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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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cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Mar 13, 2023
In reply to @spikeb1 "I commented here perhaps in December or January about the persistent pain I was having after..." + (show)
@spikeb1

I commented here perhaps in December or January about the persistent pain I was having after a LUL lobectomy. It occurred daily at around 2 AM. Long story short, it disappeared. But since surgery I have had a bulge of sorts beneath my rib cage. It was totally numb and I was told this was normal. I should have asked more questions. Fast forward and it is not so numb but it is tender and so is the underlying rib?

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Did they ever tell you WHAT the bulge was or Why it was there? This is good for me to know in case I get the same thing. I would still have it checked by the doctor but at least maybe I wouldn’t be so freaked out knowing it happens to others too.

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1 reply
laurab25 | @laurab25 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @spikeb1 "I commented here perhaps in December or January about the persistent pain I was having after..." + (show)
@spikeb1

I commented here perhaps in December or January about the persistent pain I was having after a LUL lobectomy. It occurred daily at around 2 AM. Long story short, it disappeared. But since surgery I have had a bulge of sorts beneath my rib cage. It was totally numb and I was told this was normal. I should have asked more questions. Fast forward and it is not so numb but it is tender and so is the underlying rib?

Jump to this post

It’s so nice to hear from others in the same situation as me. I have the same numbness, which is starting to wake up, It’s very tender. And I was just telling my husband that this lump doesn’t seem to go down, but he says it’s really not as swollen. I’m over 7 weeks into recovery and still have a lot of nerve pain. I had pleural effusion so they did a thorcentnesis. I thought that would help the pain…..not so much. I’m still sleeping sitting up in bed, and I still have a cough. Does anyone cough all the time?

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1 reply
laurab25 | @laurab25 | Mar 16, 2023

Aww, I keep feeling I should be fortunate that they caught my cancer at a very early stage, and I am, but that doesn’t minimize my pain or yours. I’m over 7 weeks in recovery and still have a lot of pain. I really didn’t know this was going to be sooo painful. I thought, maybe 6 weeks, just a little pain and I’d be back to myself. HA! My husband is getting sick of me complaining..Lol. Hang in there and write back if you want.

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1 reply
spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @laurab25 "It’s so nice to hear from others in the same situation as me. I have the..." + (show)
@laurab25

It’s so nice to hear from others in the same situation as me. I have the same numbness, which is starting to wake up, It’s very tender. And I was just telling my husband that this lump doesn’t seem to go down, but he says it’s really not as swollen. I’m over 7 weeks into recovery and still have a lot of nerve pain. I had pleural effusion so they did a thorcentnesis. I thought that would help the pain…..not so much. I’m still sleeping sitting up in bed, and I still have a cough. Does anyone cough all the time?

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Did your doctor ever explain the reason for the swelling? I mostly understand the numbness as nerve cuts were involved. I think the swelling may be down somewhat but hard to tell.

I am almost 18 weeks postop and generally feel well. Surprisingly, my pre-op PFTs were normal but I still experience dyspnea with stairs and steep inclines.

At 7 weeks, I was still experiencing all you describe so hang in there!

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spikeb1 | @spikeb1 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @cmcguire10 "Did they ever tell you WHAT the bulge was or Why it was there? This is..." + (show)
@cmcguire10

Did they ever tell you WHAT the bulge was or Why it was there? This is good for me to know in case I get the same thing. I would still have it checked by the doctor but at least maybe I wouldn’t be so freaked out knowing it happens to others too.

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So sad but I didn’t. I have an appointment in April and will be sure to ask. Better late info than none.

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cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Mar 16, 2023

Well this is good to know. My Dr said they zap the nerves so they stay numb for months to help with the pain, but it doesn’t sound like it helps very much from what I’m reading here! Guess that’s why they send you all the pain management guides… Well, it is what is is. Gotta go through it to get through it. I hope you ALL feel better very soon!
Best wishes,
Cindy

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1 reply
cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @laurab25 "Aww, I keep feeling I should be fortunate that they caught my cancer at a very..." + (show)
@laurab25

Aww, I keep feeling I should be fortunate that they caught my cancer at a very early stage, and I am, but that doesn’t minimize my pain or yours. I’m over 7 weeks in recovery and still have a lot of pain. I really didn’t know this was going to be sooo painful. I thought, maybe 6 weeks, just a little pain and I’d be back to myself. HA! My husband is getting sick of me complaining..Lol. Hang in there and write back if you want.

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Well, I’m hoping that I will be up running around, so is my husband, but this is proving to me that it won’t be as quick as I hoped for. What did you do for pain management? Medications? What did you have done? Live tiny, Segmentectomy, Wedge?
Thank you,
Cindy

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1 reply
laurab25 | @laurab25 | Mar 16, 2023

The pain management doctor gave me a couple of injections with lidocaine & steroids in them, also prescribed meds called Gabapentin. My home remedies are lidocaine patches and lots of Ibuprofen. I hate opioids & I didn’t think they worked anyway. I have another appt with the doctor next week.

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laurab25 | @laurab25 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @cmcguire10 "Well this is good to know. My Dr said they zap the nerves so they stay..." + (show)
@cmcguire10

Well this is good to know. My Dr said they zap the nerves so they stay numb for months to help with the pain, but it doesn’t sound like it helps very much from what I’m reading here! Guess that’s why they send you all the pain management guides… Well, it is what is is. Gotta go through it to get through it. I hope you ALL feel better very soon!
Best wishes,
Cindy

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My doctor also said he zapped the nerves, so I asked him why I have so much pain. He said my pain would’ve been worse without it. Geez. 🤷‍♀️

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1 reply
cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Mar 16, 2023
In reply to @cmcguire10 "Well, I’m hoping that I will be up running around, so is my husband, but this..." + (show)
@cmcguire10

Well, I’m hoping that I will be up running around, so is my husband, but this is proving to me that it won’t be as quick as I hoped for. What did you do for pain management? Medications? What did you have done? Live tiny, Segmentectomy, Wedge?
Thank you,
Cindy

Jump to this post

That was supposed to say Lobectomy.

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