Posted by Joel Swanson on November 21, 2000 at 20:23:00:

I'm a 21 year old male who has had three bouts with pneumo thorax. These all occured when I was 18. After three hospital visits and a chest tube, I was given the corrective surgery. My right lung has healed ok, and I haven't experienced much pain or that much trouble with breathing. However, for some time now I have had this odd pain in my left back; and when I poke the spot, which lies on and between the ribs, and near the center of my back-- it feels like a bruise. Not to mention the sensitivity around the sore area resembled the sensitivity of my chest before and especially after surgery. When I sit a certain way, my breathing is also tight around that area as well.
Could this be mild pneumo thorax? Although my breathing is fine and the pain doesn't really stop me from doing anything, I am still worried that I have a collapsed lung. Because the first couple times I had collapsed lungs, I just ignored it and dealt with it the same way. I should also mention that I have continued to smoke since my hospital visits three years ago. I don't smoke many cigarettes a day, but I do occaisonally smoke Marijuana as well.
Although this pain is very real, I am aware that I could just be paranoid about unexplained pains in my body ever since my surgery. Do you have any ideas as to what this sorenesss and tightness in my back is?
Could it just be strains in my back.
Would getting an xray determine the problem? Is it bad to let unexplained pains linger?

Thanks,
Joel

• Re: Odd Pain in Left Back darla 10:06:06 11/27/00 (2)
  • Re: Odd Pain in Left Back Rose 20:30:12 11/29/00 (1)
    • Re: Odd Pain in Left Back darla 00:13:58 11/30/00 (0)