Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Each person is different, there have been many success stories. I believe starting with a less invasive approach is always good if your surgeon is familiar with MALS. The recovery can be long and very gradual no matter what approach is taken. Also of you have any other diagnosis, how long you have had the stenosis, the degree of stenosis... there are many factors that contribute to the success rate. I have never regretted my surgeries, each improved my quality of life. I hope this helps some.

Thank you!! I don't really think there is a reason not to do the surgery, because there really isnt anything else to do and I don't want to live like this forever... No one here has gotten the laproscopic robotic surgery?

@chicken, unfortunately there are different theories on the cause of symptoms and more research needs to be done. You are correct it is the ganglion nerves. If your surgeon is familiar with this technique and has a good success rate that is first hurdle. There are many sucess stories that we in MALS Pals and here never hear about, so keep that in mind when you are reading through patient experiences.

What i really want to know is, will I actually be totally better after the surgery, or will symptoms return after a few months?

The problem is that there really isn't a lot of surgeons who do this so it's hard to get a second opinion....;) But my Gi recomended this doc, and he is the only one in Cincinnati Childrens who performs this surgery.. According to him, he performs this surgery about once every 3-4 months, and 80% of patients are totally "cured". He said that he used to just do laproscopic but started robotic a few years ago and hasn't gone back since its easier and safer to do because he can get into tighter spaces...

Exactly. I have been diagnosed with gastroparesis, had to have my gallbladder removed, and I also had sphincter of Odii surgery. I also ended up with small bowel AVMs that had to be cauterized that was causing my anemia and now they’re checking for celiac disease as well in addition I also have reactive chemical gastrophy and severe chronic gastritis.

I would ask your surgeon how many they have done via robotics and their success rate. I wish I was more familiar with that procedure in MALS.

You really need to get a second opinion because it isn’t just about Separating the nerves. Dr. Hsu just something very specific that I’ve heard of no other doctor doing that make sure that nerve pain does not come back because nerves can grow back and if it’s not done properly you will end up back in the same boat. This is a major surgery and I would not have anyone cut on me until I had had more than one opinion

Depending on the suspected cause, for MALS it is a diagnosis of last resort, so a comprehensive GI work up is needed. There are other diagnosis that can cause symptoms. I think this is a great resource:https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/median-arcuate-ligament-syndrome/

You are correct about comorbidities and one of them is fibromyalgia which is still miss understood by most of the medical community including Mayo Clinic who tried to say that I had Munchhausen‘s! I finally went to other doctors that were local and they found diagnoses that Mayo Clinic never even thought of even though I gave him every medical record every symptom every surgery every allergy everything. I ended up canceling the rest of my appointments there because they Cut and wrap their head around the idea that fibromyalgia is real although they have a fibromyalgia clinic and want you to go through a three week pain management class the cost $42,000. People I’ve been dealing with fibromyalgia for 25 years I don’t need a $42,000 damn class or to be told that I have Munchhausen‘s. Since I quit seeing them I’ve been diagnosed with four different rare diseases including MALS.