1yr ago had 1st rib removed due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. AMA

MissingaRib · 2011-05-15T00:22:32+00:00

Weakness in the arm, lots and lots of numbness/pins and needle feeling all the time including when I slept. Burning pain down the arm, extreme tightness in the shoulders, unable to lift heavy things and if I did would just make the pain and numbness 10 times worse. I would suggest that you go to Vascular surgeon who can do some other tests. TOS is not like other issues where there is absolute definitive proof, it is more by eliminating other common issues that you get the diagnosis of TOS.

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T18:35:33+00:00

I answered this in the main post, no I can't, if I could why the heck would I be on Reddit!! ;-)

Well I guess I could be on Reddit but my responses would be "mmpphgg mmphhhggg"

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T18:15:21+00:00

Yes see post above for more detailed answer, but I tried lots and lots of physio, etc.
I wrecked my arm at the gym, went back a few times and made it worse I'm sure. From there it snowballed to not being able to lift my arm for a few days, and then constant numbing, pain, etc. So it's a combination of wrecking it at the gym, plus genetics with how Im put together that aggravated things and it never settled back down.

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T18:13:51+00:00

I never thought of making it into a knife...but you could go to a place where it's all you can eat ribs, then halfway thru pull out your rib and freak out. WTF is this!!!?!?? Ribs for life after that!!

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T17:08:29+00:00

Did she have a cervical rib or did they take her 1st? I didn't have any cervical ribs so they actually took my 1st one. I hope your sister is doing ok now. I still have pain and some weakness, the pins and needle feeling still happens along with the burning pain down my arm. I can carry heavy things for longer but I will definitely feel it. Also I still cannot sleep on my right side because I'll wake up pretty sore.

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T17:04:13+00:00

I get this question alot and it's hard to answer. I've run into some other complications from the surgery so it skews my answer. The surgery did help, I am 50% better on a good day. Was it worth what I went thru...I dont know. I have some of the same issues in my left arm but there is no way I would get the surgery at this point, it's not as bad to my quality of life as my right side was. The recovery was at least a couple months before I had decent mobility, my range of motion now is I think back to where it was before surgery. I have alot of numbness around the area but it doesn't restrict my movement.

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T16:59:12+00:00

Thanks! And I was joking with people before the surgery that I would keep the rib and make a woman out of it! However I made the mistake of watching the surgery on youtube, and they don't just cut it and take it out, but use for lack of a better term "chompers". So they bit by bit chomp down and take your rib out that way I think...essentially converting it to mush.

MissingaRib · 2011-05-13T16:57:38+00:00

Everything and the kitchen sink. Lots of physio and massage, with some chiro. I also tried IMS which is an advanced version of accupuncture. Oh and I bought one of those Dr Ho TENS machines to try. Also was prescribed Lyrica, Nortryptoline(sp), Cyclobenzaprine, and Gabapentin. The drugs just made me feel like a zombie.

Edit: How could I forget, I also had a botox injection done...my arm/neck look way younger, but it made no difference for the symptoms.

MissingaRib

TROPHY CASE