Open Nephrectomy pain after 80 days

starfari
starfari Member Posts: 17
in Kidney Cancer #1
I am into the third month of recovery from the big slice. I feel like this surgery has changed my life. For the worse. I have been online almost weekly trying to find out about this thing that has happened to my body. Symptoms of "other than" kidney issues plague me. There is NOTHING out there except stories from others who are going through the same things as you...kind of. First let me say I am a 5%er which means I am the very lucky 5 percent who present a tumor such as mine that is not cancer.For that I humble in the presence of those of you who have the extra burden of a diagnosis of cancer. Right now if I were to produce a cough I would be knocked off my feet with the pain it causes. This week it is my ribs that run my life last week it was the bulge of sliced muscles in my side. I am not a week person and I think I tolerate pain as well as the average person. To me what I feel in unreasonable, my Doctor is only mildly concerned, I assume, since he has not spoken to me directly.I will see him next week and hope that it "heals itself" what ever "it" is. there should be a book, a newsletter, a hint , of all the things you may feel after an open nephrectomy.My list: depression, numbness in surgery area, a feeling of fullness, constipation, insomnia, pain when lying down, pain when sitting, the feeling that something has been added not removed. the bulge..THE BULGE! extra inches to you waist line, pain pain pain.

Comments

  • MikeK703
    MikeK703 Member Posts: 235
    #2
    pain
    Hi Starfari,
    Glad to hear it wasn't cancer. Your surgery was an open nephrectomy. Mine was laproscopic so I would expect my pain to be less than yours. The worst of my pain was over after three weeks, although I experienced some mild pain in my side off and on for nearly a year. I had no bulge. Do you still have it? If so, could it be a hernia? Doctors are always "mildly concerned" about things like these. Or worse, not concerned at all. I hope your pain and problems disappear soon.
    Regards,
    Mike
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    MikeK703 said:

    pain
    Hi Starfari,
    Glad to hear it wasn't cancer. Your surgery was an open nephrectomy. Mine was laproscopic so I would expect my pain to be less than yours. The worst of my pain was over after three weeks, although I experienced some mild pain in my side off and on for nearly a year. I had no bulge. Do you still have it? If so, could it be a hernia? Doctors are always "mildly concerned" about things like these. Or worse, not concerned at all. I hope your pain and problems disappear soon.
    Regards,
    Mike

    Pain after 80 days
    The pain should subside after 4 to 6 weeks. At least it did for me and mine was laproscopic. Your age health and weight and physical condition all factor in. I had a bulge or swelling that did not return to normal for a year. Definately address your concerns with both you surgeon and GP. There is a wide range of recoveries on this board.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #4
    icemantoo said:

    Pain after 80 days
    The pain should subside after 4 to 6 weeks. At least it did for me and mine was laproscopic. Your age health and weight and physical condition all factor in. I had a bulge or swelling that did not return to normal for a year. Definately address your concerns with both you surgeon and GP. There is a wide range of recoveries on this board.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo

    Pain
    I had an open in October 2010. 2011 sucked for me. Serious depression, constant pain, fatigue for months, anemia and B12 deficiency. Sneezing and coughing caused me pain for about 8 months. Oh and I had shortness of breath. At 11 months, things began to turn around for me. This year has been better. Depression is gone, it no longer hurts to sneeze or cough and my fatigue is better. I took iron and b12 injections last year. My pain is minimal but it still hurts to roll over or sit up. I still have some numbness but it's minimal. For some of us it just takes longer. I did have added complications of a nicked spleen and pancreas. It's frustrating I know. You are not alone!
    Rae
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #5
    rae_rae said:

    Pain
    I had an open in October 2010. 2011 sucked for me. Serious depression, constant pain, fatigue for months, anemia and B12 deficiency. Sneezing and coughing caused me pain for about 8 months. Oh and I had shortness of breath. At 11 months, things began to turn around for me. This year has been better. Depression is gone, it no longer hurts to sneeze or cough and my fatigue is better. I took iron and b12 injections last year. My pain is minimal but it still hurts to roll over or sit up. I still have some numbness but it's minimal. For some of us it just takes longer. I did have added complications of a nicked spleen and pancreas. It's frustrating I know. You are not alone!
    Rae

    Sneezing
    I sneezed several times tonight - it still hurts. I was wrong. The feeling full and pain after eating took a little over a year. I think a lot of that pain was due to the hematoma. It will get better though...it may just take longer. Have faith...there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
  • starfari
    starfari Member Posts: 17
    #6
    rae_rae said:

    Pain
    I had an open in October 2010. 2011 sucked for me. Serious depression, constant pain, fatigue for months, anemia and B12 deficiency. Sneezing and coughing caused me pain for about 8 months. Oh and I had shortness of breath. At 11 months, things began to turn around for me. This year has been better. Depression is gone, it no longer hurts to sneeze or cough and my fatigue is better. I took iron and b12 injections last year. My pain is minimal but it still hurts to roll over or sit up. I still have some numbness but it's minimal. For some of us it just takes longer. I did have added complications of a nicked spleen and pancreas. It's frustrating I know. You are not alone!
    Rae

    Thanks for your words of
    Thanks for your words of encouragement. Sometimes the pain is so bad I can barley stand to move on with life but thank fully I am a stubborn resilient person! I see my surgeon next week and I will once again ask for pain relief but don't expect him to be help full he has never given me any medication to get through the tough nights when I needed it. From there I will go to my G.P> to look into pain relief when I need it. I am going on 11 weeks since surgery and I am quite tired of not feeling well but it seems it is the norm for some to not recover well. BTW although I am a little heavy but I am very healthy I ride my bike as exercise as well as for transportation.
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #7
    starfari said:

    Thanks for your words of
    Thanks for your words of encouragement. Sometimes the pain is so bad I can barley stand to move on with life but thank fully I am a stubborn resilient person! I see my surgeon next week and I will once again ask for pain relief but don't expect him to be help full he has never given me any medication to get through the tough nights when I needed it. From there I will go to my G.P> to look into pain relief when I need it. I am going on 11 weeks since surgery and I am quite tired of not feeling well but it seems it is the norm for some to not recover well. BTW although I am a little heavy but I am very healthy I ride my bike as exercise as well as for transportation.

    Gp
    My surgeon and oncologist offered no relief for pain and casually mentioned the anemia. I went to my Gp for help instead. You might find more help with your Gp. Keep pushing!
  • starfari
    starfari Member Posts: 17
    #8
    rae_rae said:

    Gp
    My surgeon and oncologist offered no relief for pain and casually mentioned the anemia. I went to my Gp for help instead. You might find more help with your Gp. Keep pushing!

    I most def will. IN fairness
    I most def will. IN fairness I must say today is better than yesterday instead of on a pain scale of 1- 10 scoring a 12 yesterday I am more like a solid 8 today!
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #9
    starfari said:

    I most def will. IN fairness
    I most def will. IN fairness I must say today is better than yesterday instead of on a pain scale of 1- 10 scoring a 12 yesterday I am more like a solid 8 today!

    pain
    Just keep moving. Increase your activity slowly. Do different things so there is a wider range for your body to adapt to. It will improve. Besides, that is no little nick you've got there. It will take awhile. Good luck Starfari.

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