I wanted to do a poll to see how many people have had Surgical Interventions, Either First Rib Resections and/or Anterior and Middle Scalenectomy, Bilateral,
Vascular and/or arterial.
Injections, Scalene Blocks and/or Botox
Conservative treatment such as The Edgelow or Sharon Butler Program.
I may have missed a few things so I have placed other in the poll for the left out procedures..
Thanks I'm just curious as to the (Time Frame everyone has experience if they have had any Returning Symptoms)..
((Hugs))
Dawn

Oops I forgot to place Other.. What can I say it's my first Poll..

It would be Great to hear what interventions and outcomes that other TOS'ers have had either GOOD or bad ...

I realized I should have done the poll with successful and unsuccessful votes.. I guess we learn as we go along.. Maybe I'll try to do another one later on..

I have not had much intervention. I did not, nor does my anesthiologist suggest doing ESI injections weeks apart in a seris. Mostly when I need a tune up, about three times a year.

I do keep the schedule of trigger point injections withMarcaine: Also about every 18 months I had Epidural spine injection in the C-5 Deprol Medrol.

I have a hottub that I live in when it is running. My family saw how much it helped me and now keep it filled all the time. Just sitting in the heat submerged, the whirl pool cycle is gentle, the jets on low. But, as a mega pro at the tub now, I can ahndle the jets full blast massage, neck to legs.

If I have a chance though, I would like a bath tub with jets in it. Or a shower with tons of sprays from all over hitting me.

Di, I have to agree with you.. Oh, How I would love one of those Jacuzzi bath tubs.. But I'm afraid I would end up looking like a prune by the end of my bath..

As for me I had my Right Scalene Block done and it lasted approx. 28 hours.. At which time my surgeon told me that I was a canadate for surgery..
Two months later I had my TOS surgery which was a Right scalenectomy and Neuroplasty of multiple nerves.
It now has been approx. 9 month later and I have had a return of some pre-operative pain which is from adhesions that are causing nerve irritation..
The way I look at it is hey it can happen and I'm going to get it taken care of..

Dawn, I'm just wondering--and I"m sorry pain returned after surgery. By taking care of adhesions are you considering re-surgery?? or do you plan do you plan to just take care of yourself via gentle PT or time--I just didn't understand. If resurgery is your choice--does your surgeon tell you what chances of rescarring will be? Our bodies try to heal by producing scar to hold us together--so guess we can't blame our bodies--but that is why surgery around nerves seems like such a crap shoot to me. There are NOT reliable antiscarring agents created yet. I'm told we are a century away from being able to figure out how to stop scarring. I am curions what you choose to do tho--and i wish you the VERY best. Triste

I replied before i realized that you wanted ONLY unsuccessfull replies. I am only 4 1/2 weeks out of surgery, but at the moment I would consider this successfull. I do have a lot of muscle spasm, and cramping in my upper back, chest, arms and hands. I am hoping that will ease with time. I do not have any numbness or tingling. However, my arms and hands have been so COLD. When I wake up in the morning I am very sore and dizzy, and find it difficult to get around. I loosen up during the day, but the spasms come and go.
I am more functional right now. For the first time in over a year I have started knitting again. I would die of boredom if I couldn't at least do that. I can't drive, and my daycare is closed, so I am at home alone all day which is very wierd for me.
I hope everyone is well.
Tracy

Trix,

This is Great information and I am really glad that you wrote it in my post.. I had ment to do this poll a little diffrentley but I'm learning and with me I seem to have those TOS moment so all comes with time..
I'm glad that you are doing well and that you let us know.. I didn't have a rib removed when I had my surgery. I had a scalenectomy and neuroplasty done.. But I am sure it isn't uncommon to have muscle spasms when you have had your rib's removed there is alot of healing going on inside.. Hang in there and give it time and rest.. There have been others here on the forum that have had rib resections maybe someone will come along and give you some insite on what to expect..
It's great that you are able to use your arms again.. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to due what you love to do..
As I said take it easy and do as your Dr says Rest, Rest, Rest...

Triste,

Yes, surgery is in my future.. I have to have this scar tissue cleaned up.. Prior to my inital TOS surgery I had such sever headaches that I was unable to function.. After the surgery the headaches had gone because the adhesions were removed and had released the pressure off of those nerves.. Now my headaches are returning along with some other problems and it is due some of the adhesions returning.. I have the utmost trust and respect in my surgeon and believe that this is the right thing to due as I can't deal with these headaches again.. My surgion has informed me of all my risk and told me prior of my chances of adhesion but it was a chance I was willing to take..

I know that there is so much medical research taking place in the world today and I hope that someday someone will come up with a cure that will help those in our future that are destined for TOS to be able to have a cure for it before it disables them as it has some of us..

Best of luck to you Trist I wish you the best..

((Hugs))
Dawn

Hi Dawn, I would have clicked one of your buttons but the time frame is farther out for me - I'm postop 1st rib w/ scalenectomy (bilateral) 2.5 yrs. I'm considering them unsuccessful because, although the surgeries fixed the numbness i had at night, it did not elminate any pain or restore any functionality, i.e i still drop things, etc. Haven't tried any of the injection treatments yet.

Hugs
Nolina

I never voted in this , mainly because I wasn't sure how to interpret "unsuccessful"?
Did success mean 100% cured ?

Or is success being able to get by with mainly having under a 3 or less on the pain scale?

I think I will vote anyway - my pain is usually more of an annoyance /discomfort at times. But I can usually manage it with self care & chiro one a month.

Hi
I had left-sided scalene injection and pronater teres injection on Friday 2/25. It is now Sunday about 48 hours later, and I am still experiencing relief! Amazing. It was instant relief at the doc's office. Now I am told I am a good candidate for the surgery, but am still going to work on conservative care for another 4 weeks or so.

Too bad these blocks are not a long term fix!

Based on this result, I will probably go ahead with the surgery in May sometime. It feels wonderful to be pain free even for a short period of time..