Question on the pain I'm having

Ok, basically everything is going ok.  But I have two areas of pain and I don't understand what is causing them.

They are both on the left side.  One is behind my left rib and it has been there for over a week.  It hurts to take a deep breath.  It's not over the incision area; they are healing well and only causing minimal discomfort.  Is this pain I'm feeling a muscle that is healing?  How long will it take to heal?  It's just a bit of a drag, especially when I want to breath deeply.

The other pain is higher up in my back on the left.  It is a small area but certain ways I move...oh boy.  It feels like someone is pressing their knuckles into me.    Don't think it's related to my rib pain.  Neither pain feels like it's improving in over a week.  I didn't have them the first week afte surgery.

Don't think it's serious, but just wondering if anyone else had this and how long it takes to improve.

I had that left rib pain that you describe. I was told it was a muscle. I don't recall how long it lasted, but it lessened every day until it went away. Maybe a week or two?

Interesting!  I had a pain on the right side in my mid- upper back.  The only way I could describe it is ... if I ever had a cracked rib (which I haven't), it felt like a cracked rib in my back.  When I would turn a certain way, it would shoot a sharp pain.  I think it was a muscle ... but it lasted about 4-5 days ... then it went away ... ugh!

EXACTLY howI described my pain...I am only 5 weeks out today....my Dr told me he stitched something to the muscle....I guess its pretty much all gone now...maybe about a week ago is all of a sudden when I noticed..HEY  I think the stitch let loose!!!   Normal normal normal......hang in there...its annoying as heck I know....but with the next week or so Ill bet you wake up and dont even realize its not there anymore!!!!  Good luck!

I remember having a pain on my left side as you describe for about a month after surgery that progressed to a dull senstivity and now it's gone.      I think someone told me that they do most of their work in that general area (with tugging/pulling etc) with the instruments, so it's normal for you to have pain there.   

When in doubt though... definately check with your surgeon.

You need to go to your PCP and possibly get a chest X ray. Pain in your back when breathing can be your lungs and being you are so new after surgery, you need to check it out to make sure you didnt' develop pneumonia during surgery or postop in the hospital.  Please check it out - dont' ignore this type of pain.