Hi Paul -

I had a left first rib resection and scalenectomy and was told by doctor, to
give
it six to eight weeks to notice the full benefit of the surgery. i would say
that is
about right.

keep in mind that the surgery itself is a big injury to the body and there is
lots
of swelling there and bone pain.

Actually, it took me more than just two months to not feel so tender in that
area
but I did notice after a month, that the symtpoms in my arm and hand had
gone done quite a bit.

I had my surgery on June 21, 2002 and went back to work August, 4 2002. By
then I was feeling much better and had relief until about last March or April
when the symptoms started to return. Unfortunately it has gone down hill
since then but by now I have developed fibromyalgia which makes any TOS
stuff I had seem like a minor aggravation at times.

Good luck. Be patient and take care of yourself and do waht the phyusical
therapists tell you to do.

Catherine




--- In thoracicoutletsyndrome@yahoogroups.com, "creating1offs" <
creating1offs@y...> wrote:
> Hi there guys, Two weeks have passed since my rib op, still not
> feeling the benefits. Still got bad headaches and shoulder pain. Am
> feeling a little worried that the surgery has not not worked. Is it
> still early days. Has anyone who has suffered mainly with
> headaches, had the op and recovered with time. Or do you usualy feel
> the benifits straight away??? any advice would be helpfull..
> Paul. U.K