1. < Lung Cancer

Pain after lobectomy (lung cancer) surgery: When will it go away?

Posted by allstaff @allstaff, Feb 21 8:00am

Two months out from lower left lobectomy and just started to feel better when pain started again all around the incision area and upper part of back and spine area. Almost like a stinging sensation. I have read this could happen. Has anyone experienced this?

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babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 7 9:06am
In reply to @yellowstonelady "I had thoracotomy on my right lung in 2000. It's been 24 years and i still..." + (show)
@yellowstonelady

I had thoracotomy on my right lung in 2000. It's been 24 years and i still have pain. The surgeons say it will go away in a year or so...don't believe them. I've learned to live with the pain. There is nothing I can do about it. I just wish they would be honest with us up front and tell us there will be pain for the rest of our lives.

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24 years of pain. That is awful. I’m going to see a pain management doctor on April 18. I hope he can help me. Have you ever seat out a pain management doctor? Or physical therapy

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1 reply
babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 7 9:09am
In reply to @aprilradek "Well, I hope you get some support on Monday- I have the numbness too. Our poor..." + (show)
@aprilradek

Well, I hope you get some support on Monday- I have the numbness too. Our poor bodies have been through so much.
I haven't heard of BioFreeze is it similar to a lidocaine patch?

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I think it is

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yellowstonelady | @yellowstonelady | Apr 7 9:25am
In reply to @babs1956 "24 years of pain. That is awful. I’m going to see a pain management doctor on..." + (show)
@babs1956

24 years of pain. That is awful. I’m going to see a pain management doctor on April 18. I hope he can help me. Have you ever seat out a pain management doctor? Or physical therapy

Jump to this post

I hate pain meds. They make me feel awful. So nothing stronger than occasional Tylenol. I did 3-6 hours of yoga a week for the first 15 years. I walked. I biked. Then after 15 years I finally accepted that it is not going away and my breathing is not going to get any better.
The pain is always there - but I've learned to live with it. Sometimes really bad when a storm comes in. It is just a fact of life.
At least I am still here 24 years after LC. I just wish the surgeons would be honest and fess up that there will be pain and it will most likely be permanent. I guess they are trying to fool themselves. Pain is better than 6 feet under for sure, just wish they would be honest about the pain with patients and themselves.

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2 replies
vic83 | @vic83 | Apr 7 9:37am
In reply to @minnie528 "I'm calling my doc on Monday because I had right lower lobectomy in January. Everything has..." + (show)
@minnie528

I'm calling my doc on Monday because I had right lower lobectomy in January. Everything has healed nicely except by the larger incision by ribs under my right breast. It feels like something moving when I cough, blow my nose, strain having bowel movement, carry bags etc. Then it's sore & then mid back pain. I was thinking gallbladder, but also wondering if possible hernia there. I'd like to hear what you find out too. Has anyone developed a hernia by incision area?

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Have you had an updated CT scan since surgery? I had a lot of pain that I didn't have the first VAT surgery. CT scan picked up new rib fracture compared to scan before surgery.

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2 replies
allstaff | @allstaff | Apr 7 10:11am
In reply to @yellowstonelady "I had thoracotomy on my right lung in 2000. It's been 24 years and i still..." + (show)
@yellowstonelady

I had thoracotomy on my right lung in 2000. It's been 24 years and i still have pain. The surgeons say it will go away in a year or so...don't believe them. I've learned to live with the pain. There is nothing I can do about it. I just wish they would be honest with us up front and tell us there will be pain for the rest of our lives.

Jump to this post

I had lower left removed in dec 2023 I have had similar pain. Most recently I was told it could be coming from my diaphram because when surgery is done so much gets moved around. She did put me on omemprazole and it helps a little. I had right upper lobe removed 12 years ago and recovery was much easier so I guess it just depends on location.
I agree the possibilities of symptoms should have been better explained before surgery. I have to say to all this site has been so valuable to me reassuring me that I'm not alone and some of these symptoms are normal. Will be OK we just need tough out some of these symptoms and give ourselves some grace.

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minnie528 | @minnie528 | Apr 7 10:11am
In reply to @vic83 "Have you had an updated CT scan since surgery? I had a lot of pain that..." + (show)
@vic83

Have you had an updated CT scan since surgery? I had a lot of pain that I didn't have the first VAT surgery. CT scan picked up new rib fracture compared to scan before surgery.

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My 3 month CT scan is May 13. Not sure if I should just wait for that or call sooner. I didn't have this pain 2 months post surgery. It's just strange where/how it acts up.

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babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 7 10:11am
In reply to @vic83 "Have you had an updated CT scan since surgery? I had a lot of pain that..." + (show)
@vic83

Have you had an updated CT scan since surgery? I had a lot of pain that I didn't have the first VAT surgery. CT scan picked up new rib fracture compared to scan before surgery.

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I just had a CT scan on Friday. I’m waiting for the results. Are you feeling better? Are you having less pain now?

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1 reply
babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 7 10:14am
In reply to @yellowstonelady "I hate pain meds. They make me feel awful. So nothing stronger than occasional Tylenol. I..." + (show)
@yellowstonelady

I hate pain meds. They make me feel awful. So nothing stronger than occasional Tylenol. I did 3-6 hours of yoga a week for the first 15 years. I walked. I biked. Then after 15 years I finally accepted that it is not going away and my breathing is not going to get any better.
The pain is always there - but I've learned to live with it. Sometimes really bad when a storm comes in. It is just a fact of life.
At least I am still here 24 years after LC. I just wish the surgeons would be honest and fess up that there will be pain and it will most likely be permanent. I guess they are trying to fool themselves. Pain is better than 6 feet under for sure, just wish they would be honest about the pain with patients and themselves.

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You are so right Doctor should be more honest with us

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babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 7 10:16am
In reply to @yellowstonelady "I hate pain meds. They make me feel awful. So nothing stronger than occasional Tylenol. I..." + (show)
@yellowstonelady

I hate pain meds. They make me feel awful. So nothing stronger than occasional Tylenol. I did 3-6 hours of yoga a week for the first 15 years. I walked. I biked. Then after 15 years I finally accepted that it is not going away and my breathing is not going to get any better.
The pain is always there - but I've learned to live with it. Sometimes really bad when a storm comes in. It is just a fact of life.
At least I am still here 24 years after LC. I just wish the surgeons would be honest and fess up that there will be pain and it will most likely be permanent. I guess they are trying to fool themselves. Pain is better than 6 feet under for sure, just wish they would be honest about the pain with patients and themselves.

Jump to this post

I have been working out for 45 years of my life now I can’t work out anymore because I’m in a lot of pain. I’m just wondering if I aggravated it. I stopped working out for about two weeks now let’s see what happens

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1 reply
stankent | @stanleykent | Apr 7 12:30pm
In reply to @minnie528 "I'm calling my doc on Monday because I had right lower lobectomy in January. Everything has..." + (show)
@minnie528

I'm calling my doc on Monday because I had right lower lobectomy in January. Everything has healed nicely except by the larger incision by ribs under my right breast. It feels like something moving when I cough, blow my nose, strain having bowel movement, carry bags etc. Then it's sore & then mid back pain. I was thinking gallbladder, but also wondering if possible hernia there. I'd like to hear what you find out too. Has anyone developed a hernia by incision area?

Jump to this post

Hello
I'm not sure if this is the same or not, but had wedge resection on lower left lobe in 2021 and surface healed nicely. A couple months afterwards I felt something slightly moving inside near one of the incisions. This could happen when getting out of bed , deep breath, etc. It wasn't painful., though. The Doctor couldn't explain what it was and eventually this movement feeling went away. My opinion is that after surgery there is scar tissue on the lung surface as well as scar tissue and nerve damage at the incision site. During chest movements and breathing, the lungs normally are moving a bit inside the chest cavity and i think those scar areas were maybe rubbing on each other or the scar on the lung was rubbing on the chest wall and that is what I was feeling. I just don't know but also at that time I still had some "post surgery" chest fluid (pleural effusion) and I don't know if that was making it easier for things to move around. As I said, that went away and most other pain went away, After a year or so the left side felt pretty normal.

I also had upper right lobectomy in 2019 and still have some surface skin/nerve numbness and still feel some chest tightness on the right side when I take a deep breath.
Hope it gets better for you.

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