Does anyone else have these issues?

[gloria R.]

I had bacterial  pnemonia last jan.of 2008.I had to have a left thoracotomy.No one told me that recovery from this surgery could be long and painful.I am a nurse but I never cared for a patient who had one.I dont remember learning about it in school.I have had a hip replacement,a c-section,and a hysterectomy pluse two knee surgies.I was ok after six weeks.this is different.After a year I have pain from my left shoulder to my left breast.The pain is in my upper back in the scapular region.I have a large lump of fiberous muscle tissue under my left breast.This tissue gets hard and at times I feel like there is a belt around my under my breast pulled to to max.I have burning and sharp pains at my ribs onleft side.At times my left breast is numb,sometimes it just hurts.I can not wear a bra because of the pain,and I hate to ware my seat belt in the car,but I did find a pillow that works by placing it in between the belt and me.It helps. My surgery.was done five hours away from my home,the doctor that did the surgery turned me over to my primary care doc.He does not know that much about it.Because of the extream pain he sent me to a pain doctor.They give me pain meds,but they dont know what else to do.I think that my ribs may be pinching a nerve.I think that this growth that gets hard and tightens so freg.during the day needs to be removed.Something does not feel right inside.
I take oxycontin and muscle relaxers.This helps me live some ,but I am not pain free.i have reqested to see another pain clinic.Maybe they can fix what is wrong.If not I hate to think I will have to live like this for a long time.
Thanks Gloria  

[lyerhc]

It took me about a year after mine, ask your surgeon or better yet someone at the pain clinic the surgeon will probably say "thats not my area" if I had a  dollar for every time a doctor said to me "Its not my area" I would be a rich women anyways there are different kinds of pain and therefore different kinds of pain medication. Try looking at the pain tracker on this website to get a exact description of the type of pain you are having ex: burning, stinging, stabbing,sharp because what they will prescribe for nerve pain is totally different than sharp stabbing pain. There are many new meds out there like lyrica flexeril and other meds that are  not pain pills narrow  down your pain talk to your doctor and between the two of you can figure out what will be the best med to HELP
you and your problem  Good Luck and let me know what happens

[firemedic330]

My surgery was 05/02/08 to remove carcinoid tumor, I lost my entire left upper lung lobe.
I understand wlhat you are going thru!  Sometimes it feels like a band around my chest.  And like you, I still can't wear a bra (tried again last week, made it 15 minutes).  Compression tops work for me.
My surgeon did not want to give me pain meds more than 3 months post-op, he wanted me to see a pain clinic.  The pc talked about nerve blocks that may or may not work.  No thank you!
As a paramedic, I see my share of patients dependent on narcotics, and it scares me to death to be like that!  
I use Advil on a daily basis, with Norco or Skelaxin for breakthru.  I don't like taking the Advil everyday, but at least it takes the edge off so I can do my job.
The surgeon's PA told me nerve damage "may go away in a year or so", or it may be here forever.  Even they don't seem to know a lot about it.
It is frustrating.
I wish they would have told me about the after effects of the surgery 'before' I had it!
Best of luck to you.

[Mollyrae]

Hi Gloria and welcome to MedHelp Pain Forum.

I am sorry to hear of the constant pain that you suffer from. I realize that the medical facility is 5 hours away but is it possible to make an appt. With the Surgeon or Doctor who did the surgery and have them explore your options as to why you've had so much pain after the surgery??
As you might well know, the most qualified Doctor to see would be the one who did the surgery.
It also sounds like you need a pain med increase. With this I mean a long acting along with a breakthrough med. I feel that this would control your pain better.
With you being a nurse, I'm sure that you have pretty good knowlage of some awsome Doc's that might be able to help.
Be your own advocate and keep on top of your situation. Keep nagging those Doctors until you get a satisfactory answer.
Sorry I don't have any further advise for you. Please take care and good luck in the future. Keep me posted.
Mollyrae