u/Klutzy_Face_8896

Has anybody had this pain that almost feels like a severe sunburn on the back of your bicep/tricep? I’m just worried it’s not going to go away now that I’m 12 days out from surgery 🫤

(Allodynia means that something that normally shouldn’t hurt—like a shirt brushing your arm, light touch, or even a breeze—causes pain because the nerve has become hypersensitive. What’s happening is that your C5 through T1 nerves were compressed by scar tissue for a long time, and then during surgery they were freed with a neurolysis.)

Okay so I’m currently one week out from my first rib removal, cervical rib removal, scalenectomy, pec release, with Dr. Robert Thompson, and 7 days in the ICU….It was the hardest week of my life I’m not going to lie. Being in tears of agony while on a morphine drip and on a 20mg Oxy is unimaginable. I’d have to think stabbing a knife would’ve been less painful.

But now that I’m on day 7, I’ve really turned the corner, was able to fly home, and already having significant neck pain relief while my collarbone and arm haven’t even started healing yet!!! I just got this OP notes back and I’m astonished. Dr. Thompson fixed nearly 10 structures and countless nerve bundles.

He’s an engineer, vascular surgeon, neurosurgeon, and the best bedside manner all in one. I can’t recommend him anymore highly and no matter what it takes I urge you guys to make it to Texas. Of course not everyone in here has a fused extra cervical rib like me, but if you do this is the guy.

Since he’s done 1500+ surgeries he knows this shit like your “specialist” in your state knows “conservative trigger point injections” this is his shit and he’s the best in the world. I’d love to answer any questions of my surgery and the process, all the best love yall!

Also here’s what he fixed: ⬇️

OPERATIVE FINDINGS:
1 Extrinsic compression of the left supraclavicular brachial plexus nerves and subclavian artery by the anterior scalene muscle.
2 Extrinsic compression of the left supraclavicular brachial plexus nerves and the long thoracic nerve by the middle scalene muscle.
3 Extrinsic compression of the left cervical nerve roots (C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1) by musculofascial soft tissue bands and perineural scar tissue.
4 Extrinsic compression of the left supraclavicular brachial plexus nerves by musculofascial soft tissue bands and perineural scar tissue.
5 Extrinsic compression of the left supraclavicular brachial plexus nerves by an anomalous complete cervical rib.
6 Extrinsic compression of the supraclavicular brachial plexus nerves by the first rib.
7 Successful thoracic outlet decompression with complete anterior and middle scalenectomy, external arteriolysis and mobilization of the subclavian artery, mobilization and release of scar tissue surrounding the cervical nerve roots (C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1) and the 3 trunks of the brachial plexus nerves (neurolysis), cervical rib resection, first rib resection, and decompression of the long thoracic nerve.
8 Extrinsic brachial plexus compression in the left subcoracoid space by the pectoralis minor muscle tendon.
9 Successful decompression of the brachial plexus in the left subcoracoid space by pectoralis minor tenotomy

Hi guys, I’m getting the whole deal done tomorrow (first rib and cervical rib resection, scalenectomy, and pec release) I will keep you all updated on what to expect and hopefully amazing things to say about Dr. Thompson. I wish you guys all the best luck and want you to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel and I pray for everyone that suffers this awful condition. There’s not many diseases that cause someone to go through bone breaking pain that’s unseen and untreated for 5 years. I respect all of you guys, and want you to know there’s hope. 🙏✝️❤️‍🩹

Today I was thinking about how much energy might be wasted in the giant walk in fridges at Costco just because they don’t have doors. Lets assume the room is around 20x20x20 ft and the door/opening looked about 8x8 ft, kept at 35° at all times, and to be generous since Costco is pretty cold, the outside is 68°, how much energy is wasted by not having a door on the room?

I’m assuming this can be modeled by a differential equation but not sure how to model the energy part. Thanks!

Has anybody seen Dr. Thompson or Pearl in Texas? I am flying out there tomorrow, and was just wondering if there is anything I should know or ask specifically. Of course I have all my images, tests and medically history, just wondering if there is anything else to know about them. Thanks you guys, stay strong, healing is in the future 🫶

I’m currently on medical leave for a surgery but received my associate of engineering and got into CO school of Mines. I’m trying to prepare myself for my junior and senior year as a mechanical engineer and have a really nice 3D printer. Any projects in CAD you guys think would be fun and help me in the long run? Thanks I appreciate it!