[cppoly]

Has anyone had pec minor surgery with both sides operated on in the same procedure? Does anyone know if doctors will do this? For a few reasons both personal and financial, I would request from my doctor if possible. I'm bringing this up here because from what I've been reading on the forums it seems to be the least invasive TOS surgery so I thought it might be possible.

[Jomar]

I don't recall reading of anyone getting both pec minor surgery done at same time..
If you find posts for a single side pec minor release that will still give an idea of recovery and what to expect.

I recall one person had a double rib resection at same time, they went thru the sternum for access to both sides....
And I can't remember the user name of that member..or how the recovery went for them...

[cppoly]

Hmmm I guess the question is, are there reasons why this shouldn't be done? I got about 5 reasons why I want it to be done.

[Eight]

Oh, oh, I did. You can't raise your arms above your head for six weeks. I was told I would be out of work for two weeks. I was on OxyContin for two weeks. Following this I went back part time while on hydrocodone. I don't really remember a lot from this time. Anyway, washing long hair is hard. Watch for scar tissue build up, use a lot of triple antibiotic ointment with pain reliever on the scars.

Here is the thing though. I have has tos for ten years. During that time I spent oodles of money and time working on my posture. I was told it was my poor posture that made my tos bad, and if I could just get that under control, I would be better. Only, this fixed my crappy posture instantly. Like my shoulders are 3-4 inches back from where they used to be. My daughter says I have the best posture of anyone she knows. However, I do have head forward posture still - this went away for a time with anterior and median scalene botox. Botox wore off, and head is forwards again because scalenes are tight and pull it forward.

My neck started hurt in the back following this surgery. I had to wear a cervical collar, tens machine, and strapped a heating pad to my chair at work. I also started having face and neck spasms following this surgery.

Sounds like a nightmare, I know. But here is the thing, I'm ten years into this crisp, perhaps this might be more beneficial for someone whose tos is not as advanced???

I very much understand the logic of trying just this surgery before diving into the deep end with the first rib resection and scalenectomy. I would advise trying to find someone that could give you botox in the pec minor only to get an idea of how this surgery alone would affect your particular anatomy.

Also, if you do find someone that does botox, consider also botox in the pec minor, anterior and median scalene botox along with some INTENSE physical therapy in an effort to avoid surgery as a whole....if you haven't gone this route already.

Dr. Annest at vascular institute of the Rockies did both sides during the same operation for me. Try to give yourself as much time off work as possible. Idk what kind of work you do....


This didn't work for me, Dr. sanders didn't expect it would. I was still hopeful. I've been a mess since then, see my other posts, first rib resection and scalenectomy scheduled on left side in September.

[cppoly]

Thanks Eight! It's good to know it can be done if need be. I will be seeing Dr Donahue and I will be getting botox injections in the pec minors and scalenes. Although this makes me wonder how would he know how to isolate source of TOS if both areas are targeted. Maybe the CTA of the chest and neck will pinpoint the compression and the botox is just to help in the meantime. While I don't really know if my pec minors are the sole source of my TOS, my osteopath is able to reproduce numb arms in 10 seconds by pressing on my chest and shoulder area so I have some hope this is my target area.

[16rhonda]

Originally Posted by cppoly

Thanks Eight! It's good to know it can be done if need be. I will be seeing Dr Donahue and I will be getting botox injections in the pec minors and scalenes. Although this makes me wonder how would he know how to isolate source of TOS if both areas are targeted. Maybe the CTA of the chest and neck will pinpoint the compression and the botox is just to help in the meantime. While I don't really know if my pec minors are the sole source of my TOS, my osteopath is able to reproduce numb arms in 10 seconds by pressing on my chest and shoulder area so I have some hope this is my target area.

Yes, that is a good? How will he know which muscle is causing the problem? Wondering If Pec minor is underneath the Pec major m. how can an injection (botox or lidocaine) even target this muscle?

[16rhonda]

Hi, just wondering why would Dr Sanders do a bilateral Pec m. Tenonomy, if he knew it wouldn't help u?

Originally Posted by Eight

Oh, oh, I did. You can't raise your arms above your head for six weeks. I was told I would be out of work for two weeks. I was on OxyContin for two weeks. Following this I went back part time while on hydrocodone. I don't really remember a lot from this time. Anyway, washing long hair is hard. Watch for scar tissue build up, use a lot of triple antibiotic ointment with pain reliever on the scars.

Here is the thing though. I have has tos for ten years. During that time I spent oodles of money and time working on my posture. I was told it was my poor posture that made my tos bad, and if I could just get that under control, I would be better. Only, this fixed my crappy posture instantly. Like my shoulders are 3-4 inches back from where they used to be. My daughter says I have the best posture of anyone she knows. However, I do have head forward posture still - this went away for a time with anterior and median scalene botox. Botox wore off, and head is forwards again because scalenes are tight and pull it forward.

My neck started hurt in the back following this surgery. I had to wear a cervical collar, tens machine, and strapped a heating pad to my chair at work. I also started having face and neck spasms following this surgery.

Sounds like a nightmare, I know. But here is the thing, I'm ten years into this crisp, perhaps this might be more beneficial for someone whose tos is not as advanced???

I very much understand the logic of trying just this surgery before diving into the deep end with the first rib resection and scalenectomy. I would advise trying to find someone that could give you botox in the pec minor only to get an idea of how this surgery alone would affect your particular anatomy.

Also, if you do find someone that does botox, consider also botox in the pec minor, anterior and median scalene botox along with some INTENSE physical therapy in an effort to avoid surgery as a whole....if you haven't gone this route already.

Dr. Annest at vascular institute of the Rockies did both sides during the same operation for me. Try to give yourself as much time off work as possible. Idk what kind of work you do....


This didn't work for me, Dr. sanders didn't expect it would. I was still hopeful. I've been a mess since then, see my other posts, first rib resection and scalenectomy scheduled on left side in September.

[Eight]

I did it then because I couldn't get scheduled for everything for three months. I thought something was better than nothing for the mean time.

It helped with pain in the upper arm and fatigue with arms overhead, like drying hair. It restored feeling in the ring finger and sometimes in the pinky and part of the middle finger. Also, I have great shoulder posture.

[lindsayshealth]

Eight--

i am anxious to hear how your surgery goes...I have a lot in common w/you as far as symptoms and posture. I don't know which came first, posture or TOS? Your pec minor release posture change makes me want to get that done and see if that alleviates some of the neck tightness and limited ROM there. I bought a posture brace and it helps reinforce good posture but it is incredibly uncomfortable and I swear it makes my hands hurt worse due to axillary compression where I am wearing it!!!! Anyway, please update often about your surgery!!! What diagnostic tests did Dr. Donahue use for you?? I want to see him, but if I start traveling to see a surgeon, I want it to be the one who will do the procedure since I've already tried pretty much everything BUT surgery.

[Eight]

I had bad posture to start. My tos is from a car accident.

He did an office visit and his ct scan, also botox is partially diagnostic and partially treatment. Dr. sanders had already diagnosed me.

My neck didn't hurt until after the pec minor release. The back of my neck hurt a lot following the pec minor release because it had to work harder than ever before. It was all in the shoulders, back and jaw.

I'm also extremely flexible, so I've had pretty good range of motion all along. Since the first botox I can now bend over forward, put my hands on my calves, and pull my self a little closer to my legs and this will crack my back. It's strange, but feels good.

Originally Posted by lindsayshealth

Eight--

i am anxious to hear how your surgery goes...I have a lot in common w/you as far as symptoms and posture. I don't know which came first, posture or TOS? Your pec minor release posture change makes me want to get that done and see if that alleviates some of the neck tightness and limited ROM there. I bought a posture brace and it helps reinforce good posture but it is incredibly uncomfortable and I swear it makes my hands hurt worse due to axillary compression where I am wearing it!!!! Anyway, please update often about your surgery!!! What diagnostic tests did Dr. Donahue use for you?? I want to see him, but if I start traveling to see a surgeon, I want it to be the one who will do the procedure since I've already tried pretty much everything BUT surgery.