD thesis. I had excruciating upper back pain whenever I worked on the computer. I managed to finish and got a new job as a scientist at a prestigious research lab, where I struggled through the first year with horrible pain every day. I saw 5 different specialists and was told that it was either a disk problem (seen on an MRI) or muscle strain... I went to 3 different PT clinics for 6 months to no avail. The only thing that seemed to help somewhat was deep tissue massage. Finally, I was a neurologist who gave me trigger point injections, and my pain eased up a bit. I had a good 3 months or so, and then I suddenly started having hand pain while driving and typing. It got worse over the course of a few weeks, and I was back at the dr. This time I had nerve conduction tests (which were normal) and was checked out for a possible rheumatological condition, but my bloodwork was also normal. I found a hand therapy clinic and went there for several months, made all the ergonomic changes at work, etc, but not much helped. I was referred to Dr Jordan in Santa Monica and he diagnosed TOS. He said my scalene muscles were extremely tight and that i was a typical patient... Tall/thin with droopy shoulders/poor posture and long neck. He recommended a nerve block, which I held off on at that point. I started neuromuscular/trigger point therapy, kept doing my PT, and tried to type less, and gradually my hand pain got better/more manageable, but was still there. Then I got pregnant, and my symptoms went away miraculously while I was pregnant. They came back 3-fold afterwards, however. Back to dr jordan, and this time I did the nerve block, which was somewhat inconclusive in terms of helping my pain. However, he said that my muscles were extremely spastic and that I definitely had TOS and would benefit from botox. I shelled out $5k for botox injections and they didn't help at all. Fast forward 6 months, and I was almost completely disabled. I could no longer type or work at the computer at all and used dictation software for whatever little I did. I was on disability leave from work. I spent most of the day lying on the floor trying to manage symptoms. I was unable to care for my son, drive, or do any type of work around the house. For almost a year I went to PT/hand rehab twice a week. I did active release technique as well (which helped a bit ... More than PT). I was scared and depressed... I figured i would have to change careers. I had endless drs appointments... Several neurologists, rheumatologists, chiropractors, physiatrists, counseling/therapy, PT, hand rehab, OT... And on and on. Sound familiar? I spent a good chunk of each day researching this condition online. Somehow I managed to come across the work of dr John Sarno, a (retired) physician at NYU who claimed extraordinary success rates for chronic back and limb pain, including RSIs and TOS. I read more and more online, and his theories of the connection between stress and pain resonated with me... I read his books a few months ago and had the most remarkable experience of my life. Literally, within less than a week of reading his books the agonizing back pain that had been my constant companion for several years had dissapated, and within several weeks my hand pain was gone. I now type as much as I want, in whatever "bad" posture I want to, with no pain. I lift my son, drive, blow dry my hair, and basically do absolutely everything I want to with no pain. I have completely stopped all PT/massage, etc. I know this sounds too good to be true. I wouldn't believe it if it hadn't happened to me. Basically, dr Sarno says that your brain is shunting off bloodflow to various parts of your body due to a stress response, which is causing your pain (not totally inconsistent with standard TOS theory, except that it is an emotional response, and not a mechanical problem at all!) Once you realize this you can counteract it. This tends to happen more to highly driven, perfectionistic, ambitious people who tend to repress neagtive emotions. In retrospect, it was initiated for me by the stress of graduating, starting a new job, and some marital issues. Once it starts, it can go on for years, perpetuated by fear and pain, and completely take over your life, until you realize the emotional root of the problem. Literally thousands of people have stories like mine. People who've had pain for decades, and have been bedridden even, have made astounding recoveries. He's written several books, spoken to congress and been on 20/20. ** Last edited by Chemar; 11-20-2013 at 07:03 AM. Reason: guidelines |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Coop42 (11-20-2013) |
11-20-2013, 10:37 AM | #30 | ||
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Literally thousands of people have stories like mine. People who've had pain for decades, and have been bedridden even, have made astounding recoveries. He's written several books, spoken to congress and been on 20/20. **[/QUOTE]
There may well be (probably is) a psychological component to many cases of TOS - the workings of pain and the mind body connection are simply not fully understood. But I find Dr. Sarno's reasoning - essentially that "it's all in your head" - limiting and paternalistic. The notion that TOS symptoms/pain is the brain's way of dealing with compulsiveness, perfectionism, anger (Dr. S's theory), does not apply to me. But we are all differently constituted and Dr. S's theory may resonate with others. I'm glad it helped you. |
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