Hello, new here. My 27 year old daughter is just home from hospital after having her first rib removed 4 days ago.
My question is, when should she be starting to do small exercises. Her neck is stiff and she is lifting her shoulder, to in some way keep her incision area from moving. I want her to relax it but the pain is of course making it difficult. I am concerned if she keeps her shoulder and neck tight and in this same position she is going to have more difficulties to loosen it up.
I had my surgery October 27th, 2015 and I was in pain for a good three weeks. Your best bet is to get that info from the doctor who performed the surgery. I was moving my arm freely within few days of the surgery even though I had a constent pins and needles feeling in my arm for 6 weeks.
Best wishes to your daughter! I had mine removed about 3 weeks ago. The limiting factor in movement is the wound/scar - she should move gently as much as possible, without in any way feeling that the wound is pulling. It can take around 7-14 days for it to fully heal, and it also depends on the closure type. I had glue, which I think is the norm. A professional should sign off on her wound being fully healed to be on the safe side.
Best thing for now is to walk a little, and frequently, allowing the arm to swing normally, with the shoulder relaxed - takes effort and focus, but the aim should be that no one would know which side had been operated on when she is walking... this gives a great mental focus.
Once the wound is healed, it's vital she gets really good physical therapy (and maybe chiropractic) to get back her range of motion and to break down scar tissue. Try to find someone who will use a class 4 laser to aid this breakdown and repair. And also see if they can use a tool called a graston, used for stripping down the scar tissue. They'll also give her lots of exercises to do at home. After a couple of weeks, get walking, especially gentle hills, as much as allows.
Dont worry, I did exactly as you describe, as your daughter with raising the shoulder as it seemed to protect me somewhat from the pain and the muscle spasm increased when trying to relax, so there wasn't much of a choice in it. Gradually it decreased over the first week post op and then two weeks post op I could relax my shoulder almost fully. I am now four months post op on the right and three on the left and I do not have any movement issues of my arms anymore. Physio and keeping moving is important but it takes a while to let yourself do it as it can scary testing out the pain levels for movement.
Emotional support for your daughter may be more important than physical at the moment. She will gradually reflex with time but she has been through a lot and I found that sometimes the combination of lack of sleep and pain killers would make me tearful.
I hope her recovery is speedy. One day at at time is the best philosophy to adopt.
Hi, I had mine done just under two weeks ago. I'm 22. I was given an exercise leaflet two days after the rib removal, I couldn't move for atleast two days. I was hunched up and stiff as a board. I came out of hospital on the 5th day. I was advised to start doing the exercises immediately, to start to loosen things up. I've also got an appointment with my physiotherapist in a few days. Neck movements, shoulder, and hand exercises I've been doing everyday every hour of the day, and then every half hour 5 deep breathes. At first it was hard but the stiffness starts to go and you do loosen up abit. Start now with the exercises and also go to see your physiotherapist. It's vital to start exercising now so you won't stay stiff. With the pain just keep on top of the medication I was in pain for about a week then it started to go everyday is a new day and it'll get that little bit better. Hope she starts feeling okay soon. Hope this helps.
Thank you for your response! You are so right with regards to the emotional support! Lots of tender loving care goes very far.
We will I am sure get instructions from her surgeon at her follow up and perhaps after a day or two she will start relaxing a little on her own as she heals
That's no problem. Yes of course, I'll try to explain as best as I can.... Tilt your head to the left so your ear is nearly touching your shoulder, then same to the right (10 times) then look to the left so your chin is inline with the shoulder then same to the right (10 times). Shoulder ones: put your shoulders back so you are squeezing your back muscles together (10 times) shrug up (10 times). Roll shoulder forward (10 times) roll backwards (10 times) This next one you stand up raise your arm straight infront of you asif your going to shake someone's hand but go right up so its inline with your shoulder and then back down to your side (10 times) then put your arm out to the side asif your a bird going to fly all the way untill inline with your shoulder and back down to the side (10 times) I hope I've explained them okay. Anything else I can help with please ask, I understand how hard this all is.
Someone mentioned deeper breathes, and it's a great point! Stand up, relax shoulder, gentle pull shoulders down and back just a little. Imagine opening up your rib cage. Breath in deep through nose for a count of 3-5. Hold breathe for 1-2. Breath out through pursed lips (making almost a whistling noise!) for 4-6, then repeat, keeping that great posture in place. Maybe hourly for a minute or two. Helps the lungs inflate properly, and improved oxygenation of the blood and therefore organs, which aids recovery a surprising amount!
Hi! I'm a 39 yr old female... I had surgery March 27, 2016. I didn't move from the couch for a few days either aside from going to the bathroom, etc. I'm still healing. It will take awhile. For me, I felt immediate relief and as time passes, I continue to do my exercises, the pain has pretty much gone completely (except if I sleep on it wrong). The numbness is still prominent but not as bad as it was. I have also had stretches of days where I feel NORMAL again. My advice: YES, she should start to stretch herself out. No lifing. I was in school again after 5 days. I couldn't wear my backpack, had to switch to a bag on my right side (I had left cervical rib removed). I have chronic pain anyway because i have Psoriatic Arthritis. In this way, I'm used to pushing through the pain. One exercise that my surgeon gave me, and I passed on to another on these boards, is to use your (her) fingers to walk up a wall. This helps with mobility and range of motion. It will also help stretch her out and she can do this a little at a time at her own pace. It is actually fun to watch how much progress you make. It's a confidence builder to help adjust. Hehe I left my bandage on until I saw my surgeon... this wasn't necessary and in fact, as long as the incision is closed she shouldn't be concerned about moving it. It hurt for quite some time on touch for me, longer than I expected. Sometimes if I'm wearing my seatbelt for too long, it will begin to be sore also. I'm a fan of epson salt baths as well. Another tool is lidocaine patches, or Tiger Balm patches (these work best but are super stinky). I'm sure she's still on pain meds but for switching off I'm a fan of Tramadol for pain (non narcotic) and Lyrica for the nerve pain and numbness. Hope this helps.
-Is she taking something for muscle spasm, Valuim works great a lot surgeons overlook it.
-she on a coarse of steroids? ( helps the nerves settle)
- some people want you in a sling I found it kept my shoulder shrugging... I did wear it sometimes to prevent my from picking things up
- honestly first 16 weeks is a about getting your range or motion so stretching either active or passive....take the pain meds 30 mins before if you need to, double the dose of you have too (fear of addiction will prevent people from taking and doctors from prescribing meds) if your pain is triggering you to take the meds it's ok
- the trick is not overdoing it and causing more SCAR TISSUE from developing from lifting to much ect.
-she should be gently stretching her neck, if you don't move it skin and stitch's ( skin is elastic and meant to be pliable you don't have to be afraid to move tear them, they are stitched deep under the skin and probably glued superficial...not moving it will make the scar harder and more noticable later) not saying go crazy gentle stretching it shouldn't hurt
She is probably in a emotional/psycological rollercoaster if she doesn't feelbetter yet and in crazy pain. My pain wasn't that bad post op but everyone is different
I have a similar condition to TOS however mine is diagnosed as PSS (Paget- Schrotter Syndrome). At the beginning of May i had my first rib removed on my right side. I was in hospital for 2 days before i was sent home. I personally found the first week the worst part of my recovery. I am left handed so i found that i wasnt as affected with mobility and being independant as i have use of my right hand. I have had no physio but i was told by my specialsit and my sister (who is a physio) that initially i need to ensure that i have movement and rotation in my shoulder. Simply shoulder rolls forwards and backwards, slight elevation of my arm forwards and sideways. Also by bending forward and allowing my arm to naturally hang down helped alot. This is very pain ful at times but by doing litlte and often within 2 weeks i almost had full rotation in my shoulder again. I would avoid lifting anything for a good 5-6 weeks. From experience i simply lifted a carrier bag which was that bit too heavy and found myself in alot of pain. Going on short walks really helped by overall fitness. After seeing by surgeon 6 weeks after my operation he gave me the all clear to go back and start to exercise. This is where i got a personal trainer who specialsies in rehabiltation. Although expensive having a professional who can ensure that i am doing all exercises correctly and safely was the best money i have ever spent. It has now been 4 months since my operation and i am stronger than i was before my operation. Even though the pain is bad at first the best tihng i can say is to keep her shoulder moving.
How's everything going for your daughter now? I remember her having really bad chest pain a little while ago.
I had my surgery done 2 day ago (15th). My surgeon used the supraclavicular approach so i have wound about 4cm long at the base of my neck, was this the same for her? Im extremely surprised by the low levels of pain. I came home yesterday and only take pain killers morning snd evening, mostly to make sure i can breathe deeply. The hospital physio gave me a triflow breathing thing to test lung capacity, which seems fine. Otherwise I can move my arm quite freely, can stretch out to the side, touch top of my head etc totally fine...am wondering if this is a calm before the storm but i feel great!
Hope your daughter (monica is it?) Is doing well 😊
So glad to hear your surgery is done and successful!
Monica is doing really well. She just had another follow up Tuesday and things are good. She is feeling good but still goes for massages to help her relax her shoulder and behind her neck. This is where she carries her tension as well so that is part of the issue.
Her chest pain left her at week 5 and the fact you are not experiencing it is awesome and hoping it stays that way. It sounds like your recovery is off to a really good start!!
Her incision is about that size as well and it is healing nicely. Surgeon said it will take a full year before it is completely healed. Still a lovely shade of lavender. It looks really good I think.
If you have any concerns or questions with regards to what you feel along the way please email anytime.