What physio after lobectomy?

Hi DWS

I too had a right upper lobectomy with a top right rib removal. I have found since that I have lost some sensation down that side and I cannot put my hand up high anymore or reach anywhere near as far up my back.

I was quite sore for at least a month or two, but that should be getting better. Are you on any pain relief at all? 

It is best to ask your team for guidance on what you should be doing/not doing towards rehabilitation as they will know the ins and outs of your case and none of us are medical.

I don't think you should reach the point of feeling very ill before stopping however. They usually say to gently increase your activity, whilst listening to your body and if it needs rest, then to rest. 

Maybe best to contact your GP or lung nurse on your thoughts for guidance.

I sore a physio but through my local hospice and it does help me, but we are all different.

There is also an ask an expert forum on here you could post your question too or phone the helpline on 0800 808 00 00.

I hope this helps a little.

Hi Dave
Good to read that you are theoretically cancer free.
I had a left upper lobectomy in Nov 18 - keyhole which makes a difference re recovery. The physio came to the ward before I was released but was happy to seeI was doing some deep breathing exercises and stretching my arms in and out in front of me in time with my breathing. Takes a bit of remembering but feel any pain had cleared up by the time I started adjuvant chemo in Jan 19. I have aches
and pains in various parts of my body now and report them to my oncologist but he is not concerned so I try not to be either.
You don't say if you are heading for chemo or not. If you are you could raise any concerns with your team. If you are not
perhaps you could speak with your GP. Both my oncologist and GP tend to say 'everyone is different'. That is so true, we
are all different and re-act and recover in different ways with different time scales but it is worth approaching team or
GP to help allay any of your concerns. Keep doing what you enjoy but perhaps not to the point of pain. I am over one year
since op and still cannot cycle but I walk, dance and practice yoga as they all bring me joy. On Sunday I did
Day 1 of Couch to 5K but it would have looked very strange slow motion to any onlookers. Be kind to yourself.

Ina Vest 

It is so kind of you to reply Ina, thank you.

I am lucky enough not to need adjuvant which is a very positive thing of course, but the disadvantage is that I don't have a team - I left the hospital after four days and that is pretty much that.  At five months post op my wounds are still very delicate and I could not contemplate yoga, yet i was pretty strong and fit before the op - running, pilates.  I have become ambidextrous but getting on with life is a painful experience, I even have to remember which hand to use to lift the kettle.

I guess that is just the way it is.  Very reassuring to have your kind words and to compare progress.

Dave

Great to meet you Gina, thank you for replying.

I kept my ribs - keyhole for me, although pretty big keys fi you ask me - and at five months post op my wounds are still very delicate. I was pretty strong and fit before the op - running, pilates.  I will try to source a specialist physio.

I try to stay off pain relief now, cocodamol gets me to sleep and I have a small stash of oxycodone for when i really screw up, which is about once every three weeks.

 Very reassuring to have your kind words and Inas'.  Would you mind if I compare progress with you occasionally, I think it will help my mental health if not my physical?

Dave

It does sound sore Dave, I do think seeking help from a GP or physio will do you good. Just ensure the physio is used to dealing with cancer patients.

Good to hear and of course, post anytime you have a concern or question, or you just want to chat. It definitely does help. Also if you click on people's names at the top of the box above their reply it will take you to their profile. Quite often people fill these in with a brief time line of what's happened since having been diagnosed with cancer. This also gave me a lot of hope, realising just how long some of us have been knocking about here.

Always nice to have another voice.

Take care Dave

Quick update.  Saw the surgeon.  Everything is healing at roughly a sensible rate but the pain is because my intercostal nerve got affected during the operation, so I have intercostal neuralgia. 

The neuropathic meds which kill that pain also put you to sleep, certainly for the first weeks, and I can't function like that, hence I will grit my teeth and wait for it to get better - estimates being 6 months to two years.  Fingers crossed for the six months.

Dave

Hi Dave

I guess now you have a reason for the pain, whilst it doesn't help with the pain, it may have put your mind at ease a little? I do hope so. Lets hope it is the 6 months for you.

I hope otherwise you are doing ok and managing to do stuff to make you smile.

Hi Dave, Glad you have an answer about what is causing the pain and I do hope it will ease long before the two years and hopefully before six months.  Good that surgeon is happy with your progress.  I'll post when I have my next check up, April sometime, and will follow you posts here as would be interested re your progress.  I've just had a camping (in a campervan) holiday on Dartmoor and managed to walk the moors almost everyday although that meant bedtime was brought forward to 8pm ish.  This time last year I was having chemo so feel very very lucky that I was able to enjoy this week.  Not sure I will ever have the stamina I had before all this happened but it is more than I imagined when I was first diagnosed.  Don't push yourself too hard but do have fun when you can.

Ina Vest

Hi Dave 

I had same surgery as you but on my left lung and similar experiences of no real follow up as “they got it all” and obviously coronavirus has stopped so many things. I too was struggling along with this pain which turns out to be intercostal neuralgia. GP is changing meds to see if it helps to improve and is also giving me chilli cream to apply so will see how that goes. He also mentioned using a tens machine and wondered if you had tried that at all?  Had my annual check up with the surgical registrar and they seem to be happy with everything from their point of view and just said to speak to GP about pain

Hi Tracey

I thought I would just let you know that this post is from over a year ago, and Dave  hasn’t been back on the group since his post, so you probably won’t get a reply here.

You can start your own thread by using the + or New  (depending which device you are on ) at the top right hand corner over the page. 

Glad to see that your annual checkup went well. Hope you manage to get the pain under control. 

Take care