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post thoracotomy pain
I had a thoracotomy on Dec. 20 to remove a tumor on the surface of my lung near my spine. Luckily, the tumor was benign. However, I'm still experiencing quite a bit of pain, especially near my shoulder blade and along the incision.
Currently, I'm taking Ultram 50 mg every 6 hours during the day. I'm scheduled to return to work a week from today, and I had hoped that I would be pain free by now. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon in mid March. When I went to see him 2 weeks ago, he said some people have pain for a longer period of time than others and we need to treat my pain until it subsides. That's when he gave me the perscription for Ultram.
I was wondering if anyone out there has had a thoracotomy and could let me know if it is atypical to have pain 6 weeks after surgery. I have read about post thoracotomy pain syndrome and I'm concerned that this is what I'm experiencing. I sure hope it will get better because I can't imagine having to live with this pain for the rest of my life! Any advice/information would be appreciated. I'm especially interested in advice about long term pain management after a thoracotomy. Thanks.
Currently, I'm taking Ultram 50 mg every 6 hours during the day. I'm scheduled to return to work a week from today, and I had hoped that I would be pain free by now. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon in mid March. When I went to see him 2 weeks ago, he said some people have pain for a longer period of time than others and we need to treat my pain until it subsides. That's when he gave me the perscription for Ultram.
I was wondering if anyone out there has had a thoracotomy and could let me know if it is atypical to have pain 6 weeks after surgery. I have read about post thoracotomy pain syndrome and I'm concerned that this is what I'm experiencing. I sure hope it will get better because I can't imagine having to live with this pain for the rest of my life! Any advice/information would be appreciated. I'm especially interested in advice about long term pain management after a thoracotomy. Thanks.
One day perfect health - I am 22 yr old male, next day spontaneous pneumothorax....go to ER get a chest tube that fails, get another chest tube after being admitted, lung expands to normal, health deteriorates, a week goes by...i am in ICU barely hanging on before they finally figure out a staph infection given to me by one of the chest tubes has been eating away at my chest wall and lung....but due to it being in an empyema normal antibiotics couldnt reach it and a emergency thoracotomy had to be done....5 chest tubes and a thoracotomy later I left the hospital after 3 weeks been on every pain medicine since....I suffer from post-thoracotomy pain syndrome as well!
To Vonni: its been 2 years since my surgery I was athletic, non-smoker non-drinker....best shape of my life never a health problem before, also have a high tolerance for pain and I still suffer from pain at high levels and see pain specialists all the time and am on a number of pain meds to get my pain down to a managable level. I must say I was compelled to see others out there going through similar issues with this procedure...as they dont really mention that it is rather common to have this with the thoracotomy....hang in there all!
To Vonni: its been 2 years since my surgery I was athletic, non-smoker non-drinker....best shape of my life never a health problem before, also have a high tolerance for pain and I still suffer from pain at high levels and see pain specialists all the time and am on a number of pain meds to get my pain down to a managable level. I must say I was compelled to see others out there going through similar issues with this procedure...as they dont really mention that it is rather common to have this with the thoracotomy....hang in there all!
I had a thorocotomy 5 months ago to remove a cyst in my esophogus (benign) and after the intial two weeks of taking 12 percocets a day I was down to what I thought was manageable pain. Went back to work even though I was not 100% pain free thinking that getting up and moving would work out the pain. Well, 3 months later the pain is exactly the same as it was the day I returned to work. The more activity I do the worse the pain is. Lying down stops the pain, but I can't do that during the day. No OTC pain relievers help, nor muscle relaxers. I'm only 45 and want to get more active, but I'm finding it difficult due to the pain.
What type of pain is everyone having? I have 5 different kinds of pain in different areas and want to know what is common:
1. Aching pain in my back over my shoulder and around my shoulder blade
2. Zapping pain along my front (not where the scar is - the scar is on my back (like electric shocks).
3. Numbness under my breast.
4. Aching, dull pain on my side and around the front under my breast (except where it is numb)
5. Pain throughout my breast on the side of the thorocotomy.
What type of pain is everyone having? I have 5 different kinds of pain in different areas and want to know what is common:
1. Aching pain in my back over my shoulder and around my shoulder blade
2. Zapping pain along my front (not where the scar is - the scar is on my back (like electric shocks).
3. Numbness under my breast.
4. Aching, dull pain on my side and around the front under my breast (except where it is numb)
5. Pain throughout my breast on the side of the thorocotomy.
1 Comments
I have all that same pain, sharpness, numbness, all of it.
Clarification: I did not go back to work after 2 weeks. I stopped taking the Percocets. I went back to work after 2 months.
Welcome to my world...it's not a very good world to be in but ...yeah read my above post in this thread to get a brief idea where I am coming from with the origin on my thoracotomy...anyways...as its been almost 2 years since mine and im 23 now....22 when it happened...and i am still in a lot of pain. Good news- it is nothing like it was 2 weeks post surgery nor is it close to where it was 3 months out. Obviously everyone is different but if youd like to compare to me here goes...as a note I seem to have a high tolerance for pain...
2 weeks out - Could barely move in so much pain. Tingling numbing pain throughout my chest and back. The worst feeling was someone simply running finger nails lightly down my chest (immense pain). (medicated with oxycodone ER and percocet same time medium doses for 1 month), hurt to wear a shirt or seatbelt, couldnt sleep from pain, etc. (not working but was a ft college student)
3 months out - Had been seeing a pain mgmt doctor for 2 months at this point...had a procedure called Radiofrequency Ablation of Intercostal Nerves....This made me feel about 30% reduction in pain....
1 year out - Had second Radiofrequency surgery and only about 10% reduction in pain....(meds included lidocane patch, lyrica (high dosages), celbrex)
2 years out - TIME has resolved about another 30% of the pain...leaving about 30% of the original pain I had....(meds include ultram er, ultracet and work very well for me)
As far as what type of pain still remains?
The tingling numbing pain went away after my procedure....everything else remains just at lower levels....Just looking at your list...
1. Yes definitely have this still...
2. I think this is part of the numbing pain I had that went away...scar on back as well...however most pain in front especially in the beginning...
3. gone now but def. had it back then
4. oh yeah still got this.
5. yep yep still got this...
Really cant think of any additional you pretty much covered it I will say though sleeping or "laying down" as you said didnt feel good at all... left side (surgery side) couldnt ever do, right side felt okay for set amount of time, back was mildly okay. The best position for me was sitting up hunched over shoulders pinched inwards hugging a pillow....
Obviously this was just me and we are two very different people but you seemed curious....and I dont blame you.
My best advice find a GOOD pain management specialist in your area. Be open to trying what they suggest (not just meds). Ive tried TENS, radiofrequency, accupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractor, and meds...I hate meds and am willing to do all the other **** to lower my meds at all costs... Good luck on finding what works for you.
2 weeks out - Could barely move in so much pain. Tingling numbing pain throughout my chest and back. The worst feeling was someone simply running finger nails lightly down my chest (immense pain). (medicated with oxycodone ER and percocet same time medium doses for 1 month), hurt to wear a shirt or seatbelt, couldnt sleep from pain, etc. (not working but was a ft college student)
3 months out - Had been seeing a pain mgmt doctor for 2 months at this point...had a procedure called Radiofrequency Ablation of Intercostal Nerves....This made me feel about 30% reduction in pain....
1 year out - Had second Radiofrequency surgery and only about 10% reduction in pain....(meds included lidocane patch, lyrica (high dosages), celbrex)
2 years out - TIME has resolved about another 30% of the pain...leaving about 30% of the original pain I had....(meds include ultram er, ultracet and work very well for me)
As far as what type of pain still remains?
The tingling numbing pain went away after my procedure....everything else remains just at lower levels....Just looking at your list...
1. Yes definitely have this still...
2. I think this is part of the numbing pain I had that went away...scar on back as well...however most pain in front especially in the beginning...
3. gone now but def. had it back then
4. oh yeah still got this.
5. yep yep still got this...
Really cant think of any additional you pretty much covered it I will say though sleeping or "laying down" as you said didnt feel good at all... left side (surgery side) couldnt ever do, right side felt okay for set amount of time, back was mildly okay. The best position for me was sitting up hunched over shoulders pinched inwards hugging a pillow....
Obviously this was just me and we are two very different people but you seemed curious....and I dont blame you.
My best advice find a GOOD pain management specialist in your area. Be open to trying what they suggest (not just meds). Ive tried TENS, radiofrequency, accupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractor, and meds...I hate meds and am willing to do all the other **** to lower my meds at all costs... Good luck on finding what works for you.
do any of you suffer pain in your chest/back after eating?whenever i eat i have to lay down due to increased pain.
I also had a thoracotomy after 5 or so pneumothoraces - also after a VATS pleurodesis procedure which was surprisingly worse from which to recover than the pleurectomy/thoracotomy. In my case, I found out I have a rare, uncureable lung disease (Lymphangioleiomyomatosis) which caused it - unfortunately, the blebs in my lung continue to pop and cause periodic small lung collapses. I try to just sit at home and see if they pass after the cumulative months in the hospital. I had the procedure on my left side and probably will have to eventually have it on my right though they are trying to avoid that in case of lung transplantation in the future.
Anyway, my thoracotomy was in March 2006 and I am still in pain. Between all of the various chest tubes (lost count of how many) and the two surgeries, I am certain there is nerve damage from all of the cutting, not to mention the subsequent small lung collapses. I was on morphine & dilaudid in the hospital and oxycontin & percocet afterwards. I had to taper off of it over time because I could not go to work all drugged up. I do suffer through every day and try to deal with lidoderm patches and other OTC analgesics such as ActivOn Backage, Salonpas Hot and Johnsons Back Plaster. I've also tried Advil, Percogesic, Doan's, etc. and get temporary relief from all of these. Deep tissue massage helped some but makes you sore for days afterward. I am going to try to find a good pain doctor to check out a couple of options....
Has anyone tried nerve blocks for this? Do those just numb the area or do they also affect your mind? Have they made you gain weight? Surgical options? I've heard of trying certain prescription medicines not all directly considered painkillers such as Neurontin, Dopamax/Topamax, Cymbalta, Lyrica, Keppra, Toradol & Celebrex that might help....all seem to have side effects worse than the pain itself when you search on the internet!
Either way, it's starting to hurt so bad I can't think at work, but if I don't work I don't have insurance to pay for all of this stuff...I
Anyway, my thoracotomy was in March 2006 and I am still in pain. Between all of the various chest tubes (lost count of how many) and the two surgeries, I am certain there is nerve damage from all of the cutting, not to mention the subsequent small lung collapses. I was on morphine & dilaudid in the hospital and oxycontin & percocet afterwards. I had to taper off of it over time because I could not go to work all drugged up. I do suffer through every day and try to deal with lidoderm patches and other OTC analgesics such as ActivOn Backage, Salonpas Hot and Johnsons Back Plaster. I've also tried Advil, Percogesic, Doan's, etc. and get temporary relief from all of these. Deep tissue massage helped some but makes you sore for days afterward. I am going to try to find a good pain doctor to check out a couple of options....
Has anyone tried nerve blocks for this? Do those just numb the area or do they also affect your mind? Have they made you gain weight? Surgical options? I've heard of trying certain prescription medicines not all directly considered painkillers such as Neurontin, Dopamax/Topamax, Cymbalta, Lyrica, Keppra, Toradol & Celebrex that might help....all seem to have side effects worse than the pain itself when you search on the internet!
Either way, it's starting to hurt so bad I can't think at work, but if I don't work I don't have insurance to pay for all of this stuff...I
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