Pneumothorax - Day 1 (from memory)

I was needling myself in the evening at my reading table - as I often do. I was searching for trigger points in my neck and shoulders, and had found an area sensitive to finger pressure at the base of my neck, within the ring of the left collarbone. The sensation was obviously not that of a 'trigger point', which causes a dull 'good' ache. This was a more urgent aching pain that went straight down deep into my shoulder joint. I am pretty sure that I was pressing directly on the brachial plexus, so there was no good reason to needle it (not that I always get good results from needling what I've identified as mtrps...). I did anyway.

I selected a 0.5 cun (25mm) needle and inserted it. I cannot remember my initial reaction, but when I entered the needle further I had a distinct sensation of the needle meeting resistance, then 'falling into space' after penetrating the resistance.

I did not feel any discomfort, but didn't get any satisfying deep aching either, so I removed the needle a few moments later without moving it much.

About ten or fifteen minutes later, during a heated discussion with my wife, I felt dizzy, and noticed that the left side of my chest and upper back were extremely uncomfortable. My hands and arms were also icy cold (though considering the room was about 15C, this might not be related). It immediately occurred to me I might have pneumothorax, so I went back to my desk and pulled several acupuncture texts down from the shelves. After determining that I did not have the breathing and heart abnormalities associated with severe pneumothorax, I went to the couch and sat there quietly to stay warm.

My symptoms did not get worse, although the tightness in my chest did not go away. I spent the night propped up in a 'lawn-chair' position (and slept very well). When I awoke I didn't feel worse, so I went to work as usual.

In retrospect, I wish I had swallowed my pride and gotten some x-rays of my chest.

I still (day 14?) have occasional discomfort in my left chest, but I don't know if it is related. The discomfort is not affected by my level of activity.