Increasing pain over time after Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery

I am wondering about a similar problem. I had robotic surgery in late August to remove a secondary lobe. A previous surgery was done about a year and a half ago for NSCLC Stage 2A. That surgery went well and I felt fine after a couple of weeks. The second surgery last August was done because there was a spot on a CT scan that turned out to be just an infection, not a recurrence. Again, I felt fine after a few weeks. But about two weeks ago (mid-December) I had a sudden onset of bad pain. It feels like the pain post-surgery in the general area of the incision but it's much worse. It occurs only with movement--picking up a box, reaching for something off a high shelf, bending over. Has anyone had this happen? I'm a little nervous that it could be some new cancer, although I do recognize that my fear that I broke a rib because I now have bone cancer is almost comically catastrophic thinking.

Have you brought this to attention of your surgeon or pulmonologist? It is likely not recurrence but everyone gets paid to help you answer that question. So it’s not asking a favor to engage them. I say ring them up!

Thanks! You're right. That will be my next step.

Hi @tashaharley, welcome to Mayo Connect. It is best to consult with your doctor, but this pain could be caused by a lot of things other than recurrence of the cancer. My team has told me that if the pain is waking me up in the middle of the night, then I should be sure to let them know right away. I agree that any new pain can be alarming, as cancer patients we can be on edge, so it doesn't hurt to consult with your doctors. I have ongoing hip pain that can wake me up, and I've had many radiologists note "degenerative changes" on my reports; a nice way to say that I'm getting older but it's not cancer.
How long ago was your last scan? Do you have one coming up soon?

I have been experiencing the same think almost 10 months after Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery. Also Stage 1b. In the past week or so, I have pain in my right side that almost feels bruised. Not sure if it’s scar tissue. I just had my quarterly CT scan and everything looks good. Hope you get to the bottom of this.

For what it’s worth, I still have left side rib and diaphragm pain 8 mos after lower Left Vats lobectomy. For stage 1b N0 tumor.

@franciekid - seems we are twinsies in terms of our post surgical pain profile - still pain on deep breath. Still am gasping for breath when I bend over or lift anything or walk in the cold or walk up a modest incline. I sometimes get muscle pain on the other side - I suppose it’s some kind of contralateral pain from “guarding” against the primary pain.

Anyway, I have discovered no clever mitigation. But perhaps of either of us do, we can agree to share. One of the mentors suggested I check out videos on you tube. There’s a fair amount of yoga type stretching and “wall Pilates” and some fairly technical discussions on pulmonary rehab type activities. I’m trying to do band exercises but it doesn’t take long to be breathless.
What success have you had and what is your doc saying?

Have been stretching in doorways and with a bar overhead - lie on floor, hold bar (I use a cane) straight up, then slowly move arms overhead as close to the floor as you can w/o pain. Doc says try cold packs and/or heat. Haven’t done that yet. I don’t have trouble breathing.

I will add that exercise. Thanks.

I have two rice bags that are microwaveable and they really help relieve the pain.