After having 3 collapses within 2months of feb and march, had vats pleurodesis with talc and wedge resection. Its been about 4 months post op and still a portion of my left chest and upper portion of my abdomen is completly numb. I think the nerves were severed during surgery because my abdominal muscle wont or cant grow back even if i try and workout this part of my muscle.
Also the left side of my ribs feels like there is a vice or a seatbelt putting pressure and it feels really tight.
Does anyone else have the same or similar symptoms after surgery?
That tight feeling will subside but it takes time, the nerve pain should also improve however full normal nerve sensations may never return, it has been 4 years for me and I still have numbness in/on the area, you get use to it and it becomes the new normal. That seatbelt feeling is caused from the lung literally being glued to the chest wall when it use to move much more freely, it is a lot at first and I know how hard it is to cope but it will improve, lots of follow up with your doctor and if things just dont seem/feel right trust your gut and go to your dr or ER if it is really bad.
I had a vats operation(removal of the Pleura) 1 1/2 years ago. Because they went theough the ribs and cut some intercoastal nerves in this area i have exactly the same symptoms. I've been reading these comments for almost that amount of time hoping to see another person with these symptoms. My operation was on the right lung so my tight chest above the nipple area all the way to my right armpit has been numb. It maybe has 5-10% more feeling than after the operation and the top of my abdomin is also a bit numb but sort of hurts. Obviously sitting for a long period and especially driving due to the seat belt is bareable but uncomfortable. I was on Lyrica (pain blocking medication often given for Epilepsy) because of electric shocks under my armpit all the way to my chest. The doctors almost dismissed my symptoms at the hospital to later read on the internet that this happens to 30% of patients. Let me know if you need more info or support. Good luck
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During hospitalization, It was the same with pain killers but I had two drainage catheters at the same time for 8 and the second removed the tenth day. This had increased the chances of neuropathic pain . during recovery period it was very very painful at first but then the pain decreased within two weeks and after a month neuropathic pain started
Thanks for starting this thread; hope things are better for you. Strangely reassuring hearing others are in similar conditions so I don't expect it to go overnight, feel like I'm pestering the doctors! I'm olny 11 weeks after bullectomy/pleurectomy and pain changed to more of a burning under my last rib which has swollen quite alot - doctors say it's where muscles relaxed due to the op and the pressure from inside is making it bulge. Was obviously quite concerned with this so have been pushing for a scan of some sort to check it out but after a second opinion they say it's not worthwhile. Also some nerve damage; was concerned with the pregabalin so they have given me amitriptyline which I'm slightly more comfortable with.
Jenny's comment about the seatbelt feeling due to the lung being stuck is interesting; can any type of physical movement cause it to pull away? Would be good to know if their is any way of reducing the risk of further problems.
I had my VATS surgery about a year and a half ago and I still have the tight belt feeling around my chest . Some days it's tighter than others and I was just wondering if this could also be infection because sometimes when I take an anabiotic the tightness goes away. They tell me it's nerve damage . Does anyone know if there is any procedures out there that one can get for this kind of tightness after surgery if it's nerve damage. It feels like a belt squeezing you and it is hard to breathe at times.
I am so glad you started this thread. I had a thoracic laminectomy, discectomy in 2012, I to have that numbness on my left side just below my breast. Every now and again I get an itchy tingling sensation, I scratch and can't feel it. The doctors have no idea what to do for me. I'm going crazy trying to scratch . I was told the numbness would go away in a year, 5 years later I am still waiting
I’ve also had a Vats done on my right lung over 2 years ago. Many have the same procedure but with a lot of different symptoms and complications. I also have numbness between my armpit and nipple area as well as my lung sticking to my chest wall. That feeling of wanting to expand my chest to unstick it. This is always the case when driving as my body is more collapsed during that activity. I have a TENS machine but have not really used it. I have put in my mind that this will be my life from now on. It’s basic discomfort not so much pain. Good luck and keep sharing your experience. This is a great place to share. Cheers. Dan
I have had a VATS over 2 years ago and have the exact same symptoms. Numbness from my right armpit to my chest nipple area and my abdomen is numb but also hurts more right after I have eaten. My thinking is that we feel the food going through the intestines more because it’s somewhat numb. And yes, the numbness is causes from going through the ribs where the intercostal nerves have been cut and have not reconnected. I was also on Lyrica because I was getting electric shock attacks right after my operation. Anyways, I doubt all this will get back to normal. I’ve embraced this and moving forward but it sucks. Good luck and keep sharing here. It’s a fluck that I found this place and discovered I was not alone. Cheers. Dan
Hi judy had vats 14 days ago. It hurts. I have dr apt which is my post op follow up. I had done on right lung. Langerhans disease. My breast feels like they dug in it,and where chest tube was aches like broken ribs. Still on pain meds but they are not effective unless i take 2. I can take 1-2 every 4-6 hrs for severe pain. I manage up to 6hrs in between doses. Thanks to heroin epidemic I think this will be it for pain meds. Any suggestions on what to ask dr for? I see Lyrica? Any advice? I am so uncomfortable,anxious,blood pressure problems which i think is from the pain. I can't imagine it getting worse,but at night I just can't handle it. Getting only about 4 hrs sleep per night and up pacing,praying and wishing i never had done it.
Hi Dan...same just awful pain from nipple area to back. I don't know how to put in words. Had 2 weeks ago. Post op visit tomorrow. I am loss of words. Had awful nursing care,discharged 4 days 1 day after chest tube pulled,live alone and without help. The little bit of hands on help i got was aThanksgiving meal. Thankful. Watching news writing this and feel terrible complaining while such awful things on news. I thankful to fluffy kitty for starting this thread. Any suggestions ? Thanks
Did the lyrica help? Thank you for stating its nerve pain. I felt like whats this now,when i thought it was getting better it just hit a different type of pain.
Only 14 days from your surgery, that's really soon so your pain is probably pretty bad right now and it will be like that for a couple months maybe six months but eventually it'll get better I took strong meds in the beginning which helped and then they decreased them. It got a little more tolerable after about six months but I still have a lot of problems in the chest area with the tightness and feeling like I have an infection. I have to take anabiotic's and prednisone.
Its a rough surgery and it takes a long time to heal. I hope it gets better for you. I still have a hard time breathing.
Thanks so much for starting this thread - everytime you try and talk to someone who hasn't experienced this, they don't seem to know what to say.
I am 4 years after having a VATS bullectomy and Pleurectomy on both lungs. I had around 7 collapses before having this from the ages of 15 - 26, about to turn 30 next year and really hoping I never have to experience anything like this again but I am always having aches and pains, numbness/tightness at the bottom of my right rub and I am currently sat with pains in my back, hoping its not what I think it is and that its just something I have to deal with. Even 4 years on.
My pleurectomy was done four and a half months ago. I havee the same pain and discomfort everyone is describing but it’s getting better very slowly. I take three 300 mg gabapantin a day and that helps a lot. My wife massages the area from my breast to my back and along the rib cage every night with vitamin E oil. This seems to help. I also do a stretching exercise like making snow angels standing up straight against the wall or lying on the floor.