Viral Infection?

[Franky77]

Im a 27yr male you smokes marijuana regularly. Im in overall good health. I get heartburn occasionally, more frequently as of late and everyone on my father's side has had their gall bladder removed. Two weeks ago I woke up with what I thought was a kink im my neck, by the time I went to bed that night my neck and right shoulder hurt to the point I could not sleep on the right side of my body or back. I woke up the next morning almost in tears. The only thing that would stop the pain was hot wet rags out of the microwave applied directly. I went to the doctor that day. He listened to me breathe and checked my back out and he said I had a Viral Infection because of my low-grade temp. He prescribed me Naproxen @ 500 mg twice daily for two weeks and my neck and shoulder pain decreased severly but is not gone completly and I'm down to 1 pill left. I also would sweat in my sleep for about a week there but that has stopped. I smoked some marijuana today and my shoulder started hurting immediatly. The pain has moved down into my chest on my right side as well as my neck and right shoulder. This pain is not as bad as it was in the beginning. I will be able to sleep tonight, the pain is not that sevre.
Also, this July I was diagnosed with condritis, or something of that nature, in the ER. It was described to me as swelling of the cartlidge between my ribs and my breast bone. I admitted myself after feeling chest pains and the EKG and bloodwork all came back normal.

I am going back to the doc. and I know I must quit smoking now.

I am sorry for taking your time for such a small problem but I would be interested on hearing what you think.

Does this sound like a Viral infection?
Could this be gall bladder related?
Is it possible that I have a collapsed or partally collapsed lung from smoking marijuana or would I be in more pain than I am now?
Could I just be paranoid because of smoking?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) It is possible a viral infection can cause the symptoms.  Things like a low-grade fever and night sweats certainly may be suggestive of a virus.

2) Possible - although it typically doesn't cause night sweats.  You may want to consider an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the liver and gallbladder.

3) To evaluate for this, a chest X-ray would be able to determine whether there is lung collapse.

Another consideration would be a rheumatological evaluation - since costochondritis (inflammation of the rib joints) can present with your symptoms as well.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[Franky77]

Called the Doc., He called in a prescrip. for another months worth of Naproxen. Wouldn't I be in sufficent pain or have problems breathing if I had a partially collapsed lung?
The pain does not increase or decrease when I take deep breaths, its just there and sometimes it feels worse than others.
I guess Im just having a hard time associating the shoulder and neck pain with a Virus but I guess that why Im not a doctor.
Any info. you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
You have a wonderful site.
Thanks for the help.