Table 2.

Clinical assessments from 1 year post-operative to 5 years 6 months post-operative.

Visit	Pain VAS Avg last 48 hours 0-100 scale [min-max]	Pain Description	Exam	Medications (total daily doses)
1 year 3 months	12 [2-42]	Cyclic jabbing pain in previous MPA (Most Painful Area) on the back. Each cycle lasts 3-5 days, but pain free between cycles. Reports recurrence of touch sensitivity.	Allodynia to moving tactile stimuli present but mild near scar in previous MPA.	gabapentin-800mg methadone-10mg
1 year 6 months	40 [20-60]	Cyclic deep and jabbing pain in the previous MPA on the back, occurs less frequent than before surgery, but intensity is as severe as before surgery. Cycles can last 2-3 weeks. Touch sensitivity present, but very mild compared to pre-surgery.	Pressure is painful in previous MPA. Strip of mild allodynia to moving tactile stimuli along surgical scar.	gabapentin-800-1200mg methadone-10-20 mg
1 year 11 months	50 [40-80]	Cyclic deep and jabbing pain in the previous MPA are more frequent. No longer pain free between cycles and pain severity approaching pre-surgical levels. Touch sensitivity more severe on back and anterior chest.	Broader strip of allodynia along the scar. Sensory deficit to pin/cold in anterior chest is mild but detectable. Strip of sensory loss more easily detected along the scar, but is narrower than the area of allodynia.	gabapentin-1200mg methadone-10-15mg lidocaine patch 2 daily nortriptyline-25mg (every other day)
3 years Figure 1	15 [4-20]	Cyclic deep and jabbing pain in the previous MPA occur daily with added electrical quality. No pain free moments. Size of area of touch sensitivity on the back remains smaller than pre-surgery. Touch sensitivity in the anterior chest present frequently.	MPA has returned to same location as preoperatively but not as large. Deep pressure in previous MPA produces radiating pain. On the allodynia VAS scale, 3 brush strokes in the MPA rated at 79/100. Infiltration with 5 ml of 1% lidocaine in previous MPA reduces pain intensity by >50% and shrinks area of allodynia around the scar. No change in anterior chest pain. See Figure 1 - bottom left panel.	gabapentin-1600mg methadone-10-15mg lidocaine patch 2 daily
5 years 6 months Figure 1	61 [20-81]	Cyclic deep and jabbing pain in the previous MPA lasting 5-10 minutes, occur multiple times per day and have added electrical quality. Pain radiates cephalad and laterally. No pain free periods. Area of MPA feels numb, tight and very sensitive to touch. Cannot wear clothing unless MPA covered by lidocaine patch.	MPA remains in same location as preoperatively but not as large. Allodynia ratings same as on 3 year followup visit and area approximately same size as pre-operative. Smaller patch with milder allodynia in the front (Figure 1 - bottom right panel).	gabapentin 2000 mg methadone 15 mg lidocaine patch 2 daily