I need opinions & experiences with intercostal surgery

[diargasm]

Hi, it's me again. After having the c7 cross-neck transfer surgery for my deltoid, I've decided to finally have an intercostal operation. I'm really happy from the results of my first operation for my biceps. I've begun to notice the shock to my fingers whenever I tap my bicep. Ands now it's gotten so sensitive that even the slightest tap makes and shock. Since nothing has gone wrong with my first 2 operations, I feel safe going for the hat trick by trying to get all 3 muscles to work again.

What I'd like to know is how high the risks of this surgery are? How long would I stay in if it goes well? What are the chances of it working if it is done right? So far I've only stayed in the hospital for a total of 2 days for my last 2 operations.

Anyways, my operation is set for July 8th. I'm hoping this will be the last one I'll need for a few years.

[admin]

Hi Andre,

Seems from my research that performing intercostal nerve transfers is done by just about everybody out "there". I have to think it's a dependable form of surgery and that it's not all that risky. It's wonderful you've had such great results so far with your other surgeries, and that you've been able to get home so quickly.

Your best bet is to ask your doctor for more detailed answers to your questions. I think the timeframe of seeing reinverated muscles depends on which muscles are targeted & the distance to them. My son had response within a few months, but the innervation just needed to get to a transferred gracilis muscle and the doctor at Mayo got the intercostal to within an inch of that muscle in the surgery.

Good luck & keep us posted.

Ellen

[diargasm]

How long does a patient usually stay in the hospital after the operation?

[karlos]

2 days for me, quite sore for a few weeks

[Susana]

Diargasm, why are you asking how long you have to stay? You always come out the same day LOL... You are very strong and have more confidence this time.

[diargasm]

I'm asking because it seems this operation can be more dangerous since they are taking nerves that help you breathe. That and I need to take summer school classes which start on July 7th, and I don't want to be absent too long then.

btw does anyone know how long it takes for the nerve transfers to stay in place so I won't have to worry about damaging it? Today, a couple of my friends came up to me and slapped my normal side as a friendly gesture without know it had been operated on. I get a little paranoid when that stuff happens; so are nerve transfers very fragile?

[EllenB]

Hey -

The main thing John's doctors wanted him to do after healing began was to wear his sling while in a crowded situation (such as a narrow school hallway w/kids coming the other direction). Reason being they didn't want anyone to accidentally push against him & wrench his arm behind him, which would stretch the newly transferred nerves. Now that he's a year out of surgery, they're not worried about that & he only wears a sling when he's riding his bike.

I hadn't thought of potential issues with the "good" side, as you brought up. When you ask your doctor about it, post his/her answer on the board so we'll all know.

Re your question about how fragile nerve transfers are, my last visit to Mayo w/John in March I asked them when John could start being a "normal kid" again - i.e. start back snow skiing & doing other more active things. They said John could start pretty soon with that level of activity, but he'd need to sling his arm & also pad the shoulder (maybe like what a football player uses) to soften the impact if there was a fall. From that, I think that at some point, these transferred nerves are just like any other nerve - grown out & functioning - but you just want to apply some common sense to not risk reinjury.

Can't remember when your surgery is scheduled, but I bet you're fine w/summer school in July. Compared to John, it seems you're having things done on a more incremental basis - so you'd expect to "bounce" pretty quickly.

Hope that helps. Good luck & keep us posted.

Ellen

[diargasm]

Did John ever get any "shooting" sensations in his arm after the cross c7? I remember feeling it for my bicep a couple of weeks after the oberlin's procedure, and just want to know if I should expect it. If so, where exactly? My operation was for my axillary nerve.

[admin]

if by shooting youo mean when they tap on your bad side and you feel it numbing up your good side's fingers, then only did I feel that last time I went up there, about two tweeks ago. I was in the hospital for about a week, mainly b/c none of the narcotics were letting me stomach anything.

john

[Karl w/ a K]

Andre,
I'm glad you are having such good success with your surgeries. It seems just a short time ago you were really down in the dumps about your injury. Now I see from your posts a new hope. Good for you and good for the new people out there that are just joining the "club". Your enthusiasm will help people you will never even be aware of.
Can you recap your surgeries and which muscles were innervated? I'm thinking of having my deltoids re-wired. But I'd like to get it done locally instead of going back to LSU. I'm starting to get movement in my infraspinatus and supraspinatus from surgery 5 months ago. And my biceps are starting to register some "beeps" using a surface mounted EMG. If I have the deltoids done, I stand a good chance of having a more useful arm.
Here is a question for any others out there that have regained muscles through surgery. My newly innervated muscles hurt like heck. Did yours? Maybe it's because I can't (won't) leave them alone. I push them daily. They remind me of my boys, very hard to wake up.
Andre, good luck with your surgery. Keep us posted.
Ciao...Karl....