Week 1 after Rib Resection Surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

[@susieqz813]

It’s day 3 of my post-op and I was sent home today. I had to pop on here and THANK YOU for the advice and the wedge pillow idea. It’s already working wonders! The stay at the hospital wasn’t too bad, but does it feel good to be home. Stay well!

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

Good to hear! Hope your recovery is quick and full!

[@susieqz813]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 Thank you! It was great to not be woken every few hours for a vital check haha I’ll keep you updated as I watch your milestone videos along with mine 😊

[@xxorando22]

Having this procedure in two weeks, I’ve had 4 orthopedic surgeries in the past couple years but this is uncharted waters. Thanks so much for all of your helpful information!

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

You’re very welcome! How are you doing now?

[@infinitescenarios]

Had this surgery done, they went in through my neck. Was pretty harsh because they cut through all the muscle and nerves to get to the rib, so having some ulner nerve issues even a year after. Also did this all, including the hospital procedures, with no pain reliever except Tylenol the entire time. So you can get through it without the harsh drugs if you really want. Also don't think you should take ibuprofen on blood thinners, unless you aren't, but I had the surgery done for venous TOS. Kind of thinking yours was for a nerve now.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

Oh goodness, I can imagine that's been rough. I have still had some issues with soreness, but it's definitely more manageable than before. I got off pain medications shortly after this video and was able to handle with Tylenol mostly. They concluded that even though there were some circulation issues, I had nerve TOS. I'm hoping things are still improving for you!

[@infinitescenarios]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 Staying on top of stretching has had a major benefit. If I go a day or two without it my shoulder feels wrecked. Sometimes I even get weird feelings in my pinky when I've been stretching good that make me hopeful I'll get feeling back.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

Yes, you definitely have to stay on top of stretching/exercises to keep the progress up...here’s to hoping! 💞

[@4358164]

I just had the First rib resection through my neck, did you also have crazy pain from the upper arm to my lower fingers?

[@infinitescenarios]

@@4358164 Immediately after surgery and the weeks after leaving the hospital, I do recall a decent amount of pain. Especially comparing it to how I felt before surgery, which I would have described as more of a discomfort than pain. But following surgery was rough, and I think it was mostly the nerve pain. Which was from the shoulder all the way down the arm, and into the bottom fingers. Thinking about it the nerve pain was actually the worst part. And the arm was essentially dead weight for awhile. Couldn't even pick up a cup of water. But now at 3 years post surgery, I can play guitar again, and my numb fingers all have feeling again minus a little in my pinky.

[@user-ij9bs9ke9j]

Thank you very much for your thoughtful video and constructive comments in the comment section. I appreciate your attention to detail, clarity, and the way you explain things so coherently. I have recently been diagnosed with vTOS, which was confirmed by a second opinion. I have an appointment tomorrow with my surgeon to schedule the surgery and I'm pretty nervous. I'm going to go online now and get the wedge pillow. Again, thank you.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

You’re very welcome, and I’m so glad that these videos have helped 💕

[@xclinex4]

Thanks for the tips and update on your progress!

[@ritastephens1521]

Do you have the link to the wedge? Thank you for doing this video. I’m having this exact sx on the 30th and I’m terrified. My TOS is neurogenic, arterial and venous

[@WanderlustPhotographyOrg]

Did you have pain in your shoulder blade? I feel like I have the worst pain in the muscles behind my shoulder blade like a knot that needs to be massaged and feels like someone needs to crack my back up there.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

Yes, I did. I actually still get pain in that area when the weather changes…

[@WanderlustPhotographyOrg]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 any difficulties swallowing after? Ive noticed sometimes things are getting stuck in my throat now.

[@rosieramos9464]

Will you say that this surgery was worth it?

[@All-Father-Odin-967]

Bless you. Long term has ot helped? As I have a first rib injury that's causing me so much pain. I was wondering if this helped?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

I’m better than what I was prior to surgery, but I’m still in the healing process. I am able to lift things, and do more everyday activities, but I still have some pain management strategies in place

[@christiehite7767]

Curious if you were given specific recommendations to share with you physical therapy specialist from your surgeon?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

My surgeon just said I could start physical therapy two weeks after surgery. Since my local physiatrist hadn't treated many patients with TOS, they asked for recommendations on exercises to focus on, and Mayo Clinic provided me a booklet, which then I forwarded to my specialist.

[@SD-bo6oi]

I have the extra cervical rib. It drives me nuts, so much neck pain. I live in Arizona and my insurance doesn’t cover Mayo, and even then AZ Mayo isn’t where the top 4 vascular surgeons are for this procedure. They are all out of state. Two vascular surgeons say I am classic arterial TOS when I raise my arm. I am 50 and it’s driven me nuts all my life. No blood clots, but given the option of surgery. My question is how do you decide on a surgeon? I want to do it ASAP, but I see the side effects, like nerve damage, can be devastating as well. It he drs here do the cut on the upper shoulder.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

That is a difficult call. I would do some research on who the top people in the field are, then work your way down that list to see if your insurance can cover you to see them to consult and if their contracted facility is in your network. If that doesn’t work, I’d find someone closer to you that has experience doing these surgeries. The two surgeons you saw: they were able to recognize it, but have they done the surgery? There are more chances of hitting something coming from the upper shoulder, but if you have someone experienced doing it that way, I’d trust the experience. Or sometimes the surgeons can collaborate with those who have done a different approach, like transaxillary. That’s what happened in my case at Mayo...

[@martaakh8105]

Every thoracosurgeon and many orthopedists can do it. There is no needed Mayo or Ketchup to do it.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

@@martaakh8105 many probably Could, but since it is an invasive surgery, some may choose to have someone experienced

[@martaakh8105]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 every surgery is invasive. Sometimes it can be minimalinvasive. But you must regard another forms of surgery like cardiosurgery,thoracosurgery of cancers, neurosurgery etc. You can ask every thoracosurgeon, what he would like to do. To remove 10 additional ribs or to operate for instance lungcancer

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

@@martaakh8105 correct, we should look at all options. I’m recounting my experience with what happened, which is why I can only speak to that. Comments like, “There is no needed Mayo or Ketchup to do it.” Can be interpreted as sarcastic, which is why I am clarifying the comment. I want to make sure this channel stays as a constructive place for people to get information!

[@boristhemouse5507]

Is 100% recovery possible with this surgery for arterial and venous TOS?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

I cannot speak from experience since they ultimately did not diagnose me with either of these, but theoretically, I believe it should be since you're getting rid of the cause, but there may be several factors that play a role...

[@jordans9303]

I had my rib removed a month and a half ago. The neck pain was bad 3 to 4 days after surgery. Veins are still popping out of my arm and chest 45 days after the surgery. On eliquis now

[@WanderlustPhotographyOrg]

Are you having a shoulder blade pain? Im 4 days post and having a lot of pain in the muscles between my spine and shoulder blade. Feels like I need to have my back popped right there or something.

[@shehlaazim5859]

Cervical rib

[@landenbrooks4577]

How long did it take your drain tube wound to heal because mine is still healing very slowly and it was never stitched up after surgery???

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

Mine was not stitched after either, but I’m thinking within a week or two.

[@moezabian2305]

Were you able to shower right away? Could you only sleep with that wedge pillow? I’m getting my surgery on Feb 4th. Little nerve racking

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

I was in the hospital for 2 days and just did a sponge bath at that time. I was released with the drain, so I could bathe, but I needed help because I couldn’t let water in the drain area, and really couldn’t lift my arm up. After the drain came out, I could shower, just slowly. I had to sleep propped up for the first 1-2 weeks for sure. You can prop up with pillows, but that wedge pillow gave me more support, and I didn’t have to worry so much about shifting at night and causing pain. Wishing you the best with your surgery! It looks intimidating at first, but it’ll be worth it in the end 💕 Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@moezabian2305]

Did you have compression of the nerve of compression of the artery or both?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

@@moezabian2305 the tests showed the blood supply would get cut off for the artery and vein, but they concluded I had nerve TOS due to my symptoms

[@jolenepost6142]

Did you have an appetite for a few days after surgery? I just had surgery last Monday! I was so nauseous for a few days after surgery. Also I have really sharp diaphragmatic pain, started a week after surgery. Do you alternate the Tylenol and Ibuprofen (like a certain number of hours)?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

It took maybe a day or two for my appetite to return for the same thing (nausea/pain), then the hunger came with a vengeance 😅 there is a nerve in the thoracic outlet area that does affect breathing, are you noticing the pain when you take a deep breath? And yes to alternating between Tylenol and Ibuprofen, usually every 3-4 hours, and that helped a ton

[@jolenepost6142]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 Yes, the pain is when I take a deep breath. The doctor said that nerve gets irritated during surgery. I commented and watched your videos before I had surgery, they diagnosed as combination neurogenic and vascular TOS. My hunger did come back too, I was on Oxycodone, but am off it now. My whole left arm was numb (I am left-handed), and hand swollen, but right after surgery the swelling went away, pain as well. Now no numbness either! The doctor when he removed my 1st rib, the vein was pinched and nerves underneath it, but once he removed the rib, my vein ballooned right back up! I had my surgery done in Sioux Falls, SD an hour from where I live. What area of US do you live in?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

@@jolenepost6142 oxycodone also has a lot of GI side effects which may have contributed to the lack of appetite, but I’m glad you’re not having to use it anymore. And that’s awesome that you’ve seen results so quickly after surgery! I’m so glad they got to the root of the problem 💕 I’m from South Texas, but had my surgery at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota…traveling after surgery is no joke!

[@jolenepost6142]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 okay! Your channel has helped me so much through this, it’s a taboo topic and there is not much I could fine regarding this and the recovery otherwise!

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

@@jolenepost6142 I’m so glad that it’s helped you!!

[@hollychrzan3024]

I believe I have this my coller bone and shoulder have been hurting for about 4 months since I lost 115lbs I also have pain in my pinky and ring finger ,I went to orthopedic surgeon i had ulnar nerve surgery im 2weeks post op my symptoms are full force then before I told my surgeon I have shoulder pain and coller bone , like if I press under my right collar bone hurts badly, now I can barely use my arm my hand has no relief , did you have any of this ?

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

I did have some tenderness in the space below my collarbone, and my pain actually started with a bad shoulder ache. Depending on how much they did on the ulnar nerve surgery (I had one, too), you may still be irritated from that surgery. My arm hurt pretty bad for the first 2-3 weeks, then it improved for about 6-8 weeks, then I had symptoms return. Make sure to mention your symptoms to your surgeon when you go back for follow-up!

[@hollychrzan3024]

I have he is haveing a phone appointment with me his nurse said everything I told her is not normal all I had was decompression but she said he moved it not what i give permission to do im slowly loseing use of my hand i have had shoulder pain for months also my hand ✋ he also did my carple tunnel in 2018 , i had gastric bypass 9months ago i lost 115lbs he said it happens sometimes after bariatric surgery im at lost thank you for replying 🙂

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

@@hollychrzan3024 I know mine was a decompression and transposition, which sometimes fixes the problem if the nerve is pinched there, but what they’re saying may be right...I had my ulnar surgery done by a neurosurgeon, and had the TOS surgery with a vascular surgeon. I hope you get the relief that you need! 💕

[@hollychrzan3024]

@@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930 im going see different surgeon since im moveing to Georgia, my surgeon is hand orthopedic surgeon,

[@jcchaffin1]

I am having those same symptoms. My hand and whole arm hurts. I feel it in my shoulder too. Like a sore work out. But my hand is terrible. It hurts to open a water bottle or do any kind of squeeze motion. I’m having surgery in a few weeks and I pray it helps! Good luck on your diagnosis.

[@thoracicoutletsyndromether8930]

Week 2 update is posted!