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Surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome

Posted by snowmass @snowmass, Jun 13, 2024

Hello
Has anyone had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome?
I have been to three tos specialists and they all have different approaches even wrt surgery. One removing some muscle, another removing first rib bone and muscle via clavicle area and another first bone and muscle via under armpit area. My tos is more of neurogenic and intermittent vascular. I have also heard mostly pt and therapists discouraging surgery as well as cases of no resolution even after surgery.
My immediate functional issue from it is pressure build up from the area to neck and head currently.
With added complication with cervical spondylosis and left lung removal from years ago.

Thanks in advance.

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snowmass | @snowmass | Mar 12 1:38am
In reply to @dlcataldo "I had the first rib removed because of TOS this was 20 years ago and the..." + (show)
@dlcataldo

I had the first rib removed because of TOS this was 20 years ago and the surgery was experimental at the time.
The surgery worked
Then 2 years ago I coughed real hard and my lung slipped up into my neck. They operated pulled my lung back down and put mesh in to hold lung down
Last week I coughed and it went back up into my neck again
I went back to the surgeon and he won’t operate again he said he thought he could fix it he tried and it failed he won’t operate again and fail again he said
So now I’m trying to find another surgeon to try and fix this

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My lung surgery was at National Jewish Hospital in Denver. Wonder if anyone there may have someone to help you…
Thank you for sharing your experience.
My recent additional finding is that there is a congenital dysplasia of c1 posterior arch (missing most of the right side vertebrae) from most likely underdevelopment at age 3-5, probably contributing to the CCI.
Life is full of surprises!
Best wishes to you…

REPLY
dlcataldo | @dlcataldo | Mar 13 12:15am
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@dlcataldo Welcome to Connect. I didn't know that what you described is possible. My PT has..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@dlcataldo Welcome to Connect. I didn't know that what you described is possible. My PT has done a lot of myofascial release and she said that lungs are mostly fascia. When I have allergy and breathing issues, she has done MFR and it can reach into the lungs at least from the top of them. I don't know if MFR could reposition lungs, but it may be worth asking an expert MFR provider. I typically get muscle spasms yanking my first ribs upward.

If you go to https://mfrtherapists.com/ there is a provider search.

This is our discussion on 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/

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Thank you for the info I will look into this

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