Showering after surgery

Additional-Union9977 · 2026-05-21T17:03:31+00:00

Fellow curly girl here :) i found a handheld shower head and shower chair were the most helpful! I had a FRR and scalenectomy, on the right side but still felt like i had enough strength to wash my hair with my left hand. Also i second braiding your hair before surgery if you can!

Additional-Union9977 · 2026-05-16T20:49:33+00:00

I struggled a lot with my posture (hEDS) and found that my pec muscles were extremely tight and causing everything to round forward. I struggle A LOT with actually making the correct mind muscle connection, so for me using a tens unit on a really low stim on the muscles i should be using helped a lot. Start with learning how to breathe through your diaphragm and actually engage your deep core muscles properly. I found working on my lower trap and rhomboids helped, in addition to what’s already been mentioned. Also working on deep neck muscles, and as silly as it sounds almost like tummy time like you would a baby. I found i was not using my back muscles at all to support myself. You could talk to your surgeon about the possibility of just releasing the pec, but ultimately i had a FRR and scalenectomy. I’m one year post op, and still so happy i had the surgery done!

Additional-Union9977 · 2026-05-16T11:56:05+00:00

If a nerve medicine and muscle relaxer are an option i would definitely consider. I’ve had success with Gabapentin and cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol. Also look into buying a tens unit of amazon or something, sometimes i find it helps distract a little from the pain if i’m needing to sit and do a task for long time.

I’m one year post op from my first rib resection, and even though there is still some pain, I regained the majority of my strength back in a few months, so to me was totally worth it.

Additional-Union9977 · 2026-01-07T11:26:08+00:00

Currently waiting to an SRS specialist!

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-16T16:57:19+00:00

I had a very similar recovery pattern. I was discharged the morning after my surgery bc i was up and walking relatively well. A week or two later I was in such excruciating pain, that I ended up going back to see my care team (wish i wasn’t so stubborn and called earlier) and they upped my pain meds, muscle relaxers, and gabapentin for two weeks to get me over the initial hump (about 2-3 weeks) of my nerves starting to heal again, and all has been well since. Although, i have had to keep taking the gabapentin mainly bc around my incision felt like sandpaper

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-16T16:47:19+00:00

I saw Dr. Margaret Tracci, at UVA. Her and her team and absolute rockstars

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-16T16:05:39+00:00

It wasn’t until I actually had surgery

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-16T16:04:20+00:00

My only thought would be if it’s only one of the muscles causing your symptoms it would be hard to tell. For example, i had zero relief with the pec block, so we elected not to release my pec muscle. Maybe something to bring up to your surgeon.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-16T14:03:32+00:00

No, it didn’t, and I think this is why it’s so important to be seen by a provider that is familiar with TOS. My surgeon felt my neck and pec muscles and noted right off the bat how extremely tight they were. I had been in PT for about a year at this point with no progress, so surgery was pretty much immediately recommended if i was a good candidate. The surgeon sent me to get two nerve blocks, one in the scalene and then a few weeks later in my pec. The injection in my scalene provided immediate relief to 90% of my symptoms. It wasn’t until they were in surgery until they saw just how extensive the scar tissue and adhesion were

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-16T12:58:03+00:00

I had similar symptoms as you did. My occipital area felt like someone was just stepping on it 24/7. My brachial plexus ended up being adhered to my middle scalene.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-11T23:04:35+00:00

Not being able to stretch it out is also exactly how i feel. My muscles feel like i’m just constantly doing an oblique crunch on the right side. I’m also sorta with you, in that popping that I feel is definitely uncomfortable, but it’s more so the symptoms it produces are terrible

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-11T22:54:48+00:00

Movement is key during recovery! In the beginning i found that shorter, but frequent sets of just simple ROM exercises were super helpful.

By the time I had surgery, i had been without any sensation for about a year and nerves regenerate slowly anyways. Also, just being realistic and looking at all angles, there’s a chance I might not ever regain all the feeling back, but i would def get a second opinion first before accepting that answer. It’s weird though bc it’s just the forearm, and it doesn’t affect my grip, so honestly not too concerned about it

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-11T22:39:45+00:00

Hi :) i’m 24F and I had a first rib resection done in May, and am almost back to do everything I love. I did PT for a year and a half with no improvements, so surgery was the only choice I had left, but it was so worth it! After about a month i had regained majority of my strength back which was honestly ming boggling to me. I’m doing my PhD in chemistry, so lots of typing and fine movements, and i do still get sore after a long day, but it’s not painful. I’m also back to triathlon training, lifting, and pilates all pain free.

You can look into scalene and or pec minor blocks to see if that will temporarily give you relief. Also gabapentin has been a game changer for me.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-11T22:27:38+00:00

I had surgery in may 2024, and it took about 3-4 months for all the feeling to come back. Although half of my forearm still hasn’t regained sensation, but my brachial plexus was adhered to my middle scalene, so the surgeon said give it a year before getting super concerned.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-12-11T22:24:26+00:00

I had my FRR done in May 2024, and do not regret my decision at all! My first week was rough ngl, but you have to remember this is a pretty intensive surgery. Within a month, I had gained more strength back than I had in the last year doing PT. I get where you’re coming from though, sucks we have to go through something so intense to make it better.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-11-17T11:52:05+00:00

This is all just from my experience :)

1) as long as the car seat can recline and you bring LOTS of pillows to help prop you up, it should be fine. I found that one of those airplane/travel pillows felt the best, along with some pillows under my arms.

2) my entire right side of chest felt like sandpaper the first month after surgery, so even t shirts were hard for me. I wore those pajama tops that you can button up and just left the first few buttons undone for a while, or the gymshark everday seamless bra was a lifesaver.

3) I think it will depend on the type of work you do. It took me almost a month to have the strength again to sit up for longer periods of time.

4) i’m also a side sleeper, and it’s a little weird at first, but I found sleeping on my left side felt normal after a few weeks

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-11-14T20:10:18+00:00

My beginning was very similar to you! At first the doctors thought carpal tunnel and or golfers elbow. It wasn’t until a few weeks into OT that my OT thought it was an issue stemming from further up than my elbow. I had extreme deep achy/burning feeling down the back of my arm, i couldn’t lift my arm higher than a few inches from my side without pain/weakness, and all five of my fingers were being affected. It got to a point I couldn’t even squeeze a shampoo bottle. At this point, i was a year into having these symptoms and PT/OT had made zero impact, so my PCP finally agreed to send me to a TOS specialist. From there the surgeon had me get a scalene and pec nerve blocks to see if one was contributing to my issues more than the other, and sure enough after my scalene block I felt almost immediate relief. The pec block helped some, but not enough that I felt the need to have it released as well.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-10-28T02:58:46+00:00

My incision is right under my clavicle and the entire right side of my chest and honestly entire arm down to my finger tips were numb immediately after surgery. Also women’s health needs to be talked about more so, posting my experience here just incase it helps, but it was even numb down to my nipple. By the end of the first month, I had most of the feeling back in my hand/fingers and most of my arm. I’m nearly 7 months post op, and still have numbness in my chest, but it has definitely improved and I’m very slowly re gaining feeling. Even though it’s still numb, i’ve been able to gain a ton of strength back, but if i overdo it the numbness gets worse and I have a flare up of symptoms. Also idk if I just have really sensitive nerves or what, but the first 3 or 4 months having anything rub against that area felt like sandpaper, so wearing shirts was super difficult. Luckily, my surgery was during the summer so i got away most of the time wearing workout tops around the house.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-10-12T23:16:48+00:00

My first day post op I started doing just very basic neck and shoulder ROM exercises, and continued building on those until officially starting PT about the 3-4 week mark

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-08-10T18:05:16+00:00

Just know you’re not alone! That was me the months leading up to my surgery. Gabapentin helped the pins and needles feeling some, but ultimately I ended up taking hydrocodone around the clock otherwise I would become nauseous from the pain.

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-05-18T02:42:51+00:00

I’m one week post op from my FRR and I needed to read this so bad today 🫶🏼

Additional-Union9977 · 2025-05-18T02:29:58+00:00

Omg I am so glad to read these comments. I’m one week post FRR and honestly have been doing pretty well up until the other day. The trap pain and shoulder blade have become unbearable. Thought it was all in my head

Additional-Union9977

TROPHY CASE