A little more than a year ago I had an empyema on my left side. Ultimately they did a decortication by thoracotomy. After a few weeks I was told the infection was gone. I haven't had any symptoms since. The only remaining issue is pressure and pain in my left side when taking a deep breath, coughing, sneezing, etc.. The pain level can range from 5 to 8. I can also have pain during normal breathing when laying in some positions. I understand this pain is because there is no pleural area and my lung and chest wall rub together.
Early on, I asked the surgeon about this and he said it would clear up in a few weeks. After a few weeks with no improvement I asked the pulmonologist and she said it could take up to six months to clear up. After six months with no improvement I asked my regular physician and he said it can take a year. At about a year, I asked him again and he shrugged it off saying it was scar tissue.
Its extremely frustrating and I just want to go more than a couple of hours without pain and to stop being constantly reminded of the whole experience.
Does anyone have any suggestions for treatment, solution, or how I can get my doctor to take me seriously about this?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.