Robyn
yes,you do have thoracic outlet syndrome. the thing is to find a specialist who really knows about it! i was sent, by my hand surgeon, to a doctor in philadelphia, back in 1990. he knew my problem the minute he walked in the door - just by the way my posture was. i had a bilateral problem, and after therapy and 2 weeks of daily nerve blocks, they determined i needed surgery. i had my left side done (with rib resection, though i did not have an "extra rib"), in dec,1990. the right side was done march 1992. recovery was less painful than all of my hand/arm surgeries (14), and i trully felt a difference - it was worth it. all these years later, i still don't regret having them done, though there are days when i feel like the "warranty" has run out. i was quite diligent with post-surgical therapy, but scar tissue builds up nonetheless, and i've always had a problem with extra scarring, so there is still some nerve entrapment. but, it is still much better than if i had not had the surgery - i can't imagine what i'd be like if i hadn't had it. good luck!