The patient was scheduled for a biopsy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to remove suspicious lung nodules, likely linked to a sarcoma treated four years earlier. His condition suggested he would not need pain relief. But previous surgeries had revealed a complication: although he could not feel pain in the usual sense, his body still reacted strongly after surgery.

When No Pain Still Means Discomfort

During the operation, his vital signs remained completely stable. No changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or breathing were observed, even during incisions. This confirmed that his nervous system did not register pain in the expected way. Yet in the hours after surgery, the picture changed. He developed mild fever, high blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat — signs typically associated with pain or infection.

To manage these symptoms, the team used standard pain medications, including patient-controlled doses of oxycodone and later oral paracetamol and opioids. The symptoms eased, even though the patient insisted he felt no pain. Interestingly, he began to feel nauseous from the medication and eventually stopped the stronger drugs. Despite this, milder analgesics kept his symptoms in check.

Rethinking Pain Management in Special Cases

This case suggests that pain perception is not the only signal that matters after surgery. The body’s internal stress response — involving hormones, heart rate, and immune activity — can still be triggered even if the brain does not interpret pain normally. In this patient, those physiological responses were real and measurable, despite his insensitivity.

Painkillers, especially opioids, appear to have helped by calming that internal alarm system. It raises the question: should post-operative care rely only on what the patient reports, or should it also consider unseen responses? In this case, not treating these reactions might have led to complications or delayed recovery.

What the Medical Literature Says

A review of related case reports supports this mixed picture. In some patients with similar conditions, surgery was performed with little or no anaesthetic, and they recovered without issue. But others, like this patient, showed significant changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm in response to procedures. One large review found that even though pain was absent, the body sometimes still reacted with stress signals such as fever and heart rate changes.

It is also notable that different types of congenital pain insensitivity can have different effects on the autonomic nervous system. Some patients have difficulty regulating temperature or heart rate, while others do not. This variation makes it difficult to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to care.

What This Could Mean for Future Protocols

The case challenges the current trend of reducing opioid use in post-surgical care by showing that even patients who cannot feel pain may need them. It also suggests that clinicians should monitor not only pain scores but also vital signs and stress indicators, especially in rare neurological conditions.

Customizing care based on individual physiology — rather than relying solely on reported pain — could lead to better outcomes for patients with unusual conditions. As medical knowledge advances, understanding the full picture of how the body responds to surgery may help shape safer and more effective treatment plans.

[Source]

The post Do We Need Opioids Only to Relieve Pain? A Man Who Could Not Feel Pain Still Needed Opioids After Surgery appeared first on Medical Journal Daily.

Thaynara, who weighs approximately 60 kg, revealed that her breasts alone accounted for 12 kg before the surgery. The procedure, conducted on October 25, involved over 10 hours in the operating room, during which 10 kg of tissue were removed from both breasts. Astonishingly, she was discharged the very next day and sent home to begin her recovery.

“I am so happy,” Thaynara said. “I look in the mirror and think, ‘Wow, I look so beautiful.’ Sometimes I even cry because I still can’t believe I did it.”

Overcoming Challenges to Fund the Surgery

The road to surgery was not easy. Due to delays in Brazil’s public healthcare system (SUS), Thaynara had to turn to a private hospital to address her condition. The total cost of the procedure was around R$40,000($6800), an amount she could not afford on her own. Living with her aunt and lacking the financial means, she reached out to a local TV program in Curitiba for help.

During a live broadcast, the show’s team rallied viewers to support her cause. In just 20 minutes, generous donations from the audience raised the full amount needed for the surgery.

A Rare Diagnosis: Gigantomastia

Thaynara’s struggle began earlier this year when her family noticed the abnormal growth of her breasts. This rapid and excessive enlargement prompted public stares and even accusations. Thaynara recalled an incident in a grocery store where people suspected she was hiding stolen items in her clothing, mistaking her condition for something else.

Alarmed, she sought medical help. Initial consultations raised concerns about potential cancer, but after extensive testing, cancer was ruled out. The final diagnosis was gigantomastia, a rare condition characterized by the excessive growth of breast tissue due to hypertrophy of muscle cells. This anomaly not only causes physical discomfort, such as back pain and mobility issues, but also significant psychological distress.

Recovery and New Beginnings

Thaynara’s surgery was a success, and her recovery has been smooth so far. She is looking forward to embracing life with newfound confidence. Her dreams now include going to the beach and wearing a bikini, something she avoided before due to the size of her breasts.

“I want to go to the beach, wear a bikini, and finally enjoy my clothes again,” she said.

Thaynara’s journey highlights the physical and emotional toll of gigantomastia, but also the resilience and generosity of the community that came together to support her. As she continues her recovery, she is an inspiration for others facing similar challenges.

The post Paraná Woman Undergoes Life-Changing Surgery to Remove 10 Kg of Breast Tissue appeared first on Medical Journal Daily.

The elderly gentleman informed the hospital staff that he had a military shell lodged in his backside. He tried to assure them it was safe, explaining that the shell had been “demilitarized.” Despite his reassurances, the hospital called in a “demining unit” to assess any possible risk of explosion.

After evaluating the shell, it was identified as a “collector’s item” and posed no risk of explosion. Surgeons were able to remove it safely by performing an operation through the patient’s abdomen.

The shell was identified as a 57mm artillery piece from World War II.

A witness told *Nice-Matin* that the shell measured about “five or six centimeters in diameter by twenty centimeters long” – roughly two inches in width and eight inches in length.

The incident gained attention online, with photos of the shell shared across blogs and social media, reportedly showing the exact item that was retrieved.

Following the incident, the hospital thanked its staff for handling the situation with teamwork and professionalism. A spokesperson commented, “When in doubt, we took every precaution,” adding a light note that the patient clearly did not exercise the same caution, which led to the unique situation.

When reached for further comment, the hospital declined to provide additional details. They did mention, however, that while they’ve seen strange items inserted in such cases – including an apple, mango, or even a shaving foam can – a shell was definitely a first.

In an unexpected twist, it was revealed that the elderly man had inserted the World War I-era bomb, originally used by French troops in the early 1900s, for personal pleasure.

The post French Man, 88, Turns Up at Hospital with WWI Bomb Stuck in Rectum – Hospital Partially Evacuated appeared first on Medical Journal Daily.

In her first livestream since the injury, Chechik shared that she learned about her pregnancy while at the hospital.

“I found out I was pregnant when I was in the hospital,” she said during her stream. “Due to the surgery, I couldn’t keep it. The hormones are intense right now, adding to the challenge.”

She also displayed her surgery scar, crediting her recovery to “amazing surgeons” and a nutritious regimen of “green juice with vitamins.”

Chechik has been keeping her followers updated on her recovery. Earlier this month, she posted a video of herself taking her first steps post-surgery.

Recently, she mentioned being able to take a brief five-minute walk, signaling steady progress in her healing journey.

At the time of the incident, a Twitch spokesperson directed inquiries to Lenovo, whose representative acknowledged being “aware of injuries sustained by TwitchCon visitors” at their booth. However, Chechik has not mentioned any legal action against either Twitch or Lenovo during her livestream. She requested fans to respect her privacy during her recovery process.

On Twitter, Chechik asked supporters to avoid tagging her in posts involving calls for accountability.

“Please respect my healing process. I need time to recover without seeing posts tagging me or speculating about what actions I should take. I am human and working hard to heal!” she tweeted.

She also noted that social media has been both supportive and overwhelming:

“If the negativity doesn’t stop, I might have to step away. Please understand I’m human too.”

Medical experts have shared insights into the severity of Chechik’s injury. According to Dr. Oren Gottfried, a professor of neurosurgery at Duke University, her fall likely caused a burst fracture, a serious spinal injury where bones in the vertebrae break apart under extreme pressure. This can lead to instability and may require extensive surgery, as seen in Chechik’s case.

Dr. Jonathan Stieber, a spine surgeon in New York, emphasized the importance of physical therapy for Chechik’s recovery. Restoring strength, mobility, and range of motion will be critical in her rehabilitation process.

Dr. Michael Yang, a neurosurgeon from the University of Calgary, noted that Chechik’s recovery plan would also depend on her post-surgery condition. Since she has mentioned needing a catheter, bladder rehabilitation is likely. Additionally, any motor strength issues in her legs would necessitate further physical therapy or hospitalization.

The post Adriana Chechik Reveals She Was Pregnant When She Suffered Severe Back Injury at TwitchCon appeared first on Medical Journal Daily.

Thompson, now 47, survived a life-changing accident almost 30 years ago when he lost both his arms in a farm accident. His story made headlines worldwide, a huge spotlight for an 18-year-old from Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

The media attention eventually faded, but life carried on for Thompson. How has he adapted? Does he still have full use of his arms? What brings him happiness now?

On January 11, 1992, while unloading pig feed, Thompson got too close to a power takeoff (PTO) shaft without a safety guard. “I wasn’t careful with my shirt, and it caught on the PTO. I remember spinning on the shaft,” he shared. He passed out, waking up to his dog licking his face and realizing his arms were gone.

“I was confused, just sitting there figuring out how to stand,” he recalled. Leaning against a tractor tire, he managed to push himself up.

Since no one else was home, he walked 100 yards back to his house. Using his mouth to turn the doorknob, he got inside, dialed the phone with a pencil, and sat in the bathtub to avoid getting blood on his mom’s new carpet. The only pain he felt was when exposed nerves hit something, though he was dizzy from blood loss.

“When I got to the hospital, they told me I had lost almost all my blood and shouldn’t be alive,” Thompson said. He remembers his time in the ER, talking to the staff, worrying about the running tractor, and getting upset when they cut off his new cowboy boots.

At one point, a staff member placed a bag beside him containing his arms, which were later reattached. “As I lay there, my arms were just a couple of feet away,” he recalled.

Thompson was flown to Minneapolis, where his arms would be reattached. It was his first plane ride, and he argued to sit up and see out the window. But he was concerned about how cold his arms felt. A crew member reminded him that they were on ice in the front of the plane.

Looking back, Thompson can laugh about some of these moments, though it was a terrifying time. Dr. Allen Van Beek, a University of North Dakota graduate, performed the reattachment surgery, putting Thompson in a coma for four weeks to heal. Thompson nearly died from a blood infection and had to undergo more surgery and rehabilitation.

After high school, Thompson attended the University of Minnesota briefly but found it wasn’t the right fit. He started traveling for speaking events, donating earnings to United Blood Services, as blood donations saved his life. On the 10th anniversary of the accident, he published a book, “Home in One Piece,” which gained popularity. At one point, he was in talks with actress Victoria Principal to make it into a movie. Now, as the 30th anniversary approaches, he hopes to revisit the screenplay idea and expand the book.

“When I first wrote it, I couldn’t include some things. I want to write a more open version,” he said.

While he’s had rough moments, Thompson has received kindness from strangers who recognize his story. However, he’s also faced people who have tried to take advantage of him.

The post What Happened to the Teen Who Lost His Arms in a 1992 Farm Accident? appeared first on Medical Journal Daily.