Had lobectomy in 2020 still having radiating severe nerve pain.

Hi Pam, @pb50, I’m glad you reached out to the pulmonologist. It’s difficult to interpret the reports, but that scaring could be a contributing factor. Hopefully they will be able to give you an idea on what to expect going forward, like will that break down as time goes on?
I hadn’t had a chance to get back to your MIPs question, by now you know that the scan is the same as a standard CT from the patient perspective. It allows a more detailed image and is often used for lung scans. All of my CTs are ‘with MIPs’ (Maximum intensity projection).
I’m glad there were no new nodules found!

Well I received the readout of my CT. Good news is no new lung modules. But I didn’t expect one. The part I didn’t understand says

Lungs/Pleura: Centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema. Left lower lobectomy with associated pleuroparenchymal scarring in the left hemithorax. No suspicious pulmonary nodules. No pleural fluid.

So I have a message out to pulmonologist asking whether the pleuroparenchymal scarring could be contributing to this vice grip I feel in my ribs and diaphragm when I try to take a deep breath.

I did. I had a thoracic CT today primarily as my first of 5 yrs of lung monitoring, but that should afford the Radiologist the ability to comment on any observed bony anomalies.

You should report that to your doctor.

Order from surgeon is to have a screening CT every 6 mos for 5 years. So I’m getting first one today - but Pulmonologist upgraded it to a diagnostic reason and ordered a 3D MIPS -
I need to research what that actually means, but intent is to see if radiologist has any observations re diaphragm restriction… probably not likely and then I guess I’ll just go sit in my corner and pout. 🙄

I agree. And this isn’t the nerve pain I had soon after surgery. This is more vise grip like restriction

Smaller incisions should be easier to manage nerve pain wise.

Drats. I have three incisions but the largest is maybe 3”. And the pain on deep breaths has improved since the first few weeks, but s - l - o - w -l - y.

3 1/2 years & it just started to lessen but not gone. Everyone is different though.

But your pain ultimately resolved?