Returning to Climbing with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

A few months ago I had a blood clot in my left arm due to thoracic outlet syndrome. They took out my first rib on that side and everything has been recovering pretty quickly. I am getting ready to start easing back into climbing, but I just was told by my surgeon that I also have TOS on my right side. According to my surgeon, only about 10-15% of her patients with bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome end up needing to come back in and get the rib on the other side removed. I climb a lot and I put my body through a lot of stress, so I'm worried that that "10-15%" statistic doesn't really apply to me. I'm worried that if I get back into climbing I'll just end up clotting off my vein again and having another surgery. Is there anyone who's in a similar situation as me (i.e. already had surgery on one side and knows the other side has the same problem) and has been able to jump back in to climbing? Has anyone had to have surgery twice? Any info would be much appreciated.

Hey I’m in a similar situation. I just had my first rib removed last week. Some muscles were also removed and cut to decompress my vein (right side). How are you doing?
To answer your original question I think you should just ease up for a little and work hard in PT! Do all you can to prevent the clotting ... are (were) you on blood thinners? I am for at least 3 months. 

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/111688985/thoracic-outlet-syndrome-rib-resection-recovery-stories?page=10

You should get a second opinion on that other side before you get the surgery. Bilateral TOS is almost unheard of and prophylactic surgery can be really dangerous.

Mitch Y wrote: https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/111688985/thoracic-outlet-syndrome-rib-resection-recovery-stories?page=10

You should get a second opinion on that other side before you get the surgery. Bilateral TOS is almost unheard of and prophylactic surgery can be really dangerous.

Mitch,

Thanks for this. I agree, OP should not worry about bilateral TOS, and definitely shouldn’t get prophylactic surgery. Surgery should be a last ditch emergency effort.
Sadly, I needed that for a blood clot and deep compression of the vein. Did you also have VTOS with blood clotting? Mine reclotted after 24 hours post-thrombolysis, so they repeated it the day before the “decompression” surgery. I’ve been on warfarin ever since. Just got out of my sling (2 weeks post op) and can kinda move my right arm. I hope I can get back into climbing within a decent time frame. Any personal stories or facts about VTOS would be awesome. Hope you’re climbing strong!