I'm 4 months post op having cervical and 1st rib removed. Still in significant pain in neck, under my breast, same nerve issues as pre op though less severe but more painful? Sore shoulder. I take paracetamol, tramadol & amitriptaline as needed and tbh it's not enough. I don't like to take tramadol during the day due to the side effects.
I'm due to have other side done on Wednesday.... Awaiting with trepidation. I hope it goes smoothly this time

Sorry to hear you are in so much pain what meds do you take?
Take care

I take gabapentin and that is it. I hate meds. I took the pain meds after surgery for a few days then did advil for a couple weeks.

My surgeon suggested gabapentin also but at the moment I'm trying to be off all meds. How has it helped you, any side effects?

I'm about one year post rib resection via vats with chest tube. The only thing that got better for me was the color of my arm (venous tos). The pain following my surgery was worse than before. I was diagnosed with rsd or crps type 2. It sucks. To this day I still wonder if it was a failed surgery or truly crps or both. I seem to have symptoms of both. I have old symptoms neck face upper back arm and hand pain with swelling and color changes (purple to red to splotchy) along with shooting nerve pain sensitivity to touch to my chest and underarm and cold hand. Bee sting sensations to hot pokers, heavy achy feeling like golf balls moving through my veins with odd sensations to top side of my head. My back especially under my shoulder blade is always sore with muscle spasms/atrophy. Vision changes on bad days, etc. Good luck on your journey, the mind has a huge place in how well your recovery goes, sadly you ll probably never be the same. Physical therapy, massage, heat etc is very important because in my case I lost use of my hand by not using it due to the extreme amount of pain after surgery. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Don't try and rush your recovery it takes a long time.

I hate meds too, but it has helped a bit. I am trying everything because I want to get back to work. Don't know if i can get back to current career as a police officer, but I am tired of sitting around. I have not been able to do to much.

KEEP STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!