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Tighness and pressure post robotic lobectomy: Will this pass?
I am 11 weeks post upper left lobe removal (lobectomy). Cancer free and very grateful. I would like to know if anyone else experienced tightness and pressure (constant) below breast area . I am not taking any meds, walking and doing light weights but the discomfort is always there. Heat and lying down makes it better. Dr, surgeon and physio are saying its normal and will pass. Anyone had that experience. Just needing a bit of reassurance. Thanks.
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I hope people are seeing a connection in each of these posts. "Robotic surgery." I was in so much pain for months after my lower lobe wedge and was getting zero clarity as to why by the surgeon. I switched doctors, and was told at the first visit by second doctor, that he is seeing multiple people with the same complaint. He said he does not use a robot for this exact reason. He looked at all my chart information before telling me he would have done the surgery the old fashion way. He is a leading NETs surgeon at OSHU. It appears when the robot goes in, it tends to damage muscles and nerves by stretching these areas. My take away from all of this, is get a second, or even third opinion.
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1 Reaction@yelenab, lung surgery is major surgery. Initially, you really need to give yourself permission to rest. When you can, you need to get back into exercising SLOWLY. Robotic surgery is so much less invasive that we feel we can go back to our old routine sooner than we actually can and that delays recovery.
One of my best friends is a physical therapist. He says trying to do too much too soon is common in middle age, and we've both done it! We need to show ourselves some grace and accept the fact that complete recovery from major surgery takes time.
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1 ReactionMan your post is exactly the same as my story. I’m 11 months post op and still have extreme pressure. I have spasms were my nerves go crazy starting at site and move through out my body. Scary at night I think I’m having stroke symptoms.
I am 2 years post VATS/RATS upper left lobectomy. CT scans are all perfect. However, I still have shooting pain around my left ribs when I sneeze (which is often, because I have allergies). It feels as if I have a broken rib, but X-rays show nothing. My surgeon has always been very cavalier about this, but my Exon 20 oncologist told me it is probably nerve damage, which is very common. Hugging a cushion helps, but one is often not within reach.
I’m nine months out from the surgery and have some pressure and tightness, no real pain. Better, but still there.