Why am I feeling chest pain two months after sympathectomy?

Q: I am a 22 years old male. Two months back, I underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy (T2.3) for hyperhidrosis. Now, I experience chest pain. What should I do?

A:The sympathectomy should cure the hyperhidrosis.The procedure may have injured an intercostal nerve which supplies nerve fibers to the chest wall. The reaction to the injury may cause chest/ breast pain. Such an injury is likely to subside in time, usually within another month or two. Even if it takes longer to recover, it is better to wait.There may be a small reaction in the bone, causing bone pain that spreads to the chest wall. This is less likely, but even this will recover in time. Overall, I think you should wait for spontaneous recovery. However, do consult your doctor.