Chest still numb-Surgery 6 weeks ago

Bobs1wife
Bobs1wife Member Posts: 150
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Well, we are 6 weeks out from surgery, Ivor Lewis-Minimally Invasive-Robotic Assist. Doing well, and few eating issues. My husband still feels numbness in his chest and in both little fingers. Has anyone experienced this? And does the feeling ever come back? He also has quite a bit of pain in the right chest area where most of the access for surgery was done. How long did your pain last? Linda

Comments

  • cindyhils
    cindyhils Member Posts: 27
    #2
    I am 8 months from my THE
    I am 8 months from my THE surgery and i have tingling and numbness all over my right side. i was told it may take years to all come back and maybe not at all. I had pain for a few months but now i just consider it uncomfortable. good luck, cindy
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #3
    Hello Linda
    First of all
    Hello Linda
    First of all congrats to your husband on a successful surgery!! Yes, I have heard of this side effect. I was a caregiver for my dad. He passed away in March from ec with mets to the liver. You are lucky your husband had the option of surgery. I know there are others here on this board who have had this surgery and this side effect. I am sure they will reply. It is called nauropathy, which is some kind of damage to the nerve endings. I have heard that some people find success with getting acupuncture done. Best of luck to finding the answers you need, and keep up the good work with your recovery!
    Tina in Va
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #4
    It does gradually get better
    Hi Linda,

    I am about 10 months out from my Ivor Lewis surgery and still have some numbness and tingling in my right chest area. My surgeon tells me it is referred pain from the entry incision in my back. She assures me it will improve over time. I had pain in my chest area and back for about four months after surgery. The pain gradually dissipated and now the sensation is more of a feeling of numbness and tightness than pain.

    It does gradually get better.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED

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