I am seeing Dr. Thompson next week and since PT has failed, I believe he will recommend surgery. My symptoms definitely involve the pec minor though the scalenes are probably involved too. I am thinking of asking him to just try a pec minor tenotomy first. From what I've read, it's a simple outpatient procedure that doesn't have many risks, and I want to see if that alone will improve my symptoms before I do a major surgery.

Do any of you think that is reasonable? Any of you have any experience recovering from this procedure? I'm a nurse on a hospital floor so there is no such thing as light duty. If I had the full TOS surgery with brachial plexus decompression, scalenectomy, cervical and first rib removal, etc, I know I'm looking at a while before I go back to work. Any idea how long it would take me to go back to work if I just did the pec minor tenotomy? Thanks.

Dr. Donahue told me it was 2 days to two weeks, I had the surgery and that seems about right. Of course I don't move people as a nurse does.

this old thread talks of a pec block as a test -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...otomy+Recovery

there are some other threads/posts too if you use the forum search tool.

Did you have any problems recovering or have any degree of permanent disability?

There is no noticeable physical change in terms of mechanics. Dr. Donahue even indicated that their shoulder specialists at MGH are unable to discern any meaningful physical compromises to the tenotomy procedure.

Thanks. That is good to know given what some people have said on these forums about the surgery. Do you know if this is something a local surgeon can perform, or does it need to be done by a TOS specialist?

First rib removal was not to bad for me. Dint work for me but usually the chances of succes are higher than just the pec minor tenotomy surgery. Thats what i heard but i am not a surgeon at all. I will not try it because if it`s not working you gonna have to go for a second surgery. After 3 or 4 days i was able to use my hand to do verry light duty like eat or anything like that. Actually i was able to do way more than that but i fallow the surgeon dirrections. Good luck for your surgery and your dessision!

I has the spec minor tenotomy/release done on 12/5/2013. I went to Denver and saw Drs. Sanders, Mechanic, and Annest. Annest did the surgery and Sanders assisted. These guys know what they are doing and tickets to Denver are $250 from where I live. I sent them my medical records ( a foot thick) complete with two MRI s. Bring someone with you or bring NO luggage - seriously. Plan to stay five days, four nights. You can rent a hotel for $65 per day that will shuttle you every where you need to go, but allow time for travel. These guys are good.

Annest did a pectoral minor release and brachial plexus neuroplasty. Tomorrow is day seven. I am not ready to go back to work. I will go back 12/23/2013. There is very little risk with this surgery. I am not allowed to lift my arms above my headed for six weeks - get someone to was and fix your hair during this time if you are female.

I would have done this surgery years ago. I think everyone with TOS should highly consider this first. I think this should be the next step for anyone who has trouble after six months physical therapy.

I had only 60% of the nerves working in my hands. I have a bilateral scalenectomy and first rib resection scheduled for the first part of February.

I now have tingling sensAtions of nerves firing randomly as they are healing and begin.ing to work again. My shoulders are four inches back from their previous hunched position (this makes it look like I lost weight even though I haven't).

My thought is that you have very little to lose from this surgery. I wish I had gone to Denver 9 years ago....My life would be so different today.

Get the best TOS surgeon you can, this is very important.

There is little risk from this surgery.

For other benefit of others in the future: i had the pectoral minor release and brachial plexus neuroplasty. I would plan on giving yourself at least two weeks to get used to the adjustments before going back to work if you work a desk job.

No overhead movements allowed for six weeks. Ten pound weight limit for ten weeks.. personally I find pushing a grocery cart completely exhausting.

This surgery should be done before the first rib resection is considered in my opinion... my TOS is really bad and long last, ten years from A car accident.