To those who have had the pec minor release:

1. How long was the recovery?
2. Were you able to lift things after recovering? (I have a 1 year old so this is important to me!)
3. Were you able to exercise after recovery? Including strength train?
4. Did it help with your jaw/face pain??
5. Did it help with pain from pushing/pulling motions? (I find I have TONS of pain the day after I have pushed the stroller.)

I spent ten years doing PT to fix my bad posture. This surgery fixed it instantly. My shoulders are 3-4 inches back from where they used to be.

1. My recovery was awful. It is two weeks for everyone else before they can go back to work. I went back part time on hydrocodone at two weeks.
2. You probably won't be able to pick up your child for six weeks. I was on a ten pound weight restriction for six weeks. Try keeping candy corn on you at all times to bribe him/her into doing everything you ask.
3. Um, lower body? Sure.
4. No, a night guard worn every single night without fail helps me with this the most.
5. It's funny that you ask this. Pushing and pulling is what MY pec minor really only seemed to do except for to give me really bad posture. However, this was the one thing that I struggled with the most during recovery. Pushing a grocery cart was completely exhausting. I ended up sort of pushing it with my belly. Would be hard to do with a kid in the cart, lol, but you wouldn't be able to put the kid in the cart anyway.... Um, buy three months of groceries be forces surgery and you should be good.


Anyway, I think this is a fantastic surgery because the risks are so low with it. Try to strengthen your lower abs, obliques, and muscles on the back of your neck as much as possible before surgery.

I had surgery in December. I have a first rib resection and scalenectomy scheduled in September.

Thanks for replying and good luck in September. Are your issues bilateral?

I have ATOS with some neuro involvement. I have been told my arterial damage is not "permanent", so I'm wondering what I can do to avoid the full surgery at this point.

I have horrible posture, and feel tons of knots in my upper back. I have tried PT, massage, etc, etc. so your info about the PM release is reassuring.

How is your pushing/pulling strength now? You went to Donahue, right?

Hi, I did not have Pec m. Surgery.
Was wondering if u were dx w this, who dx u?
I have had the increase in pain after pushing a grocery w/o much in it, for very long time.
Do u also get bad cramps in ur forearms & fingers (middle, ring, pinky) when doing fine motor tasks or reaching behind ur back?
I looked up sx of Pec minor on google & Dr Sanders website & J articles.
This was one of the sx & a dead giveaway to me. I wonder if muscle wasting occurs 1st & then the cramps start.
Idk not getting any answers from my Pc Dr or neurologist, there not familiar w Pec m.
Take care

Dr. Annest did my bilateral pec minor release assisted by Dr. Sanders. Dr. Donahue is familiar with Pec Minor Syndrome.

They were going to do the bilateral scalenectomy and first rib resection later, after they saw me, they decided both were needed. But this was cancelled.

Now I have a left side first rib resection and scalenectomy scheduled with Dr. Donahue.

Yes, my symptoms are bilateral.

I am NTOS and some ATOS. I think if you have ATOS surgery is recommended. I'm not waiting for the inevitable blood clot to randomly break free.

My pushing/pulling strength is just fine.
The Pec minor is absolutely not needed to do any movement. Other muscles will take over what it did for you. Don't even worry about this. You will have fantastic posture. It will actually be uncomfortable when you try to slouch for several months, and you will want yo sit up straight because, really you can't slouch, lol, I guess that is the only movement you vacant do without this.


Wall push ups, done slowly should help build up the rhomboids and improve posture.

My middle, ring, and pinky fingers started to come alive again, no longer numbed following the pec minor release. I didn't even know I didn't have full feeling in all of my fingers until after this. It was hard to push a grocery cart following this surgery. I don't remember, lol, but I think I wandered aimlessly through stores following this surgery. I went to the store to buy just one or two things several times a week. Rhonda, it makes sense that wasting occurs and then cramps.