Recovery times?
 

For those of you who've had the first rib resection with scalenectomy, what was your recovery period like? And for how long? I'm almost two weeks out and I'm still feeling constant pain and super sleepy-ness (I went to bed at 7:45 last night... Yup!) Any tips for how to manage until the pain subsides?

Thanks!

I was pretty out of it for 3 weeks from the surgery and pain meds. I tapered down but stayed on something until about 6 weeks out. I didn't start to feel back to normal until about 3 months out. It's a frustrating recovery process, but hang in there. I hit a mental wall at about a month just wanting to feel better. Just keep in mind it will take time. My PT said that it's like having a rock on a garden hose for years. Once you take the rock off the garden hose doesn't magically return to normal, it takes time.

Are you still on pain meds?

Yup I'm still on pain meds, I was on percocet for about a week and then (and now) I'm on Vicodin. It looks like I'll be running out though, so back to good old Tylenol. Should I ask my doctor for more vicodin or does Tylenol work well enough?

I'd get another RX from dr , and have them on hand, just in case.
You don't want to run out and have it be at a hard time to get more from Dr.

You also might want them around just in case you have flare up after the worst is over.

I agree.....definately get your meds topped up!!!!! About 2 1/2 weeks post op I dropped one of my pain killers and I ended up having difficulty with my breathing due to my intercostals going into spasm. Take care not to reduce them too quickly.I managed to come off them at 4-5 week mark so don't panic about getting hooked, just be alittle patient with your body, it will settle down soon. Recovery I would honestly say for me is 3-4 months. I'm now 3 1/2 months post op and med free and only just beginning to use my arm as before..... however be warned, over exertion effects can come on very quickly.
Take care.

Just curious, how are you able to sleep? Do the pain meds control symptoms well enough to get any rest?

Right now I'm sleeping with my head and shoulders slightly propped up on a few pillows and sometimes my arms are also propped up under pillows, with another pillow under my knees. I've started to sleep more laying down than sitting up (since my lung is getting better and better) but I still can't sleep on my side without pain around where they took the rib out, and NO WAY can I ever (never have been able to) sleep on my stomach.

The pain meds are really what allow me to sleep, it's a bit sad to say. I notice that I wake up around when I need to be taking the next dose (usually around midnight or 1am), I take the meds and then I can fall back asleep fairly easily.

Curious too - when you came to did you notice any relief of the neuro symptoms in your arms or hands? I can imagine you were quite out of it (perhaps still) but is it too early to tell if there is relief in your symptoms from the compression(s)?

What did the surgeon's op report have to say? What is your next step in terms of recovery? I would imagine PT and/or more rest?

I've already noticed significant relief from my neuro symptoms (mainly, dagger-like pain into my thumbs and hand). It's unreal, the only way I can describe how my hand feels now is "warm and fuzzy" compared to before. In that sense, the operation was definetly worth it!

I'm doing PT 3 times per week right now, working mainly on getting my shoulder and neck range of motion back, gaining strength through my forearm and hand, working on scapular retractions, things like that. I'm also allowed to start light dryland training (biking, elliptical) tomorrow. Lots of rest and recovery are in my future, although I have university finals next week >.< so I might be a bit more stressed than I should be.

hi i am now 3 weeks post op and what a difference a week makes, i am slowly moving my arm and have more feeling back in it, the pain is decreasing each day and i am now thinking more possitive. im sure each persons post op experience is slightly different, hang in there.