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Is Shortness Of Breath And Tight Chest In The Place Of Inserted Chest Tubes Normal?
Dear Dr , almost 5 months ago I was in a horrible motor vehicle accident. I had one broken rib and one fractured rib both on the right side. In which punctured my lung and had to have chest tubes inserted. I still am experiencing some shortness of breath and chest tightness where I had my injury. Especially today when I over exert myself. Is this normal? How long does it take too heal? I also had 2 displaced fractures of my femur and another broken bone in my leg and fractured my ankle. All on my right side, had a rod and screws in my leg. Doing well with my leg. Seeing my orthopedic specia list on Monday for my leg. But wondering if I need to see someone for my ribs or lungs. Thank you. Judy Lewandowski
Thu, 2 Jul 2015
thanks for asking your query
I completely understand your problem
5 months back u had a pneumothorax which would have been resolved by now.feeling of tightness is normal at the part where tube was inserted.and about ur breathlessness ,it may be due to some pleural thickening or reduced vital capacity.
best u can do is get a spirometry done ,it will explain about ur lungs in detail and a pulmonologist can guide you best after seeing your spirometry report. some obstruction can be there after resolved pneumothorax and there is some amount of restriction too that can bea cause off ur breathlessness
I completely understand your problem
5 months back u had a pneumothorax which would have been resolved by now.feeling of tightness is normal at the part where tube was inserted.and about ur breathlessness ,it may be due to some pleural thickening or reduced vital capacity.
best u can do is get a spirometry done ,it will explain about ur lungs in detail and a pulmonologist can guide you best after seeing your spirometry report. some obstruction can be there after resolved pneumothorax and there is some amount of restriction too that can bea cause off ur breathlessness
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