Hello everyone.
I was busy during the Christmas week, and wasn't able to visit the forum, but I'm pretty sure some of you will remember my earlier posts.

I found this site while trying to get to the bottom of my symptoms, and was very unsure if I had TOS or not. I had an appointment to see Dr. Robert Thompson (from the recommended Doc list) that was supposed to be a month away. Lucky for me, I live less than an hour from his office and amazingly, his very sweet secretary called me just before Christmas and had an unexpected opening for today, Thursday December 27th.

I was happy to get in, but also reserved about my appointment. Before I stopped working (when I first found this forum) the pain was so intense...but I had begun to doubt myself after a round of steroids and time off work significantly decreased my symptoms. They improved so dramatically that I began to feel a little bit silly for making such an issue of it. After all, the pain, numbness in my fingers, tingling arms and aching joints were now only moderate; seriously inconvenient and annoying -- but manageable.

But, nevertheless, today my mother-in-law and I made the one hour trip to the city for my 10:00am appointment. I had already filled out the forms, indicating the level of pain in different areas, current decreased symptoms and provided him with all of the medical records from my previously performed diagnostic treatments (MRI, EMG, NCS, X-Ray, etc). He took some time reviewing those and then met me in the room with a medical assistant and my sweetie's mom there to support & help us both.

I told him all the details:
The level of pain I experience now varies from day to day (or hour to hour), from minor to moderately-severe, as opposed to the intensity of the pain after working those 10 days of 10 hour shifts as a diner waitress.
My hands are numb 100% of the time now, whereas it was only the left hand before and the numbness came and went.
Where, when and how things ache or hurt.

He gave me what I think is the most thorough exam I have ever had from any physician. I got all the typical and appropriate TOS tests, he was very hands-on and detailed. For over an hour he listened, felt and examined my shoulder and arm as he explained the process the whole way through. His bedside manner was professional, friendly and extremely informative about my condition. I could not have been more impressed.

These are the results of the visit:
A quadruple, inter-linked diagnosis.

1. Neogenic TOS - Recent repetitive motion injury combined with previous injury. He says he was surprised it was caught so early, and he rarely sees TOS at such an early stage. "Prognosis excellent"
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Contributed to by the other dx's & compensation
3. Pectoralis Minor Impingement - He didn't use the word impingement, but explained that the tendon was somehow captured by veins/arteries, and need to be divided.
4. Tendinitis in Shoulder & Bicep - Likely caused by poor posture due to overcompensation and repetitive use.

So, due to the early dx, he has prescribed Physical Therapy for the TOS, which should help with the Carpal Tunnel as well as the Tendinitis.

So great news, right? Well, yes...but....

Then he drops the bomb.

The Pec issue needs to be addressed prior to PT. He says if I do the type of TOS specific PT I need, that the pec tendon will just get more and more irritated, and the PT way more difficult (or impossible) to perform. That pec minor needs surgery.

And, friends....he scheduled that surgery for TOMORROW. So I go under the knife in less than 12 hours. Doc says I will be ready for PT as early as next week, potentially "healed" (or back to a semblance of normalcy) within a month! (wow)

I am scared, (of course) yet optimistic. Pray for me if you pray, and I will try to update as soon as I can if your preferred method is to worry

I am so glad you are all here to share this with me, and I owe all of you so much gratitude for supporting me, leading me to Dr. Thompson and being there to listen and understand.

All my thanks,

Dena