Chest pain

[elizzard]

I have a popping in my chest when I cough really hard. I also have a pain in my chest on my left side like where my heart is but not on the other side. The pain is only there when I move weird, like if I'm crunching down or if I swing around quickly or stand really straight. I do smoke but there is no wheezing or blood or pain when I breathe. Could this be lung cancer? I think it's getting worse, what should I do? I've also had a sharp pain that shoots up the left side of my neck through the left side of my head and it last a split second but is very painful. It has been happening for 2 days now maybe 10 times a day. Please help.

[elizzard]

thank you

[Kamal S Saini, MD, MRCP (UK), DM]

Hi,
The shooting pain to the head is probably caused by some nerve being pinched.
The left chest pain that comes on with 'weird' postures, coughing etc, and since it is increasing in intensity, needs further investigation. Although it may eventually turn out to be merely a muscle catch or some such benign condition, still it needs testing.
Pl consult a doctor, and get a chest xray taken.
Best of luck.

[bhumi123]

Hello,

The type of pain you describe is definitely a cause of concern. And with the history of smoking it being a cancer would have to be ruled out. Lung cancer could present as chest pain without any other symptoms. Having said that it could also be related to some underlying heart condition or it could be a muscle pull. But to be able to diagnose it you need to get yourself evaluated by a physician and get all the relevant investigations including some blood tests, chest radigraph, ECG done at the earliest.