@urlacher,

I don't/didn't have that symptom myself but I do have pain around my ribs. The word 'costcochondritis' has been mentioned to me and that seems to fit---- but I had that (although not as bad as lately) before my first PE.

'Tissue damage' that your doc mentioned sounds reasonable, but it's certainly been longer than 'a few months' so I think that was a good guess but not the real reason.

Others may come along that have this symptom. In the meantime I'm learning, by reading here for a couple of years, that the sequelae from a PE is not as simple nor as well known as we would like. I hope you can find an answer and some relief.

Yes I was wondering if the PE's I had in my lungs produced scar tissue.
Once in awhile when walking I get a little short of breath. The DVT
in my calf never hurt at any time.

But I don't think it's worth the radiation to see if there are scars.

it's been 14 months since the clots.

I was thinking possibly Costochondritis, as well. I've had this periodically since my PE, and it comes and goes, lasting for months sometimes. It hurts to touch the space between some of my ribs. For me, it was very painful to sit up.

There's no test for it. They usually base the diagnosis by symptoms, and my eliminating other causes. If you're not on warfarin, you can take NSAIDs for pain and inflammation. Heat (or ice, or alternate between both) may help.

Might want to give your doc a call just to rule out any other possibilities.

I'm wondering about scar tissue too. I had periodic pain for a long time after my PEs, and strangely, anything that triggered GI upset (i.e. eating dairy) would cause me to wake up in the night with sharp pains in my chest. I gave up dairy, which helped, but occasionally I will be stupid and eat something with cheese in it, and without fail, chest pains during the night. Anyway, about a week ago, I rolled over in bed and felt a really odd pop in my chest, didn't hurt at all, it was almost exactly like the pop I felt when the scar tissue broke up after my shoulder surgery years ago. I would be worried about it, except that not only was there no pain, but the chest pains have basically stopped since it happened. Yesterday I ate cheese, which would normally have me waking up in pain during the night, and no chest symptoms at all. Very bizarre, and I will definitely bring it up with my doctor next time I visit, but I don't feel like it's worth a special visit considering the left side of my chest has felt more open and pain free than it has since before my PEs. So strange!