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Lobectomy 1 year post surgery pain
Hello, I had my right upper lung lobe removed 8/23/2023. Today 8/9, I still have pain in my rib cage when I breathe deeply or cough. I see my surgeon every 3-4 months, have had 2 pet/ct scans which showed nothing and doc just keeps saying it will go away. It’s not going away! Anyone else have this experience?
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I am going to mention that to my surgeon when I see him in 2 weeks. Thanks for your suggestion.
I encountered this kind of pain some years after my second lobectomy and my research uncovered a name for it that might be useful for searches: "post-thoracotomy pain syndrome or post-pneumonectomy syndrome." (I like having a name for it.) Like others in this thread, my medical team also recommended seeing a pain management specialist. I have found that the pain comes and goes and often seems to be related to doing things while bent over. On the lighter side, I've learned to never sneeze while bent over and never to bend over to put on my socks. Recently, I pulled myself out of my pond (which I had intentionally gotten into to trim excessive growth) and encountered the most searing pain I've had yet. The pain didn't last but I'm still sensitive, with the binding feeling, across my lower ribs. (I actually, perhaps fancifully, suspect that a single episode of diarrhea after the incident was caused by it.) If you can associate the pain with specific movements or activites (or associate any relief with any change in posture or movement), you can try to avoid what brings on the acute pain. I know my posture has improved since the pains started because I now try to keep myself lengthened through my torso. This probably sounds simplistic but it has helped me.
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3 ReactionsThank you! I will def mention the 2 syndrome names when I see my surgeon’s PA next week!
Hi There,
How are you doing? Have you seen the surgeon yet? I had a lower left lobectomy in Sept. 2023. I still have nerve pain under my left breast area that wraps around my back. I also still have lingering pain when I cough or take a deep breath but not all the time.
My surgeon has offered a pain specialist but I am so tired of going to the doctor all the time I am waiting a little longer. I am still going through cancer treatment (targeted pill therapy for ALK +) so I check in with the oncologist every 3 weeks. I am curious if you get some relief after seeing a pain specialist and what the pain specialist recommends.
april