What is causing the immense pain in my surgery site 2.5 years after giant lipoma removal?

Question

I had a giant lipoma (the size of a softball cut in half) next to my left shoulder blade removed in Nov. 2016. Since then, I experience sharp stabbing pain starting at the incision site that triggers my entire mid-thoracic area, chest and abdomen to lock up, become tight and cause nausea. It feels like I am being compressed. The only relief I find is applying extreme pressure to my scar. Surgeon said there is no scar tissue or regeneration. It happens almost daily, multiple times a day.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry to hear of your painful symptoms after lipoma removal.  It sounds as if you may have an entrapped nerve in/around your surgical site.  I would recommend following up with your surgeon in order to have the best advice rendered.

David Z. Gay, MD · Answer

Your symptoms are consistent with an entrapped nerve. You don't need a lot of scar tissue to have this problem. It just needs to be in the right place, namely in the tissue surrounding the nerve. Movement or certain position will pull or place pressure on the nerve causing pain. Scar tissue release or even nerve ablation is sometimes necessary. Follow up with the surgeon who did the procedure to discuss further. Good luck!

What is causing the immense pain in my surgery site 2.5 years after giant lipoma removal?

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