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Post Thoracotomy Pain

Hello,
I had a thoracotomy ten months ago, removing the lower and middle lobe of my right lung, due to a typica carcinoid tumor (malignant). I was 37 at the time, never smoked and very healthy/active. The tumor was found early and staged 1B, all margins and lymph nodes clear.
Recovery has been an up and down hill road and currently I'm experiencing more pain than I was a month ago. When this happens, my mind jumps to fears of recurrence which I know is not very common with carcinoid a found so early.
The pain or soreness wraps around my rib cage and trickles down to the small of my back causing a lot of soreness. Sometimes my arms get numb and tingly as well. I'm not on any medications except for OTC Tylenol or Advil.
Im a 38 year old female and very slender, which I was told makes me more likely to experience post thoracotomy pain?
I get frustrated that I'm still dealing with pain almost a year later. Is this normal? I would just like to get back to life and be able to be active again without hurting worse afterwards.
Thanks for any response :)
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17764482 tn?1459876567
Thank you for this post!  My husband had mitral valve replacement surgery a year and a half ago and is still having issues with  sternum pain and discomfort.  Several doctors have said to him that there is no way he could still be having pain making him feel terrible.  His MD is giving him a few Vicodin for nights that he has trouble sleeping because for him it is really uncomfortable lying flat.  Showed him this post and it just made him feel better.  Then I did some searching and there is a thing called Post Thoracotomy Syndrome.  The article I read states that up to 50 percent of people who have had a Thoracotomy have some type of issue with pain and discomfort afterward with some 30 percent having chronic pain for years.  Hopefully that will not be the case for him.  I have been reading here for a few years because I have had dibilitating migraines for 22 years and am in PM.  I get so much great info from this site and I just wanted to say how much I appreciate all of you.  Tuck, you are always there for everyone when they need you.  Bless you!  I will post about my own situation when I can.  Again, thank you!
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Hello Bsmithtx,

Please excuse my tardy reply. I've been absent for a bit with a nasty personal illness. I welcome you to our Pain Management Forum. We understand the issues surrounding chronic pain and it;s management - especially in this - you have no pain - medical climate.

I don't believe it's "normal" to have pain - produced by anything for a year. Indeed no one should have to experience pro-longed, untreated chronic pain. I think it is inhumane. But that's my opinion and not all medical providers will agree with me.

Have you requested a referral to a good PMP (Pain Management Physician)? It may be time to go that route. Obviously I know nothing about you - and I am far from a medical provider - so these comments are just that - comments. That said I am wondering if your thoracic pain may be due to inflammation? A good PMP can look into the reasons. You may respond well to some steroid injections - or even some oral steroids to reduce the inflammation. If that's in your best interest given your HX (history). Once the inflammation is under control you may do well on an oral anti inflammatory.  

Your pain may be due to the "rearranging" that was certainly done of your soft tissues during surgery including the nerves, ligaments and so forth. Whatever the cause it needs to be addressed.  

I encourage you to consult your PCP and insist on answers. Of course you're fearful of re-occurrence. As you said that's common. The fear you live with could be minimized if your pain was better controlled.  When we have pain we always think the worse - especially when it has no true DX (diagnosis). So please be the squeaky wheel - be assertive - because that's the wheel that gets the grease.

I hope you'll let us know how you are doing. I'll look forward to hearing more from you. You deserve to be more comfortable.

My Best to You,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
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