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Pain after right thoracotomy with tracheoplasty
Lung Health | Last Active: Oct 5, 2022 | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
Hi @billh, I can imagine the ongoing pain is disconcerting.
I'm tagging other Connect members who have had a thoracotomy. @yoanne @lynnkay1956 can you share with Bill your recovery?
Bill, you mentioned that Celebrex and lidocaine "cleared up the pain about 60 days after surgery" but now you're experiencing pain recurring pain? Can you explain a bit more?
Replies to "Hi @billh, I can imagine the ongoing pain is disconcerting. I'm tagging other Connect members who..."
The incision is about 16" going from near my spine on the right side all the way under the armpit. The pain is a feeling of fullness in my shoulder and a dull ache. It was good thru June until about a week ago. When the pain became more severe and travels into my right palm and the right two ring and little fingers. That pain is an ache that Tylenol will not work sufficiently. The hot humid Summer air has not helped especially with the weather changes. This past week the pain in my shoulder is much worse and seems to be aggravated when I do things like type on the PC. I tried heat which did not do all that much nor did the lidocane patch. So I went back to the Celebrex which has helped but not entirely. I have to be careful with Celebrex because I have asthma and am known to have wheezing with other NSAIDs. Many years ago, I took Vioxx for a pain issue which worked but I only took it for 3 days. I do not want to be on the Celebrex long. Perhaps I need to see my surgeon or see if they can refer me to a pain specialist. Bill
I wholeheartedly agree with your last sentence Bill. If you haven't reported this new pain to your surgeon, I recommend you do that asap. If you can get a referral to a pain specialist, all the better.
Thank you. I will do that
Let us know what you find out, please.
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@billh, hello!
as colleen already wrote, I had a mini-thoracotomy, i.e. a small right anterior incision through the 3rd or 4th interspace.this is the minimal-invasive approach for a mitral valve repair. no sternotomy is necessary. I'm quite sure, that your operation was different.I can only speak for myself, I got severe pain at my right side 4 days after operation .they gave me strong painkillers (which one I don't know) , 3 days later I had no pain anymore. a few days after leaving the hospital I suddenly felt pain at my right shoulder ,upper arm, and armpit. that lasted 2 weeks.I had serious problems by using the arm. and suddenly this severe pain disappeared. presumably a nerve was injured or irritated by the operation.
so, I'm sorry I can't help you, your situation is very different from mine.