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

@heidimassey Good morning. I had exactly the same pains and I think a lot of others have experienced the same. Mine was VATS of upper left lobe. It does get better! It takes a while, and usually it is from the nerve “waking up”. Are you able to take 800 mg ibuprofen and Maybe Tylenol? The ibuprofen helped me more than anything. Good that you are walking!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Just be careful not to lift or twist. 7 weeks is still pretty fresh from this surgery. Take it slow! Cindy

@cmcguire10
Thank you for your reply. I may try stopping the celebrex and starting Motrin. I just thought that it was a 6-8 week recovery so I was expecting to be back to normal now.

I am eight weeks post op and the pain is gone. I did not take any pain pills at home after surgery. I did daily arm stretching exercises my physical therapist gave me, and stayed busy with projects. My brain started filtering out the pain. I noticed the pain more when I was sedentary. I resumed my normal 4-5 mile indoor jog at four weeks. The 600 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid may have helped speed up the nerve healing.

I am about twelve weeks out and still having discomfort. It takes time, but it seems to be subsiding from what it used to be. I like the stretching exercises. Thank you. I keep busy and notice it more when sedentary, too.

What kind of stretching exercises do you do? I haven't been given anything to do except for walking. I do get out and do my normal routine but I just hurt more in the afternoon and night. Its so hard to ride in the car with all the movement and bouncing.

I have a question. I had a lobectomy on my left upper lung February 2024. I started getting serious pain by the incision sites, my upper back my chest and my side and my lower back three doctors at the hospital I go to told me it was nerve pain. I asked five months later you get the pain? I didn’t have this pain when I first had the surgery. It would’ve been a problem because I had a cough for three months day and night and now if I cough sneeze, yawn I’m in severe pain. The pain is constant for hours then it might go away for an hour feels like somebody stabbing me in my back. I’m just wondering is this normal to have this five months later and everything I’m reading says it can last for a years. I asked the doctors could cancer have spread. They said I wouldn’t have pain, but I don’t know. I’m getting really discouraged. I take Tylenol over-the-counter and a muscle relaxer for my back non-narcotic, it’s not a controlled substance
It’s called Robaxin is the brand name. Methocarbamol is the generic. I’m in so much pain when I’m sleeping. I just can’t believe this. I had no clue this was going to happen. Today I didn’t take any medication. I’m just dealing with the pain. The pain management doctor gave me gabapentin three days ago. I started it. That drug was offered to me 30 years ago for restless leg syndrome. I never wanted to take it. Now for this nerve problem if that’s what it is, I’m taking it. I also had a nerve block six weeks ago. It didn’t help my concern is is this from nerve damage is that what it is or could it be something more serious? Even my side hurts. I had robotic surgery. I’m going take Tylenol and the methocarbamol now because I had enough of pain for today.

@janet23
My pain started five months later, which is scaring me. Why five months later. Doctors tell me that can happen. I wonder if that’s possible five months later.

@heidimassey,
Ask your primary care physician to refer you to physical therapy (PT). I highly recommend going to a large university teaching hospital with therapists trained to treat post-lobectomy patients. The therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and provide you with personalized exercises tailored to your needs. I personally prefer women physical therapists who have a gentle approach.

I decided not to take pain pills after my second thoracic surgery. I focused on gentle stretching exercises, initially sitting in a chair and holding a cane to guide the gentle movement. My PT added light hand weights and bands after six weeks. Now I am back to my regular exercise routine.

My brain has adapted to the low-level pain I have only when I think about it. I also have peripheral neuropathy pain and I take 600 mg of Alpha Lipoic acid (a supplement) that was recommended by my Neurologist to try.

I am 72 years old and I have been seeing a physical therapist for 3-4 years for various problems - back pain, balance issues, shoulder pain, and pain after my two thoracic surgeries. I rate my overall body pain at a 1-2 pain level, and I am now in great shape for my age, thanks to all the PT help. The pain does not interfere with doing the day to day activities I enjoy.

Medicare has covered all my PT visits. I now go every 2-3 months.

I hope you feel better soon. It will take time; be patient. The body can heal.

Thank you so much! I will talk with my primary physician and see about getting into PT.