Hello, I am new. I am schedule to have surgery on November 21st. I am very anxious about it. I only know one person irl that has had the surgery, she had her lung punctured and nerve damage. I almost cancelled my surgery after hearing her story.

I recently tried to get botox, they started with a steroid shot to the anterior scalene muscles, but that didn't help, it actually made things worse. Since that was my reaction to the steroid, they won't let me get the botox...or that doctor won't anyway.

I have bilateral neurotic tos. I was in a car accident 10 years ago, my symptoms started 4 months after the car accident. The vascular surgeon said I was not a good candidate 5 years ago, he thought I would lose muscle strength, and it would eventually go away... Anyway, 5 years later, he is willing to operate.

Anyway, I have some questions about the surgery/recovery for you guys...

1. Is there anything I can do before the surgery to make the recovery go quicker and/or improve the likely hood of a successful surgery?

2. Is there anything I can do after the surgery to make the recovery go quicker and/or improve the likely hood of a successful surgery?

3. I am afraid of scar tissue building back up and needing surgery in the future. I heard PT will help with this, what about massage? anything else?

4. How long were you off work? I have a desk job, I sit at a computer, I answer the phone (I use a headset), I enter data. I was advised I would need at least 2 weeks, but it sounds like I may need more than that...

5. I drive a stick shift, I am having surgery on my right side first. Advice?

6. What did you do during your recovery?? I will be so bored, could you read, or was that too much to hold a book?

I am glad to have found this site, I had been feeling all alone. Haha, I loved the cabbage and saran wrap story.


As far as advise to others, I have found massage and a tens machine to be the most helpful. I have done tons of PT, wall push ups have been the best thing to help. Also, if I lay on my back on the floor/PT table and someone pushes on my shoulders down toward the ground, and then at the same time also pushes toward my feet this is helpful - If I could get someone to do this an hour a day followed by a two hour massage for the rest of my life, maybe I wouldn't need surgery, lol. Also, lidocaine patches are have been help for as well as gabapentin aka neurotin. Skelaxin is helpful at night.

1. Is there anything I can do before the surgery to make the recovery go quicker and/or improve the likely hood of a successful surgery?

Choose your doctor wisely. Someone who has done a lot of them. Most doctors just do a handful a year; I'd stay away from them. Get household things done now cause you won't be able to do them after surgery for awhile.

Physical therapy, with someone who does joint mobilization from the institute of physical art. Stay away from those who have not treated TOS before.

2. Is there anything I can do after the surgery to make the recovery go quicker and/or improve the likely hood of a successful surgery?

Go slow; let yourself heal.

3. I am afraid of scar tissue building back up and needing surgery in the future. I heard PT will help with this, what about massage? anything else?

My doctor has me doing gentle range of motion, stretches throughout the day to keep the area loose.

4. How long were you off work? I have a desk job, I sit at a computer, I answer the phone (I use a headset), I enter data. I was advised I would need at least 2 weeks, but it sounds like I may need more than that...

I was off work 3 months. I'd consider 4-6 weeks minimum.

5. I drive a stick shift, I am having surgery on my right side first. Advice?

Have someone else do things for you (laundry, grocery shop, driving).

6. What did you do during your recovery?? I will be so bored, could you read, or was that too much to hold a book?

I watched tv and did a lot of walking. The pain meds made me sleep a lot as well.

I don't really have the time to take 4-6 weeks off of work. I am also supposed to have the other side done in two months.

I live in Nebraska, I don't have a lot of choices about doctors geographically. My doctor is Dr. Bingham, he has been a vascular surgeon for 38 years.

They told me I would need at least two weeks off work...maybe I can borrow a car that is not a stick shift.

Any PT or stretches that might help beforehand?

Taking time during recovery is as important as the surgery/surgeon...
but some do recover faster than others and some slower than others..

Some will develop problematic internal scar tissue later on.. but that can't really be known until it happens.. or not.. just something to be aware of if sx increase at some point in time.

i am no doc but i can't see anyone working in 2 weeks. at 2 weeks i was sleeping 15 hrs a day, could not handle simple walks around the block, could not take a shower myself, was sick to my stomach, on heavy pain meds AND I WAS CONSIDERED A HEAD OF THE PACK BY MY DOC

and don't think you will use your good arm - you actually over compensate this way and end up affecting your entire shoulder - surgery side included. i wasn't even carrying a dish of food with my good hand at 2 wreeks!

can you take more time off unpaid
2 weeks is unreal, sorry

i am 30yr old healthy male

Hi
do u have vtos?
Your Dr will tell u what u can not do n for how many wks after surgery. I was given instructions not to lift anything more than 4 lbs for 4 wks postop. No vacumming for 6 wks postop. Eat a good diet bf n after surgery and walk if u can daily to expand ur lungs. If u have a exp well known Dr complications are rare that is why they do preops.
Best of luck!
!

Rhonda,

When I had the anesthesia that was along with the steroid shots I got, I could breath much deeper than I can really ever remember. This lasted the day I got the shot, and part of the next day. I also felt like everything was shifting in my insides, actually, it was similar to the feeling I had right after my car accident. I will work on my breathing and strengthening my lungs, that's is great advice.

Heybro,

Why were you sick to your stomach? Nobody warned me of that. Yikes!

Hi Eight! I live in NE as well, (Omaha area) but I had both of my surgeries done in AZ. (Left side in '11 and right side in Aug of this year.) I have A/V TOS, no neuro involvement at all, as in your case which you have. As far as getting/needing the time off after surgery- with having a desk job with primarily data entry (keyboard) and headset answering phones, I think that you may be alright. I was just fine at 2 weeks post op doing the same type of work. However, again, I didn't have any nerve issues- so I can see how that would complicate things. Do a search on my username so you can see how my surgery/recovery has been like- was pretty simple and easy going for me! Good luck and keep us posted!

why? cause i had surgery, haha
crackers and club soda helped.
i think anyone going back to work at 2 weeks is crazy.
ymmv i guess

I was told 4 to 6 weeks, that was 2 years ago. I still am not working and I am on disability from a police dept., so it all depends on what kind of job you are doing.