Nerve Damage from chest tubes

Hi,

I recently had a punctured lung, and had to 2 chest tubes inserted under my left armpit.
I was not really sedated during the incesion because I was at risk of losing my life and the doctors had to work quick and effectivley. I later found out that under my armpit where the incesision was had only been freezed, but when the tube entered me, i remember UNbearable pain as the doctor jabbed the first tube through my ribs, it had felt like he had broken a rib to enter the lungs, which he obviously did not but I did yelp in shrieking pain.  I than had another tube inserted in me, which I do not recollect how it was inserted.  As the days went by in the hospital, one of the tubes stoped draining blood, which they than removed it one day prior than the second one.  I had both tubes inserted on October 31 2010, than had both of them removed maybe 5 days after(one tube removed one day before the other though), now it is Nov. 12, and I still feel pains around my lower left rib all the way towards my armpit.  Its a weird pins and needles and stinging sensation that I get when I move, or even if my shirt grazes on my lower left ribs, I can even touch a certain spot on my chest, that will sends the pains up my chest.  If I move my left shoulder in a certain manner, I feel the same feeling, that I had felt when the doctor had jabbed the first tube in me (not as painful as the real inscesion, but I feel it nonetheless).  I believe this forums has probably heard the likes of these problems before, and I'm just wondering if there could be permanent nerve damage to my ribs or anywhere around my left chest-to left armpit.  I know this is still early in my recovery but I would like to know if this is common.

I hope I have been descriptive enough for whoevers reading this

Thank you for your time and any answers and opinions are usefull, thanks again.

-Biny

[treses]

sorry to hear about your chest tube the same thing happened to me 26 yrs ago and i am now on disability have a spine simulator and have taken every pain pill know to man no help at all even the spine simulator is not a cure all like dr think helps but no cigar if you would like to talk on what all i have been though call at 480-834-0841 Teresa i don't type very well and have 20 + yrs experiance