Still having incision pain

grnsammy09
grnsammy09 Member Posts: 20
edited October 2013 in Kidney Cancer #1

Today I am 3 weeks post op from my Right open radical nephrectomy. My incision is very large because of the size of my tumor. The incision extends from a few inches below the arm pit starting with where the chest tube was inserted, across my rib cage to below my sternum, and down to the belly button. I am still having a significant amount of pain (especially to the touch), soreness, and numbness EVERYWHERE around this incision. I still am not able to take deep breaths without uncomfort which I expected...But the doctors keep saying "well your incision is quite large!" when I ask about the pain. I know its only been 3 weeks and im being very impatient, but I am just curious about everyones experience with this type of incision? 

Comments

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #2
    It could be six months, it

    It could be six months, it could be a year, and some slight pain could be forever..  You asked....  Heal up, sounds like your incision is much larger than mine... and I had some pain for around 6 plus months, and some "discomfort" still some 19 months later...

    Ron

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #3
    GSRon said:

    It could be six months, it

    It could be six months, it could be a year, and some slight pain could be forever..  You asked....  Heal up, sounds like your incision is much larger than mine... and I had some pain for around 6 plus months, and some "discomfort" still some 19 months later...

    Ron

    16 months post nephrectomy

    I still have inscision pain/abdominal pain.  Maybe I am just a wimp.

  • izzycohen
    izzycohen Member Posts: 80
    #4
    Three weeks is early on in the process.

    At the three week mark I still had to wear a larger size of pants to avoid the pain, and my surgery was laproscopic.  It was at about the six week mark that I did not notice pain.  Tomorrow will be 9 weeks since my surgery.  Although not painful, there is still some sensitivity in the incision area.  I understand very well that being patient is for others.  I am terrible about it myself.  But it just takes time.

  • Alehan
    Alehan Member Posts: 24
    #5
    Husband still tender

    Hubby's partial nephretomy was March 12 2013. He is still a bit sore with mild swelling every so often. I believe his scar is about 8 inches long or so and they removed part of a rib.

  • tomt263
    tomt263 Member Posts: 11
    #6
    Alehan said:

    Husband still tender

    Hubby's partial nephretomy was March 12 2013. He is still a bit sore with mild swelling every so often. I believe his scar is about 8 inches long or so and they removed part of a rib.

    Just found this website and

    Just found this website and wish I had much sooner as there are many helpful and informative comments from fellow survivors.  I had a partial nephrectomy right side with open incision in August 2011.  Still feeling some numbness and periodic pulling/pinching sensations around my incision.  Other than this minor annoyance no complaints, I am one of the lucky ones and very grateful.  The emotional side of recovery I have found to be more challenging than physical aspects.  Best wishes.

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