other symptoms whilst having cervical ribs?

Hi, I had a problem diagnosed as 'narrow thoracic outlet' where the 1st rib was squeezing the vein/artery when I raised my arm. This was potentially dangerous as slowing down the blood flow means the blood tries to clot. Although I had no obvious symptoms, the rib had to be urgently. The procedure was a complete success.

Pain anywhere down the arm into the hands and fingers is normal, your nerves that run into your arm are stretched over a rib that shouldn't be there.

Behind ears again normal, you have scalene muscles that run up your neck(you can feel them on either side more so if you turn your neck), they begin behind your ear and end somewhere around the rib.

I get pains in my legs, but I have not discussed it with my surgeon

Dropping things is fairly normal. I always plan picking something up, it has to be for a short distance and not too heavy. If it gets really bad I think it may indicate muscle wastage

Forgetting things, I am normally quite forgetful so haven't noticed it getting worse, but I think it has.

Worth talking to actual specialist... Get that referal done, get the process under way. There are always waits!

Hi spare. i m also suffering from same problem since 13 months.. my condition is too much worst. let me know have you done the surgery? at present what kind of treatment you are taking? good luck

Thanks a lot Jopo. I am from India and I am not getting proper advice about my problem here.So please tell me contact details of your sergeon. thanks again

Hi spare, I had my Cervical Rib removed 3 wks ago. I had symptoms such as weakness in arms, pain in wrist, lower arm, fingers and shoulder. I dropped things to and had headaches, no issue with legs. Took years to diagnose, finally a nerve conduction test, 2 MRI's, and an Xray confirmed diagnosis. Had of physio at first it helped but symptoms came back after a few months so then had surgery.

Hi purpleskimp,

i hope your surgery has gone well ? its still early days i suppose... its awful waiting so long to get diagnosed i feel sorry for anyone that has to wait to get diagnosed i have only been like this since august and that feels like a life time away!! good news ive got my appointment now for a specialist at a hospital not to far away.. on the downside ive started on antidepressants my dr says its quite normal to be feeling so low whilst being ill for a long time which only adds to the stress of it all. hoping your surgery has gone well let me know how you get on

Hi spare. I understand about the depression, the lack of sleep and the constant pain did make me very low. It gets to a stage where you think is this my life and there is no way to make it stop. My surgeon was excellent, done it before and knew exactly what he was looking for when I gave him my symptoms, was originally sent to him as the previous consultant thought I had compression in the spine,So far things look good, I can sleep at night and am not taking painkillers. I am very positive now it is like coming out of a black cloud. After the surgery the surgeon told me there was alot more damaged muscle and tissue than expected so understood why I had so much pain. It is not just the rib but the damage to the tissue. Let me know how you get on with your appointment. I go back on 18th April, been off work 5 wks now but will go back next week.

Hi spare I have been back to surgeon for follow up he explained what he saw when doing the surgery, turns out the nerves had been pushed above the muscle an then the muscle attached over the nerve to the rib. He said he could understand why I was in so much pain? That was a relief because you begin to think people don't believe you cause they is no outside signs. I am back at work now, only pain is wound healing. Not on pain killers an life getting back to normal! My arm is still weak but I guess that is from years of issues an I will build that back up.

How have you got on with your specialist, what are they giving as options?

Hi, I am in so much pain. I have been passed from a neurosurgeon who has establishes that I do not have a trapped nerve in my neck. As a teen I broke my collarbone then 9 years ago I was involved in a hard rear end accident and had whiplash. I've seen the neurosurgeon and also a shoulder specialist as I have a tear in my shoulder tendon which requires surgery. I'm now going to get to the point!! I can't distinguish which pain is what.? An X-ray seems to say I have an extra rib all the pain is down my left side. Left chest front and shoulder Blade down my arm and pins and needles in my hand, total lack of strength and hand goes blue and is cold. Have I this problem you are all experiencing? Had physio for six months who signed me off saying they could do nothing for me. Am in constant pain and tablets don't work at all. I'm depressed with the constant pain. Is surgery my only option and does it work?? Help guys.

Wow I can't actually believe I hav this problem and was shocke when the doctor told me, in some ways I almost find it comical and am most likely going to have the surgery because this what I'm like. Also has thi caused anyone else's collar bones to be rather prominent? My have always been rather promonent without me really beig particularly skinny. Just wondering so if you could reply It would be great, makes sense I suppose that the extra bones Would push out the collar bones. Btw I'm also 18

It is now 15 months since surgery, I get some bad days but the pain isn't bad at all. My arm and hand is still week but I guess as I am 50 it was along time before it was found an so damage to nerves was bad. I am so glad I had the surgery for me it was worth the risk. My whole life has changed for the better. Alex I know what you mean about comical if it wasn't so painful it would be funny. I don't have a prominent collar bone. David my surgeon was an orthopaedic one he said a neurosurgeon was not the right one for my symptoms. Nerves not trapped the rib had pushed the nerves out over of the muscle an that was causing the severe pain. He said when he removed the rib they fell back in place. Surgery is risky so only you can decide, personally for me I took the risk. Good luck let me know if you need more info

Hi, I have been in and out of hospital all years ! they have been treating me for a heart condition, even thou all my test come back normal ! the pain is really bad, all across both my collar bones, shoulders and goes down my chest bone, also down my arms and legs. now seen another doctors and said he thinks I have double cervical bones ? sent again to hospital, had x-ray. confirms I have got cervical ribs both sides.

now waiting to see consultant, hope it's not long because the pain is really taking me over. and my job is a cleaner, and been told not to reach or hoover or lift heavy items ! they must be joking. any body got any ideas to help me with the pain, on loads of tablets and creams.

Hi iv got the same problem a scan confirmed I had two extra ribs one on each side of my neck ....only having problems with left hand side tho ... spoken to GP and physiotherapist who confirmed that I have thoracic outlet syndrome. .. had various tests to confirm this eventually iv seen a consultant in leeds who specialises in this field .. now im hoping to get rid of all the pain by having a operation to remove the rib if that doesn't work then going to remove the first rib ... fingers crossed...

Hi adi2 good luck with the operation let us know how you get on. I got involved in the discussions here because I was struggling to find many people who had gone through it.

Hi adi2 good luck with the operation let us know how you get on. I got involved in the discussions here because I was struggling to find many people who had gone through it.