Originally Posted by Eight

Also, I called Denver, and I guess Dr. Sanders did not retire...

Originally Posted by TOStrojan

I had pec minor surgery with Dr. Sanders in 2008 ---- my first surgery. It did nothing. It is an easy surgery and recovery is easy. I had a final the next week and was able to take it.
The problem with TOS is that they need to fix the reason you got it in the first place. For people with extra ribs or DVT's, they fix those and the people can get a lot better ---- they fixed the problem causing the TOS. For other people with screwed up shoulders, clavicles that are sunken down and unstable, hypertrophied subclavian muscles, etc...the pec minor surgery or the rib/scalene removal does not fix the problem. Don't get me wrong --- it does help, but mostly because of the neurolysis and decompression of the inflamed/lesioned nerve that is hypersensitive and chronically irritated as a result. For these people, their TOS can come back if they continue with their old ways and don't learn how to adapt and move their bodies in new ways. For example, the structural problems of the shoulder, clavicle, scapula, etc. will still cause nerve stretch problems with certain movements. Over time, these movements can stretch the nerve and irritate the BP enough that it gets irritated/inflamed again and TOS is back. There are so many ways TOS can be caused and hopefully surgery addresses the cause.

Why TOS is so tricky: the medical community doesn't really understand all the variations of TOS, and its causes. Also, the diagnostics just aren't there yet --- making TOS a bit of an exploratory surgery.

Gotta go. Sorry for the lengthy post. I wish everyone success with their TOS journey.

Originally Posted by Eight

I read about the pec minor on here, and that made a lot more sense based on what my symptoms are, than the first rib resection. My pulse does not completely stop when they do the TOS tests, but my hands become freezing and then tingling. Also, the pec minor syndrome causes a lot of chest pain - similar to what people describe what a heart attack feels like. I have gone to the ER a couple of times with chest pain, as it was only on my left side to start out with. They looked at me like I was a nut job both times, as I am only 33 - I think I was 26 the first time I went, and I have an excellent heart.

Als

Originally Posted by TOStrojan

...

Why TOS is so tricky: the medical community doesn't really understand all the variations of TOS, and its causes. Also, the diagnostics just aren't there yet --- making TOS a bit of an exploratory surgery.

Gotta go. Sorry for the lengthy post. I wish everyone success with their TOS journey.

Originally Posted by Eddiemaverick

I had it done and noticed no instability

Originally Posted by President_Taft

Thanks Eddiemaverick. Were you forced to keep your arm down for a period of time during recovery (I've heard this is the case)? Have you ever been limited in activity since then (other than during recovery)?

There is quite a bit of information out there about the causes and procedure for this, but very little about the aftermath.

Originally Posted by Eddiemaverick

I have not been forced to keep my arm down; in fact I've been given range of motion exercises that include overhead motions. I am no more limited in activity than I was prior to surgery; but that isn't saying much as I wasn't doing much prior. One thing I have noticed however is that my range of motion overhead is greatly improved.

I can honestly say that the pec minor tenotomy has been an easy recovery so far compared to a first rib resection.