Scar pain

[Colin57]

Just a quick line to see if anyone has had any experience of this. some of you will have read in my past posts that I had a left lung pneumonectomy last july as a result of a squamous carcinoma.

I have recently started to experience pain in the vicinity of my scar. It is a new winge and I’m taking codeine for pain relief. Finding it particularly painful in the evenings.

Probably just being a woos again! I wonder if perhaps it nerves coming back to life?

[jillygirl]

Hi Colin. I had a few stabbing pains on and off for about 2 years after my pneumonectomy. Then they suddenly settled. Like you say I think its the nerves repairing.

[Colin57 in reply to jillygirl]

Thanks for your response. Very kind.

[SusieJo1948]

Colin you said July this was done. Which has been nine months. Did you have alot pain at first. I have had adenocarcinoma stage three in lympnodes.They removed the upper left lobe didn't do radiation I felt my body was too weak. I did six months of chemo and I am a six year lung cancer survivor. The reason I ask is The lobectomy.. I had three years of awful pain. Some had less others had a lot. If this is just starting to hurt I think you should have tests run to make sure it's scar tissue. I'm not a Dr. But I think you need to make sure.. There are others on here and there a wonderful. They can help more.it's a wonderful community. Let us know what's going on. Love susiejo1948

[Colin57 in reply to SusieJo1948]

Thanks for your reply mine was stage 3 squamous. I was very Lucky until recently. And now the pain has started with a vengeance on and around the scar. I will get this checked out. Thanks.

[palooka]

Hi Colin I experienced “scar” pain for several years after having surgery to remove half of my left lung. For years after it would come and go. My wife called it my war wound. Mine was Squamous cell like yours. Its now 30 years since.Good luck.

[Colin57 in reply to palooka]

Thanks mine was caused by a Great White! “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story “

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Colin,

People experience different types of pain. It is often helpful to describe the type of your pain to your GP as this gives clues as to it's cause.It may be that a different type of medication may be required if it is nerve pain you are experiencing. Describing if it is sharp, shooting,radiating or you are experiencing pins and needles is worth mentioning. Also, mentioning how long it lasts for,what makes it worse or better and whether or not the pain affects your sleep.

It may be that your GP reviews your pain medication if the codeine isn't relieving your pain.

Kind regards,

All the team at Roy Castle Helpline.

[Colin57]

Many thanks I am seeing my GP on Friday and shall make good use of your advice.

[JanetteR57]

I had left upper lobectomy in Dec 2010 (open surgery) and occasionally especially if I bend down or twist to the right, I have a sudden sharp pain. I have on occasions when in hospital with chest infections also had spasmic pain (worse than cramp) just below left boob around ribs, again in line with wound but clinicians have always dismissed it as 'nerve damage or muscular-skeletal pain and nothing to worry about'. Good to get it checked it out - as other advice states, worth noting not only what type of pain it is but how long it lasts and whether anything different triggers it - e.g. lying on a particular side, twisting/bending etc. good luck.

[Tina60]

Hi

I had op 4 years ago, sometimes get discomfort around the small scars and on times feels like there is staples pulling inside. it depends on what I have been doing I guess and what has been pulled by what I have been doing.