Lung Pain

Hi,
I've had a sharp occasional lung pain for the better part of 25 years.  Started in my late teens with a pain so intense I could not inhale more than a whisper for hours.  That went away and I've had mild pain of the same type since off and on.  Yes I smoke and am trying to quit unsuccessfully.  If I sneeze some times the pain can stop the sneeze in the deep breath stage.  Normally it is a by weekly tingling pain.  Sometimes get a cramp that will wake me up from sleeping or when talking to some one.  If I am laying down getting a cramp I can sit up and it passes.  Location is left side apx. 2" below nipple and 1" left.  Seen doctor twice or so and nothing was diagnose. Please help.
Thanks
Jim K.

[National Jewish]

The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to quit smoking!  You may want to look at our Quit Smoking Topic Center at http://www.nationaljewish.org/topic/smoking_cessation.html for ways to help you to quit smoking.  Also check with your doctor for other quit smoking resources in your area.

Since your pain is continuing you will need to be seen by your doctor again to find out the nature of the problem.  This could be related to your smoking or it may have nothing to do with your smoking.  To know for sure if this is due to a lung problem you will need to have testing done.  A good place to start is with a chest x-ray.  A pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to identify a lung problem and the best treatment.