I had my entire right lung removed in September of
1999. I am a 56 year old woman who at that time was in very good health,
and jogged 5 times a week. I have adjusted well to my reduced lung
capacity. My problem seems to be from the surgery itself. One of my
ribs in my back broke during surgery. My surgeon said the nerves under
this rib were irritated and would eventually calm down. Also, the muscle
that runs front to back under my arm pit, had to be cut in half. The rib
causing nerve damage actually runs from my back, around my side, under and about
half way up my right breast. Three months after surgery he sent me to a
pain clinic and I had a series of three shots (one each week) of cortizone put
in the area around the broken rib. This did not seem to give me much
relief. However, about three months after the shot, the back does seem to
getting a little better, but the side and right breast are very painful. I
would be interested in hearing from people who have had this same surgery and
any problems they have encountered. Donna
