Had lobectomy in 2020 still having radiating severe nerve pain.

Did I really not post this to you after writing it? Apparently. But here's the answer I had for you. Walking every day needs to be part of our lives now. Not a bad habit to have at all. I call it my "oxygen flood." And I feel it is a vital part of passing all those 6-month CT scan tests that I must do.
As for that tight bra feeling a little more than 3 months since since your VAT surgery, that's practically a given. I will never know exactly what was cut or stretched inside me, but that feeling is now greatly reduced, if not barely noticeable after a year and five months after my own VATS. Tonight, however, I do feel the scar on my lower right side. I'm getting over Covid--a quick bout, my first ever. I had to take Prednisone for five days, azithromycin for 6 days (both to guard against inflammation and a possible pneumonia outcome) plus the actual anti-Covid med.--the one that works.
I am thinking that aloe vera juice could help to begin to heal your scars. And I understand that the Serrapeptase enzyme I started taking, a little over a month ago, can help dissolve those scars. However, if you are possibly on blood thinners, it would not be wise to take Serrapeptase. I have also read that Castor Oil packs (in hot, damp towels applied to the skin at the scar area can help dissolve them, but that is a mess
y prospect. So, I abandoned that.
In the meantime, just stay away from processed foods and any foods (cake and candy have to be a no because cancer likes it too much! And they inflame! And inflammation makes those scars hurt or feel tighter.).
Here's a difficult thing to solve: future mammograms. I've had one since surgery--a year ago. It was an extremely uncomfortable experience! And the radiologist had a kind of gestapo manner about her. I'd like to do mammogram a different way--perhaps an ultrasound mammogram because the standard way is inappropriate for us. If you learn about new mammogram options, let me know.
In the meantime, be patient with this whole healing process. It's not an overnight process. Give yourself time, grace and kindness. Keep walking. Keep learning. Amazingly, this experience is leading us toward a healthier lifestyle.

Yes, it sure does feel like a tight bra. It is now more than 3 months since my VAT surgery with wedge resection and I still have that feeling on and off but only on the side of the surgery. My breast, to the side and below is "numb". I have a stiff chest with deep breathes and it occasionally still hurts if I sneeze violently. I too try to walk every day. If the weather is bad, I get on the treadmill.

I know what you are talking about. For several months--maybe even 6--after my surgery, I felt like I was wearing a tight bra. It was like having a tight band strapped around me under the breasts encircling my back as well. The thought in my head was "give it a year." That helped me tolerate it. In the meantime, I worked on building up my strength and ability to do household things. I still, religiously, take daily walks to strengthen legs, brain, heart, and lungs/breathing capacity. Build yourself up in other ways as you heal. You will heal. Pain will subside. Eat plenty of protein and vegetables. Make a tea of grated turmeric root and ginger root (simmer in a quart of water for 20 minutes). It's anti-inflammatory and can take down pain well. I use 8-hour Tylenol in the evening if necessary. The heating pad was my friend.

I had VATS upper right lung lobectomy in March 2022. I chose surgery rather than radiation. I felt complete trust in that surgeon and the likely positive outcome. For the most part, the pain has morphed into soreness now and then. For a long time I was acutely aware of the presence of the internal and external scars. There was pain in those places. After getting off hydrocodone, I switched to 8-hour Tylenol and heat pad, as needed. I sleep on my back, lying, torso raised, against pillows shaped into a wedge (a real wedge pillow is too stiff). I am steadfastly taking Doctor's Best Proteolytic Enzymes which Serrapeptase which is very anti-inflammatory and has the ability to dissolve stiff scar tissue. I'm trying to soften and shrink the nature of my scars. I believe it's helping. Daily walking aids circulation and breathing, as well.

The same patch brands make lidocaine creams with 4%. I used because patch would not fit area well. Although I can't say if it really helped much. I am taking Gabpentin. Fortunately, my nerve pain has improved.

It’s been 4 months since my surgery and I still have major pain wrapping around my back under my breast. It seems to be lessening but constant pin is difficult

Yes, the lidocaine patches do require my husband to be home to put them on since it is too high up to do myself. And with the heat where you live not an option, sorry.
I’m glad you get some relief from heating pad and gabapentin.
They do 4 nerve block injections for me, 2 on left side and two on right upper middle back focusing on area that lines up with rib they cut for the surgery. Like you my pain radiates across to the other side so they do both sides. Might be worth asking about it. Sounds like our pain is similar, a wide swath across the upper back. I’ve had it done twice now and it has taken the pain down from being unbearable to bearable most of the time with the gabapentin. The pain doctor at Mayo I see seems very familiar with the pain from thoracotomy surgery and knew which rib was cut and which nerves to try and focus on.
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry to hear of others dealing with this.
Take care,
Juliette

Wow you’ve been through a lot too. As for the lidocaine patches I used to use them on my lumbar but the nerve pain radiates across my mid back & I can’t reach it & don’t have anyone to put them on for me. Also, the heat here in Florida makes them not ideal to keep them on.
Between the Gabapentin & heating pad it manages the nerve pain. I don’t think the nerve block would work for me because it only covers a specific area & mine covers a lot of area. I hope some doctors are reading these comments & can come up with some solutions for us.
We all need hope.

I also had a thoracotomy April 2020. I have similar nerve pain, burning ache radiating across my back that intensifies till it feels like it is deep in my rib cage wrapping around my right side. I have been unable to wear a bra since surgery as that increases the pain till I cannot stand it. After over a year they referred me to the pain clinic and I am taking Gabapentin 3 times a day and getting nerve block injections every three months. I did not want to take medications but I cannot work without them. I did 60 sessions of PT, acupuncture, massage, etc. They help but only for about 24 hours so I finally relented to medication and injections. They do not completely get rid of the pain but I would say it is 50% better with them and I am able to do more.
I’m so sorry you have to deal with this. My husband says something similar, at least I’m alive but day in, day out pain can really wear you down. Sometimes I just want to hear I’m sorry you’re in pain - which he says also.

I also do 4% lidocaine patch on my back everyday which really helps a lot. If you have not tried that you should and the pain doctor says I can use them daily and you insurance may cover it if your doctor tries putting a prescription through save money on buying them.

I hope you find some things that bring you some relief.

I am so sorry. There is a limit to how much lung tissue they can remove. This is why I opted for SBRT to kill my 2021 spot. They can take out just a wedge or a lung segment but I just didn't want them to take out any more lung.

Did you get your tumor tested for all proteins and other biomarkers? I am KRAS G12D. There is no targeted therapy for it yet, but they have a promising drug in phase 1 testing right now.

Did they PET your new spots? My latest spot had a SUV of 2.7 which seems to suggest it is slow growing so far. So this is also why we are just watching it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if your spots and mine went away? That's my prayer.