Thoracotomy: Your Home Recovery

Learn how to care for yourself as you recover at home after a thoracotomy. This includes information on when and how to go back to your usual activities.

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For the first several weeks after your surgery, you'll be gaining a little more energy and strength each day. Breathing may be uncomfortable at first. You also may be short of breath. Take things slowly. Rest when you get tired. Your doctor or nurse can talk with you about what you can and can't do as you recover.

Caring for your incision

Your health care provider will tell you when it's OK to shower. When you shower, wash your incision gently with warm (not hot) water and mild soap. Bruising, itchiness, soreness, and numbness at your incision site are normal for several weeks after surgery. Drainage, bleeding, warmth, severe redness, and foul-smelling odor are not normal. Call your provider if you have any of these.

Taking medicines

Take your pain medicines as your health care provider tells you to. Don't wait until the pain gets bad before you take them. In addition to medicine for pain, your provider may prescribe other medicines. Oxygen may also be prescribed.

Easing into activity

For 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery, don't do any activity that might put stress on your healing incision. This includes heavy lifting or yard work. But do start walking to improve your circulation, lung capacity, and strength. Taking pain medicines before activity will help make breathing more comfortable.

You'll probably feel short of breath for several weeks. This is normal. It will get better with time. As you begin to feel better, you can gradually add more strenuous activities. Ask your health care provider how long to wait before returning to sexual activity, driving, and work.

Man walking in park.

When to call your doctor

Contact your health care provider right away if you have:

  • Redness, bleeding, swelling, drainage, increasing pain, or warmth at the incision site.

  • A fever of 100.4°F ( 38°C) or higher, or as directed by your provider.

  • Swelling in the legs.

Call 911

Call 911 if you have:

  • Sudden, severe shortness of breath.

  • Rapid heartbeat or "fluttering" in your chest.

  • Sudden, severe sharp chest pain that doesn't go away, or unusual chest pain.

  • Fainting or passing out.