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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Surgery Recovery
Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since I had TOS surgery at Rush in Chicago. The first week is brutal. I spent one night in hospital, and was sent home after about 24 hours total. I had to keep a tube just below my incision for blood drainage for a week. The worst pain comes from coughing and god forbid if you have to sneeze. Ouch!
My surgeon advised me that my surgery took an extra 30 minutes because she had to clear out a lot of scar tissue on my neck (50 years of throwing baseballs) to access my scalene muscle that was also partially removed to alleviate compression on my brachial plexus area. Of course the main part of this surgery is the first rib removal. I will be picking it up from the hospital next week. Thinking of getting an artist to shave it down into the shape of a baseball bat. Anyone know how I could find someone who could do this for me?
I waited 3 weeks to post this because I wanted to make sure my recovery kept getting better. My first impression aftter the surgerey was immediate alertness and range of motion. My surgeon didn’t expect me to say that my brain fog has almost completely disappeared on our one week follow up visit, but says anything is possible. I truly believe that in addition to entrapped nerves, I also had compressed veins, arteries, or blood vessels that were given more space to breath. I will know for sure if this was my problem when I start doing baseball movements again. I plan on starting to throw and hit in about 2 weeks. I told my team that I have targeted June 8th for my return to baseball after taking last summer off for the first time in 50 years.
I can only give my experience, but after 3 weeks, I am very happy that I decided to have this surgery. I still have some pain, and have to stay as active as possible to avoid more scar tissue returning. I also have some right lung pain when breathing deeply, but that has also improved slowly but surely. I will give an update in a month or 2 when I really ramp up my activity. So far, highly recommended!
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closer0043, congratulation on your successful surgery.
It's helpful to hear the surgical report. And encouraging that you've had success.
Keep us posted. Good cheer.
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Congratulations on your successful surgery and I wish you continued healing and a full recovery!
I like your idea of using your bone for art representing something you love! Some people get freaked out by things like this but I don’t. It is a part of you and a historical artifact of your life. Why not save part of you when we pay to go and look at other remains (archeological bones/mummies) at science/historical/art museums? 🙂
Happy batting! 😉🦴🩻⚾️
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2 Reactions@closer0043 I'm so glad your surgery has helped you and that you are recovering well. You might want to try myofascial release when you are recovered enough. MFR can stretch out surgical scar tissue that gets tight.
Here is our discussion about MFR.
Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
There is a provider search at https://mfrtherapists.com/
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2 Reactions@closer0043, I came across your post and was wondering how you have been feeling since the TOS surgery. I was diagnosed with nTOS in 2023 after a year of being passed from doctor to doctor. Finally, an EMG revealed severe right ulnar nerve damage, entrapment at the elbow, and I also had visible muscle atrophy in my hand. My hand surgeon was the first doctor to do the ROOS test, and multiple interns were called in to feel my pulse disappear. I went forward with the ulnar nerve decompression surgery in October 2023, with hopes that it might release the double crush. I had some relief after the elbow surgery (less numbness in my 4th and 5th digits, less forearm pain) - basically some improvement from the ulnar nerve being trapped at the elbow, but it didn't stop the compression at my thoracic outlet. I saw a vascular surgeon at the time - the CT angio showed I have a near occlusion when my arms reach just below 90 degrees. He said that when the pain got bad enough, he could do TOS surgery. I decided to continue massage therapy and PT, while allowing time for my ulnar nerve to heal from surgery. I was still hoping that we'd see TOS improvement from the ulnar nerve surgery. We did not. My hand continued to waste, and the atrophy is creeping up my forearm and even my trapezius. I've also developed a terrible hand tremor. I'm being seen at Mayo Clinic now. The scalene block brought a wave of relief that I've never felt before, and I'm waiting to be seen by Physical Medicine before seeing the vascular surgeon again. I'm also getting a second opinion from neurology at Mayo Clinic. Roads have been and continue to lead toward TOS surgery. I was told the surgeon would enter through my armpit and remove the rib that way. How have you been feeling since surgery? Are you still happy that you had it done? Any advice you might offer?
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1 ReactionI was able to return to baseball after the surgery, but I believe some of the symptoms are slowly returning. I really struggle with dizziness after doing shoulder exercises like shrugs and upright rows. I have stopped those exercises. I have read that many people with TOS also get the middle scalene removed and a pec minor release. I did not have that drastic of a procedure.
I unfortunately had back surgery 4 months after TOS surgery which also went great until I tried to start working out just 2 weeks after that surgery and now have a nerve issue somewhere in my lower left lumbar area. I’m probably headed for another minor back surgery soon so I can’t really judge the TOS symptoms. I hope to get my back fixed and return to baseball next April. Only then will I be able to judge if I can throw without my arm going dead after 10 minutes like it did before. I wish I could give a more accurate recovery update.
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3 Reactions@closer0043, this is very helpful. I've read that as well regarding the removal of the scalene and pec minor. I've only done the scalene block so far, but the doctor mentioned we may also need to do a pec block at some point. Personally, I feel like my scalene muscles are the major contributor. After the scalene block, my SCM was very angry and wouldn't loosen - then it kind of relaxed, like 8 hours later, for the first time in years. After the block, I also got a big, swollen spot on my collarbone. The swollen lump started a few years ago, and it kind of comes and goes. Everything I've read about that says it could be related to a blood clot in the subclavian vein, when it's squeezed between the rib and collarbone, but the NP said she didn't know what it was, of course. The surgeon I'm seeing said he enters through the armpit to remove the rib. Sorry about your back. I have lower left lumbar issues too - weird. I have a slipped vertebrae and stenosis, but thankfully, an injection in the right place (transforminal epidural left L4/5) worked wonders for me a few years ago. I completely understand vacillating between lumbar and TOS pain, and only being able to handle one of the issues at a time. It's exhausting!
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