Originally Posted by Moxie

Hi there- I am 7 weeks post op for my first rib resection/scalenectomy (via clavicular not armpit) and I had similar pain in the same place from week 2 post-op through about 6 week post-op - My surgeon attributes the pain to body readjusting to trauma in that area. Same pain as you describe accompanied by a feeling of not being able to take a full deep breath. But, I also had to have a chest tube placed in and around my breast area. Sharp pain slowly subsided to dull ache and now I am able to take deep breathes fairly normally (depending on my position and how long I have been laying down/sitting up). I am not returning to work for at least another 2-3 months because of the position I would have to return to (sitting at a desk and using a computer an phone for majority of day).