Hi,
I am an RN and was injured on the job lifting up a patient(pt) from a toilet. I was diagnosed a year and a half later after many false diagnoses. Eventually I was diag. with vascular and neurogenic tos on the right side.

I after a prolonged period of intense physiotherapy and constant massage therapy decided after many doctors telling me to go and live in pain there was nothing they could do for me to find a surgeon who may listen. Luckily one of the only doctors in Ontario who does the surgery was in my own town.

I had a couple of consults with him then I decided to have my 1st rib resected and a scalene removed to make more room for my nerves and vessels. I had 90% subclavian vein occlusion in arms overhead position.

After surgery I felt like a train had run me over. I had supraclavicular approach done. I had a chest tube after surgery and that hurt as well. I'd have to say although I hurt like hell the pain from the tos was gone.
I did have a long period of recovery. It was about four months before I was off all my medications and doing most things for myself again. I was lucky and was able to move back in with my folks again so they could help me with daily life stuff.....food, cleaning, laundry etc. I was unable esp for the first month to do a lot. I was quite sore. Bone pain was the main cause of the pain. I was however able to do gentle exercises in the shower when my muscles were in the warm heat.

I did gradual things around the house as my PT. I would unload the dishwasher and do laundry and was finally able to get to a point whre I was off all my meds and ready to go to PT full time.

I was an unfortunate case as I got WRECKED in PT they totally ruined my surgery. They had me lift weights and do things totally contraindicated in TOS recovery!!!!!! My advice is to be very careful in choosing your PT!!!!

I have NO regrets about the surgery and would do it agian in a heartbeat.
If only it could be done agian!

take care and hope this helps. have questions feel free to PM me!
take care,
love and hugs,
Victoria

I moved new member LSUsball2010 post and the replies to him to a new thread -
here-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread68663.html