hope you all have a happy sunday! My mom has been having a bit of back pain after her lobectomy. Is it normal? Not bad back pain, but after she walks and stands up the whole day for a long time, her back starts hurting a bit.
Has been about a month since surgery. Her bed is also really uncomfortable so she doesn't sleep well at night and maybe that is why. I always panic for any minor pain haha sorry.
But has anyone had this type of pain after thoracotomy or just lung surgery in general?
My VATs thorachotomy was done in 2011. I still have pain. She should mention it to her primary care physician. It may be unrelated to the cancer or her kidney disease.
When someone has a cancer diagnosis it is easy and very normal to be afraid that any ache, pain or headache is related. Fortunately they are not. Her pain could have many different causes so be kind to yourself.
I had a pluerex catheter and chest tube-not even this major surgery. I was on a pain patch for more than a year. She should talk to her doctor about the pain.
Hi Jane, back aches and pains are to expected . They will get better over time. Just make sure you continue to keep moving . You also may want to sleep with your upper torso in a more erect position by raising the head of your bed, using pillows , or by sleeping in a recliner. All Best Wishes, judg69
sorry to hear about your mum's pain. One aspect I found was that if I tried to lie flat too soon, it was painful so slept propped up with pillows whilst the wound healed. I had open surgery (not keyhole) in Dec 2010 and was back at work and swimming by the end of March 2011. I came off painkillers too soon (fearing addiction) but followed surgeon's advice to keep moving at the earliest opportunity and walked a little further each day (even if now the same route to the postbox takes me 5 minutes each way, just after surgery it took about 40 with several stops too). The key is not to overdo any aspect - i.e. lying around too much, sitting in one position too much, standing all the time. You mention she is up on her feet all day - that may be part of the problem - and she needs to vary her positions. Although it seems counter-intuitive, resting a bad back is not good - keeping active is now considered the way for so many aches and pains (and mood) to recover. It should get easier - worth investing in a new bed if possible as sleep and quality sleep at that is so related to quality of life and recovery. hope she feels better soon.
Hey Janette, thanks for replying! My mom also stopped the painkillers soon. She had open surgery as well so I can imagine. Yeah I totally agree with you. She would lay down alot for the first weeks. Now she stands too much haha. Definetely needs a balance. And she is also sleeping in my siblings bunk beds type of mattresses since we took out our old one. We are currently looking for a comfortable one of course. Hope you have a great rest of your day!
Where on her back? I had some discomfort on the left back where surgery was done. Once in a great while it still bothers me. Other than that everything is good.
Just a thought, since I'm only 4 weeks from my own thoracotomy lobectomy: I find that I'm slouching a lot, and so my back hurts too. I need to keep reminding myself to straighten up, and that helps.
I do agree with Janette, though... investing in a good bed/mattress might be the best thing you can do for her right now.
Good pillows to prop you up may help. My friend who was in a carcrash many years ago used her compensation money to invest in one of those split mattress beds that recline/raise and said it was well worth the money. Having invested in a memory foam bed/mattress of the same make, wish I'd done the same given the amount of chest infections I've had over the years as it would be easier than propping myself up with pillows! a nurse at the walk in centre told me off for coming off painkillers and explained the need to take two different types - one to remain in the bloodstream and one for quicker relief to manage the pain properly. Wish I'd had the advice at the time as I saw when the wound started opening up a month after surgery when I was already off painkillers! Reacted badly to morphine post surgery so unable to use the pump device I was given hence coming off too soon. Having had open surgery, there will be a lot going on inside her body to heal muscles, ribs and nerves that would have been cut or disturbed during the process as well as the visible wound having to heal on the outside. We often underestimate what our body has gone through and think we can do what we used to - patience is important. If it's any consolation I recovered my pre-op fitness and improved it significantly within a couple of years with regular swimming, having been told by my surgeon that recovery of lung function was up to me - if I sat around and didn't exert the lung, it would remain less than optimal but if I 'tested' it with activity/exercise, it would expand and whilst never completely filling the space left, it would be close but have a thinner surface area (like a balloon). Hope she finds some relief soon - sounds as if she's trying to do too much too soon. I was told that average recovery was 3 months and for some 6 months with open surgery so only a month out, feeling below par is normal. There is useful information on Roy Castle lung cancer website under 'information' 'lung cancer treatment' 'surgery' my lung surgery booklet giving suggested milestones for recovery that may help you both. good luck x
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