u/Klutzy_Face_8896

I have a fused extra cervical rib to my first rib, which was diagnosed as causing extreme degeneration in my spine 4 years ago. After searching and searching I get turned away again and again because I don’t have numb arms or fingers. Yet my life is ruined and i’m ready to give up from crippling back and neck pain. I don’t know where to step next, i’m lost and hopeless. The best TOS professionals in Colorado only care about EMG results and nerve pain. Where do I go? Am I seeing the wrong type of surgeon? Orthopedic and neurosurgeons won’t do the surgery and i’m so lost. Please help

I don’t have significant numbness or tingling, but life altering neck and back pain. I’m on disability, had to give up on my engineering degree at School of Mines, and quite honestly hate life. I have this severe fused cervical rib, yet nobody will remove it because the tingling in my hands isn’t significant. Who do I talk to? Where do I go? What else can I say? I have even a radiology report that the rib is causing my spine to degenerate and nobody will help me.

I was diagnosed with a left C7 transverse process and first and second ribs which are partially fused. This was known to be the cause of my degenerative changes in my neck such as severe stenosis and disc herniations. Although despite all these findings every doctor I see is either TOS specialist that only cares about numbness in my arms, or I see a spine specialist and all they care about is disc replacements. While nobody puts the pieces together that the fused cervical rib is causing the degeneration and back pain. Any suggestions would be helpful with doctors, different approaches and your experience with back pain and the cervical rib connection. Thanks!