Approximately 6 weeks ago my husband had VATS surgery for a massive locuated left lung effusion. All testing came back with no evidence of cancer. The surgeon said it was caused by an infection. Since the surgery he is experiencing pain on the left side, directly under the left breast area. When he coughs, sneezes or lifts anything with his left hand, there is discomfort and pain, in addition to a tightness that is felt all the time. The response from all of his doctors is "well you had surgery 6 weeks ago, you should feel pain". Unfortunately pain medication such as Advil, Aleve, etc have not really helped. I am wondering if this is something that will go away with additional time or is there further reason to be concerned? He is 51 years old and other than this surgery was in very good health. He has become quite depressed waiting around to feel better.
Loculated Pleural Effusion - 1252570
lsilverman2
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Reply # - January 14, 2013, 11:16 AM
Reply To: Loculated Pleural Effusion
Hi, I'm sorry your husband is going through these pain issues. Since this website focuses on treatment of cancers we won't be able to give expert input to your question. However like I'm sure you've assumed many of our members and our doctors' patients have gone through thoracic surgeries that have left them with pain months after. Like your doctors are suggesting it is even common. My husband have a full open thoracotomy almost 4 years ago and has only recently noted less numbing pain between the point of incision and the much lower chest tubes.
Doctors have a difficult time dealing with some of these issues. My husband took Pregabalin (lyrica) that helped significantly with his pain. The precursor and still widely used and much cheaper drug to lyrica is Gabapentin (Neurontin). But understand there is often needed careful planning and mustering through a slow and long titration off the drug.
I hope your husband finds a way to keep the pain from taking over. But know that time is what is needed to heal after surgery.
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - January 14, 2013, 01:01 PM
Reply To: Loculated Pleural Effusion
Why not have him referred to a pain clinic? Take care, Judy
Reply # - January 14, 2013, 05:37 PM
Reply To: Loculated Pleural Effusion
What does his Dr. say? Has he run this by him? Sorry maybe I'm a hyprocondriacte, but especially after a surgery in that are I'd be calling the office to see if they needed me to come in and get it checked out! I know we already spend enough time in the Dr's offices but I'd be worried! Good luck finding out whats up!
Reply # - January 14, 2013, 09:56 PM
Reply To: Loculated Pleural Effusion
Hi there. . .From what we were told when my Mom had surgery, the pleura (the lining of the lung) has A LOT of nerve endings in it. So, it will take some time for these nerves to calm down and regenerate, and for his pain to abate. If the pain is really really bothersome to him, he should ask for stronger pain meds than the over-the-counter stuff they have recommended to him. . .
But, YAYYYYYY on the cancer-front - - or rather, on the "no-cancer" front!
Laya
Reply # - January 14, 2013, 10:39 PM
Reply To: Loculated Pleural Effusion
Most people will show improvement, and 6 weeks isn't the plateau in how good people will feel after surgery. A minority of people will have significant discomfort on a pretty chronic basis after lung surgery. This is called a "post-thoracotomy syndrome", and I have a handful of patients out of the probably 150-200 post-surgical patients I've followed over the past several years who experience this.
I hope he's feeling better soon.
-Dr. West