It’s been 11 days since my VATS pleurodesis surgery. My skin has a burning sensation. Medications like oxycodone, Tylenol, and Gabapentin aren’t providing any relief. The ache is persistent throughout the day and night, ranking about a 3 or 4 on the pain scale. For those who experienced nerve issues, how long did it take to subside? I’m starting to worry.
I am currently three weeks post-VATS/pleurodesis and I’m still experiencing occasional sharp ‘zings’ and some numbness. Nerve regeneration is a very slow process—moving at just 1mm daily (about an inch every month)—so at the 11-day mark, your system is right in the middle of that electrical ‘re-connecting’ stage. Because the medication isn’t working, I’ve had some luck with sensory re-education: after your wounds heal, try gently tapping the area and using various textures, such as a soft cotton cloth or a coarser towel. This helps ‘teach’ the nerves to tell the difference between a regular touch and pain, which might lower the intensity of that burning feeling. Stay strong.
I’m a little over three weeks past my mechanical pleurodesis and I still have some soreness along with stinging sensations and numbness.
It has been three months for me and the symptoms persist. The discomfort is most intense around the three spots where the chest tubes were, plus I get occasional hot jolts.
It varies for everyone. I’m more than a year post-op and still experience pain every day. A lot of people in this situation do. The sensation can also change from burning to feelings of crushing, pulling, or muscle spasms. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which affects my recovery and might not apply to you. Managing nerve pain is quite tough since most drugs aren’t very effective against it.
I’m six years post-surgery. I went through the same thing and it seemed to take an eternity for the pain to become manageable. I attempted all the remedies you listed and more. In the end, only time and avoiding contact with the area—either by going shirtless or using the softest materials possible—really helped. Some areas still feel odd, but the actual pain has gone away.
Update: It’s now 16 days since my VATS pleurodesis. The nerve pain is decreasing, though I’ve increased my oxycodone slightly, cut my Tylenol in half, and reduced my Gabapentin a bit. Gradually treating the sensitive skin as if it were ‘normal’ has made a huge difference! I took a shower yesterday and applied soap and water to the most painful area. My mind was able to process that it was just soap and water rather than fire or needles. I do have a new issue: a sensation that feels like heartburn. Additionally, when I stand up from a lying position, I feel a sudden, intense, searing pain in the left side of my chest (even though the surgery was on the right). It’s a 10/10 on the pain scale but only lasts for about a minute. Has anyone else experienced this?
Just wanted to share another perspective—my nerve pain went away completely within six months, though most of it was gone by the three-month mark. I’m now two years post-op and don’t have any nerve pain at all. That side occasionally feels strange, but it isn’t painful. As others mentioned, it takes a lot of time and the wait is really tough. Keep going!