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Pain after robotic assisted lobectomy: How long does it last?

Posted by pat3017a @pat3017a, Nov 27, 2021

I had a robotic assisted lobectomy about 5 weeks ago and still experiencing pain. Seems like there has been very little improvement in past couple of weeks although incisions look great. The pain is mostly when I am moving and at night when trying to get comfortable in bed. Just wondering how long others had pain after this type of surgery? I feel bad even asking this as so many people have went through so much more in their cancer journey than I have. I know I should feel fortunate.

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layla123 | @layla123 | Jan 28 3:11pm
In reply to @jessicamc "I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home..." + (show)
@jessicamc

I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home day after. Felt great thanks to painkillers for about 10 days. walking 1/2 mile AM & PM. Follow-up X-ray was good. It’s been 16 days since surgery and for last 5 days I have back pain. Only one incision in the front aches sometimes. If I lay down, in about 30 -45 min the backache calms down. Wonder if this is due to incisions that went between ribs? I don’t feel up to walking or going to the gym because when I’m up moving around I last about 1 hr before the pain starts again. I have a muscle relaxant med and tried it, but doesn’t seem to help.
I don’t want to keep Tylenol ongoing, not good for the liver. Have you had similar experiences like mine? Suggestions?

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I had a lot of pain after my lobectomy, but was mainly my right side and right breast not so much the back. It takes a long time for things to settle down. Gabapentin worked great for me. After 9 months I finally feel back to normal back to exercising and hiking. You have to be patient with yourself.
What part of the lung was removed?

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jessicamc | @jessicamc | Jan 28 4:44pm
In reply to @jessicamc "I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home..." + (show)
@jessicamc

I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home day after. Felt great thanks to painkillers for about 10 days. walking 1/2 mile AM & PM. Follow-up X-ray was good. It’s been 16 days since surgery and for last 5 days I have back pain. Only one incision in the front aches sometimes. If I lay down, in about 30 -45 min the backache calms down. Wonder if this is due to incisions that went between ribs? I don’t feel up to walking or going to the gym because when I’m up moving around I last about 1 hr before the pain starts again. I have a muscle relaxant med and tried it, but doesn’t seem to help.
I don’t want to keep Tylenol ongoing, not good for the liver. Have you had similar experiences like mine? Suggestions?

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The lingula, the part that notches around the heart.

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layla123 | @layla123 | Jan 28 6:09pm
In reply to @jessicamc "I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home..." + (show)
@jessicamc

I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home day after. Felt great thanks to painkillers for about 10 days. walking 1/2 mile AM & PM. Follow-up X-ray was good. It’s been 16 days since surgery and for last 5 days I have back pain. Only one incision in the front aches sometimes. If I lay down, in about 30 -45 min the backache calms down. Wonder if this is due to incisions that went between ribs? I don’t feel up to walking or going to the gym because when I’m up moving around I last about 1 hr before the pain starts again. I have a muscle relaxant med and tried it, but doesn’t seem to help.
I don’t want to keep Tylenol ongoing, not good for the liver. Have you had similar experiences like mine? Suggestions?

Jump to this post

That is interesting. How did they find it?

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1 reply
jessicamc | @jessicamc | Jan 28 6:53pm
In reply to @layla123 "That is interesting. How did they find it?" + (show)
@layla123

That is interesting. How did they find it?

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I caught RSV & Aspergillus on a European trip. Went to ER directly from the airport and ended hospitalized for 7 days. Was treated for that. Had to take meds for 42 days for Aspergillus. later saw a pulmonologist to check that lungs were cleared up. He ordered a CT and was concerned. Sent me for a PET and a couple of areas looked suspicious. Recommended a biopsy. Went to Mayo and biopsy which tested for typical neuroendocrine carcinoids. When the surgery was done turned out the largest nodule was an inflamed granuloma and a few very tiny carcinoids. It was a slow journey, from June 23 2023 to Jan 20 2024 from diagnosis to surgery. I could have had surgery a little soon, but was told the type carcinoid is so slow growing there was no rush. I opted to wait a couple of months, go thru the holidays, and try to exercise at the Y to help cardio and strength to recover easier.

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layla123 | @layla123 | Jan 28 7:24pm
In reply to @jessicamc "I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home..." + (show)
@jessicamc

I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home day after. Felt great thanks to painkillers for about 10 days. walking 1/2 mile AM & PM. Follow-up X-ray was good. It’s been 16 days since surgery and for last 5 days I have back pain. Only one incision in the front aches sometimes. If I lay down, in about 30 -45 min the backache calms down. Wonder if this is due to incisions that went between ribs? I don’t feel up to walking or going to the gym because when I’m up moving around I last about 1 hr before the pain starts again. I have a muscle relaxant med and tried it, but doesn’t seem to help.
I don’t want to keep Tylenol ongoing, not good for the liver. Have you had similar experiences like mine? Suggestions?

Jump to this post

You are the first person I know that has had Aspergillus. It is quite hard to treat from what I understand. I wonder if that is what caused the carcinoid growth? Glad everything worked out for you. Getting over the surgery will just take time.
I’m going to Europe end of April to visit family. Maybe I should get vaccinated for RSV before I head out.

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1 reply
jessicamc | @jessicamc | Jan 28 8:17pm
In reply to @layla123 "You are the first person I know that has had Aspergillus. It is quite hard to..." + (show)
@layla123

You are the first person I know that has had Aspergillus. It is quite hard to treat from what I understand. I wonder if that is what caused the carcinoid growth? Glad everything worked out for you. Getting over the surgery will just take time.
I’m going to Europe end of April to visit family. Maybe I should get vaccinated for RSV before I head out.

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I went for the RSV vaccine the first week it was available. If it had been available before the trip might have not been so bad. The Aspergillus didn’t cause the tumors. The type tumors I had develop over many years. They are often discovered because a person was being checked for other health reasons. I live in FL and was told it’s in the air, the soil. If you research it, transplant patients are very susceptible because the immune system has to be lowered to prevent organ rejection. I had never heard of it. I watched a couple of interviews of people in the United Kingdom who were very debilitating from it. It took years to get the right diagnosis. By then it can be impossible to clear.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 7 6:01pm
In reply to @jessicamc "I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home..." + (show)
@jessicamc

I had robotic surgery to remove about 10% of one lung. All went well. Sent home day after. Felt great thanks to painkillers for about 10 days. walking 1/2 mile AM & PM. Follow-up X-ray was good. It’s been 16 days since surgery and for last 5 days I have back pain. Only one incision in the front aches sometimes. If I lay down, in about 30 -45 min the backache calms down. Wonder if this is due to incisions that went between ribs? I don’t feel up to walking or going to the gym because when I’m up moving around I last about 1 hr before the pain starts again. I have a muscle relaxant med and tried it, but doesn’t seem to help.
I don’t want to keep Tylenol ongoing, not good for the liver. Have you had similar experiences like mine? Suggestions?

Jump to this post

You may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Pain after robotic assisted lobectomy: How long does it last?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pain-2/
Full list https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-cancer/?search=pain+after+surgery&index=discussions

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jessicamc | @jessicamc | Feb 7 6:28pm

I had robotic lung surgery Jan 20, 2024. It was uncomfortable moving around. It’s almost 4 weeks now and for last two days, no discomfort and able to sleep on my side.

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cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Feb 8 7:46am

Morning! Wonderful news that you are having less pain! Just remember NOT to push it! It will ser you back to the beginning or worse. Walking and walking and more walking will do you wonders. Keep up the Good Healing! Best Wishes!🙏

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allstaff | @allstaff | Feb 9 8:24am

I am on my 8th week after and just now turning the corner. Last night was the first night I slept in bed but still can't sleep on surgery side. Doc said 6-8 week recovery. I'm still adjusting

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