Pain in my right lung/chest

[erica1112]

Help!  I am a non-smoker and suffered my 1st tension pneumo (right) in 1993, and a second a few weeks later with a VATS surgery.  Not much fun!  All was good until the fall of 2006 when I had a 3rd collapse of about 30%.  A chest tube was not used since I wasn't in huge distress.  A CT scan indicated that while the collapse healed, a small bleb remained.  We also tested for alpha-1 trypsin deficiency = negative.  A thoracic surgeon indicated that another collapse would warrant a 2nd surgery.   In January I started to have stabbing back pain which felt like another collapse - but chest x-rays proved different.  My doctor, who is a very good friend, indicated that this could be nothing more than scar tissue formation.  Still the pain continues.  By no means does it stop me in my tracks - but when does one decide if further evaluation might be necessary?  I've had asthma since 13, but its well managed.  I also have Ebstein-Barr.  I run regularly and would hate for this to put a damper on my running season.  I am nuts or should I be concerned?  Thanks!  e

[National Jewish Health]

Your doctor is probably correct; that the pain is secondary to scarring and, in fact, the scarring could reduce the possibility of another pneumothorax.  That your last pneumo was 30%, it may have been limited by the VATS procedure.  Whether another collapse would warrant another surgery is highly debatable, especially if it were equal to or less than 30%.  The pain may or may not eventually subside.  If it does not you might seek consultation on the potential pain relief by permanent block of one or more intercostal nerves.

[MChad]

I had my lung collapse 9 months ago and also had a VATS (I agree, not fun) in the right lung.  I have bullous disease, blebs in both upper lobes and nodules throughout the lower lungs.  They did a wedge resection and cut out the bullous and blebs from the right lung along with some of the pleural space.  Two months later I had a car accident and hit my right side on th airbag aggrevating the surgery.  As of today I still have alot of chest pain and although I don't let it get me down it can be severely painful and I wonder if it will get any better than this...At times it can feel like the lung is going to collapse again but it hasn't yet.  I get an extremely sharp pain in my center chest/shoulderblade that goes up to my neck, into my shoulder and down my arm.  It even is in the upper right front part of the shoulder.  I don't know what kind of pain you had before your lung collapsed but that pretty much sums mine up. I also have acid reflux real bad.  Apparently some of my pain is coming from that.  I believe that your body has a natural response to let you know that something is not normal.  When your body tells you to rest---rest otherwise I would continue as normal. After everything that you went through you should be able to be a good judge of when you should be evaluated.  I always went to the doctors when I couldn't mentally handle the pain but with me I trust in the fact that I know it will subside.  Good luck