Nuss Procedure Must-Haves

The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that is the most performed of the surgeries used to correct pectus excavatum. The Nuss procedure uses a stainless steel bar to push the breastbone forward, which is extremely effective but causes temporary severe pain and limitations for several months post-op. I underwent the Nuss procedure (without cryoablation) in July 2023, and while the Nuss procedure was the right decision for me, I had no idea how to prepare and what items I needed after the surgery to manage the pain and prepare for my new chest shape. Here's the list of items that were vital to my recovery process!

• Wedge pillow:

• The wedge pillow is by far the most important item for the recovery process.

• At night, I used the wedge pillow under my legs to prevent myself from rolling over on my side. Side sleeping was very painful in the first few weeks following the surgery, and some hospitals recommend avoiding side sleeping and stomach sleeping altogether until the fourth week.

• In the daytime, I used the wedge pillow to prop myself up in combination with another three or so pillows. Lifting my neck was one of the most difficult parts of recovery for me. The muscles used to lift your neck work with the muscles of your chest, so the chest pain caused by the Nuss procedure also means that moving your head hurts. Muscle atrophy from the three-day hospital stay also made this worse. While I walked, exercised, and did everything I could to build myself back to strength, I often just needed a break where I could lie down with minimal pain. This is when the wedge pillow was essential because it supported both my back and my neck.

• A recliner is another option that provides support to the body and neck, it's just less mobile.

• Aquaphor:

• One of the most fascinating and unexpected parts of my recovery process was how my skin adjusted. Especially in cases of severe pectus excavatum, the skin from the divot of the pectus is pushed upward, stretching it across the chest. After my surgery, the layer of skin where my pectus divot used to be was extremely thin, delicate, and sensitive. A good coating of Aquaphor for a week did the trick, but it was something that I would have never thought about before the surgery.

• Baggy, zip-up, or button-up clothes:

• Depending on the hospital, the timeline will be different, but most hospitals don't want their patients lifting their hands above their heads for at least the first week.

• What this means is that baggy, zip-up, or button-up clothes are an absolute must-have. There's no way to get by without them.

• Another note is even if the clothes are easy to put on, you may still be in enough pain that you'll need help to put on the clothes for the first couple of days. Easy to put on clothes make the dressing process a lot easier, whether you're doing it yourself or getting help.

• Heating pad:

• The majority of the pain after the Nuss procedure is muscle pain. While you will be on plenty of medications like muscle relaxants to reduce this, sometimes you might want an extra level of pain management to get right at the source.

• Heating pads are fantastic for relaxing the body and reducing pain after the Nuss procedure.

• Shower chair:

• Showering was tough for me for the first couple of days, and I couldn't do it standing. We placed a plastic chair in the shower that I could sit in for showers, which made everything a lot easier.

• Slides/Slip-On Shoes

• Bending, lifting, and twisting are banned for the first four weeks post-op. Having slides reduced the hassle of putting on shoes; I stuck with Crocs so I could walk outside.

• A super-long TV series

  • I went with Suits, because it has eight seasons, with around 20 episodes each season, and each episode is around an hour long. I began watching Suits right after surgery, and I had finished the entire series by the end of my recovery process. That's 9,600 minutes or 160 hours or 6 days of my life, if I did my math right, that I spent watching Suits. Especially immediately after my surgery, I spent the majority of my day in bed, so I needed something entertaining. I tried to do reading or a coloring book, but I couldn't focus on much because of the pain. It depends on the individual, but you will need something entertaining and long-lasting.

While this all might sound scary, the Nuss procedure, at least for me, was worth it. It's decreased my back pain, improved my kyphosis, decreased my chest sensitivity, and made me more comfortable with my appearance. Everyone is different and everyone will have their own recovery process, but these are some standard items that will help you recover better. Good luck!