Pain after robotic assisted lobectomy: How long does it last?

Thank you. I am 58 years young. I figured on probably a few naps during the day, but I do want to make sure I get up and walk a lot. It’s just good to read that most are saying they were doing pretty well afterward. I am doing lung exercises now, before I go in. I’m using a little breather called a lung expander, and have been walking briskly for at least a mile every night and running up and down a flight of stairs five times each day besides my regular up and down about 3-5 times for dog duty. Thank you again and I hope you continue to do well!

All surgery zaps energy and certainly this is no exception. I don’t live near a Mayo Clinic and I had a complication that required me to stay in the hospital several extra days. Our trip home was about 6 hours (plane and car) and I was exhausted from it. I napped or at least rested each day for several weeks, but also took walks and did social things most days. I don’t know how old you are, but I was in my mid-70s when I had my lung cancer surgery. Respect your doctors and your body and you should do well

Thank you! I’m trying to have a very positive outlook for this, but I just keep reading about the pain afterward. I just keep thinking that I’ll just try to keep walking as much as permissible, and listen to my dancing music and have the sun shining in my windows to keep me motivated. I know they say to listen to soothing music that relaxes you and calms you , but I prefer the other. Thank you for the good thoughts, and I hope you are good now. Did you have any PT for the nerve pain?

Thank you! I had a bi level neck fusion surgery in 2016 and stopped taking meds a couple days after getting home, so I’m hoping this will be about the same. Took 800 mg ibuprofen and was good with that. Yes still had nerve pain if I turned wrong or hit a bump when driving and had to wear the neck brace for about 3-4 months, including sleeping in it, so that is what I’m comparing this lung surgery to. I already planned on walking as soon as they let me. I KNOW that is always the best way to get healing. I’ve heard people are tired for weeks (exhausted) and I’m hoping that’s not the case. I’m always busy at home, like I don’t sit down, I know I will have to slow way down and not do some things for a while I’m just hoping it’s not a long drawn out process.

Hi. I had VAT lobectomy 2019 and a VAT wedge resection in 2021. I think your Segmentectomy takes more lung than wedge resection but less than a whole lobe.
Anyway, my lobectomy was overall a bit more painful. For both surgeries, the first day I was up and walking but very painful. Pain was less each day but then around day five, six, and seven it was worse and then improved gradually for the next many months. I was taking the max of Oxycodein, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen for the first few days and off the oxy in a week or so and off all pain meds in two weeks. Was back to most normal activities in 6 to 8 weeks. I still have a tiny bit of discomfort when taking a deep breath and some chest wall nerves are still tingly. Walk and exercise as much as your doctor allows and are able. I was too inactive for too long and had shortness of breath. In my opinion this had more to do with me being out of shape, than loss of lung function.
I hope this goes well for you and they can prescribe agreeable pain medications.
Good luck.

I quit the opioids almost immediately as it made me throw up and groggy. The nurses thought I should continue to take them to 'stay ahead of the pain'. I told me I could endure the pain easier than how I felt after taking the opioids. My surgery was on left lower lung. I was up and walking very soon - the next day. Moving is extremely important. I had a nerve pain for several months but it was OK with Tylenol (I can't take ibuprofen). And the nerve pain gradually dissipated.

I am due to have minimally invasive surgery in the 24th. I am having a segmentectomy of my left upper lung. Has anyone NOT taken the opioids after they get home and only taken 800mg ibuprofen? I ask because codein and those do not work on me and I’d rather stay off of that stuff. Is the pain the same if it’s a Lobectomy vs a Segmentectomy? How soon are you walking about? Any answers would be appreciated.
Thank you😀

So sorry for your pain, I wish I could tell you. I had my surgery 7 weeks ago and still have shooting, and very sharp pain all around my midriff, from the middle of my chest to my belly button, and also by my ribs and my back. 3 days ago it seemed to subside all of a sudden, but today it came back with a vengeance. I was told the other day I have pleural effusion, which with be drained at the end of the week. I’m hooding the fluid is causing some of the pain, so if anyone else know whether this pain eventually goes away, I would also be interested in hearing about it. Good luck to you. I hope we both get this pain under control. I’ve been living on ibuprofen (hate opioids)

I had a video assisted lobectomy in 2020, it was profound but would have been worse without the video involved. The problem I had was that they insert a tube in your chest post surgery and it comes out in about 3 days but for some reason my tube had to stay in for 3 weeks. As for my recovery it was slow but tolerable, I am 71 soon to be 72 amen. Last year they found another nodule that was cancer but they couldn’t do another lobectomy so they did a procedure called Micro Coil localization, a wire is put into the lung and through help from a computer they can locate the cancer and take it out in a wedge segment. This is a remarkable process with less pain afterwards, a huge difference from the first surgery. I’m due for another ct scan and worrying myself crazy. I was told that surgery is not going to be an option anymore so I will probably have to go for radiation treatment. I know my last treatment is relatively new and a great advancement in the battle against cancer and I hope this news will give others more hope with their fight, amen.

I am 3 weeks post-op. The pain is starting to be very manageable. Quit oxy a week ago. I have a periodic cough and a lot of phlegm. How long does that last? I still wake up at night. CBD helps with sleep.