Persistent postoperative pain is a frequent complication following lung cancer surgery, affecting approximately one in three patients. Many lung cancer survivors endure the long-term consequences of this pain, which can persist for several months or longer, leading to a decreased quality of life and functional limitations.

A deeper understanding of the development of chronic postoperative pain and its associated risk factors could enable the early identification of patients at risk for poor pain recovery and potentially support the development of new preventive interventions.

This thesis presents findings from studies conducted with the aims of: (1) evaluating quantitative sensory testing and screening for anxiety and depression symptoms as risk predictors for chronic pain, and (2) examining dynamic pain recovery patterns and pain-related limitations in daily activities up to one year after lung cancer surgery.

Repeated assessments of postoperative pain and pain-related impairment scores revealed distinct 1-year recovery trajectories. Although pain intensity was predominantly mild, chronic pain remained associated with significant limitations in daily activities.

The insights from the exploratory studies in this thesis suggest that distinct recovery paths following lung cancer surgery can be identified, potentially enabling early detection of unfavorable long-term recovery trajectories, offering opportunities for early intervention. However, the development of chronic postsurgical pain is complex, and further research is needed to develop clinically applicable risk stratification models.