tos help?

[mayhope]

Hello! I am new to this site and am posting for my dad. He is 54 and was orginally told he had tos when he was 20. At that time they had scheduled a surgery to remove his rib, but at the last minute the surgeon decided not too. My dad experienced severe reactions to the ansthesia and at that time was told that he would just have to live with this condition and do the best he could. He has struggled with this since he was a small child, and we have watched my dad's condition worsen over time.He has been unable to work for the past 2 years, is fighting for his disability and has no medical insurance. He has been blessed to have doctors in Nashville who are trying to help him, he is not really responding to physical therapy and any medications he takes causes severe reactions. He recently had a siezure from taking ibporphen...and was extremely swollen from it. He hasnt been able to take any type of narcotic pain meds either. He was told by one doctor recently that the only way to give him any relief would be to do surgery, but he is not a candidate because of how he reacts to the meds he has been given. From what i understand he not only needs to have the ribsection reomoved, but also the scalene muscle. I am researching this trying to find some help for him, it is so hard to watch him go through this and to be is such agonizing pain. This breaks my heart to see my dad, who is one of the kindest, caring people I know to go through this. Is there any one else out there who has had this type of reaction and been told that they can not perform the needed surgery? And if so, were you given any reason as to why? I am curious if this is all related to TOS? Thank you for reading my post, if any one can help I would truly apprecaite it. thank you so much! God bless you all!

[Mary Diane]

this is probably not where you want to be, because there isn't much traffic here anymore. I think the best website for you is RSDHope. This site offers lots of information. I had my rib-resection and cervical rib (extra rib in the neck) in January 2004. I had the sympathetic nerve cut, but did not have the scalene muscle removed. I am allergic to NSAIDS, and some pain killers, as well numerous antidepressants. My drs have a rough time trying to find meds that I can tolerate, and that will work for me. So, tell your Dad not to give up hope. They will find a way to treat his TOS, either with surgery or meds. I don't know the exact web addy for RSDHope so you'll have to Google it. Good Luck to you, and tell your dad he's a very lucky man...


Love and one-armed hugs,

Mary Diane *cg06

[mayhope]

Thank You Mary Diane for your help! I will check out that site! Thank you for your encouragement, that means so much! It is so hard to just sit back and watch this just criple my dad. We have always lived in smaller communities where no one else has this and has never heard of it. And my dad for around 25 years just got tired of doctors and wouldnt go because they really didnt want to help. He has so many talents, and I know there has to be something out there that can help. I really apprecaite the info! Thank you so much! God bless you!