Vat Assisted Lobectomy and muscle tightness

My VATS surgery was for a thoracotomy that got canceled when they went. An intercostal nerve was damaged and I experienced pain for several years. My pain was like a vise grip on my ribs or that I was wearing a bra 3 sizes too small.

I took gabapentin for about a year then tapered off because it made me sleepy. I just tolerated the pain. After a while it became intermittent. I couldn't tell you how long because it's been 15 years.

Hello @hille2
I’m sorry you are still experiencing this tightness after 8 months.
Must feel disheartening.
I’m almost at 6 months post RAT right middle lobectomy.
I’m having nerve pain yet and some numbness.
It is my understanding that nerve regeneration can take time as well muscle pain and issues due to the complex procedure.
I’m not taking gabapentin. I found that wearing sports style bras much bigger than my usual size in the band is very helpful.
I did see my Doctor who said my situation is typical.
I hoping you find relief soon !
Hugs 🤗 Daisy

I had a Video Assisited Thoracospin Surgery 2 years ago next month on my left lung and I am still experienceing left lung tightness when I exert myself. Work out the best I can now that I am on oxyegen 24/7 to keep my lung clear. MD is perscribing Dupexent to see if that will help the lung.

I am almost 8 mos out of a rt lower lobectomy, (Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery) and I am still experiencing nerve pain at the 4 robotic entries plus numbness and pain under my rt. breastbone. I am taking 400mgs gabapentin 3X's daily. I also still have tightness and pain while yawning or trying to draw larger breaths than normal. Perhaps bc of my age at 71 yrs, or having a difficult surgery, it is taking a longer time than normal. I am very curious about the new script called Dupexent and hope you can share your results once you have been on it for a while.

@donnademps Will do

@donnademps

I'm also 71 and maybe since we are older it takes longer to heal. I've been told by my doctor that this can take over a year to heal. From what I'm seeing from other patients' feedback is that this is not unusual and will take time to heal. I'm trying to be as active as possible (walking, golfing) but the tightness sometimes is exhausting.

I hope you feel better soon as well.

@daisydays

Daisy - thank you for your feedback. It's good to know I"m not alone. I hope you also recover soon. I agree about the sports bra!

Erica

I’m 25 days out from Lobectomy of lower left lobe. I’m 75 . Experiencing the same pain numbness, tingling, tightness, same trouble yawning, I also had some terrible stabbing pains that brought me to my knees. Has to take oxy but of course that caused constipation. Most of that pain is gone but the heaviness is always present. Hope we all get over this and write one day that we were pain free

Agree. I want to stay positive like you and hope that we will be symptom free in the near future.

@sullivan728
Post surgery I was unable to leave the hospital 8 mos ago bc I was unable to walk down the hallway due to my pain. Unfortunately, the only drug that got me out of bed and out of the hospital was gabapentin. I hate being on this drug due to the side effects weight gain, with memory, unable to explain exactly what I want. I have an appt with the pain management team associated with the Clinical Trial I'm in. I'm hoping they will be able to help manage my pain better without increasing the gabapentin.