I am about 2-1/2 months post-op and every now and then I get this pulling/tearing feeling at the incision site. Is this normal? It hurts like *!&$%@!!!!

I have been doing physiotherapy and craniosacral therapy and most of it so far has been centered around working with the scar...I haven't had much to complain about that way.

Jamy,

Strange feelings around that incinsion is very normal. I had my surgery almost 2 years ago and I still feel tenderness and somtimes pain around the area. Especially if I get cold in anyway where I tense up. Then it feels like rock under the scar and it hurts alot when it gets like that.

Just take it easy the first several months. Don't Push yourself to do anything you shoudln't do.

Peggy

What kind of PT are you doing? Stretches, nerve glides, ultrasound, posturework, short reps of movements on one or both sides of body? Or are you working on strengthing, i.e; movements with weights, ball throwing, pull-down weights, etc? What is your nerve pain level like? All calmed down, no tingling, numbness or sharp pain, just dull muscle pain?

Are you off all meds rx'd by your surgeon for post-op? What is your activity level other than PT and craniosacral? How active are you during the day? Evening? Are you sleeping?

I found ultrasound to be really effective for muscle spasms at the surgical site post-op, you may want to ask about that if the PT hasn't already tried it. And be sure you aren't overdoing things, using the arm too much or attempting to push the recovery too fast - slow and easy does it or you WILL hear about it! Seems to be the top Drs consensus that it takes a full yer, maybe longer, to fully recover from TOS surgery - so you're still really early in the process. Patience is hard I know, BUT you've come so far, taking things slow a few more months is doable, right?

Best of wishes,
beth

Hi Jamy,
no pt till at least four months post op is what our doc told me and if it is the same place rem.... what they did to me.....consider that one...pm me.
Victoria

I have a feeling of tugging and pulling at the surgical site and up the side of my neck. My surgeon said it was scar tissue. This was confirmed by MRI 8 months post-op, which showed scar tissue forming on the brachial plexus.

I would follow up with your doctor. Maybe you're doing too much PT, maybe not enough. But it's worth a discussion with your team.

Kelly

Dr ahn told me there is something you can take to help dissolve? (maybe that's not the right word) scar tissue back into the body.

Anyone else try this before going through a re-do? I forget what the stuff was called. I want to say it was an enzyme or something.