Occassionally when I take a deep breath, I experience severe lower back and lung pain

[Attrayo]

I'm not sure if this is Pleurisy or not, but there have been two or three occassions when to inhale deeply created so sharp a pain in my lower left back and lungs that I had to immediately stop breathing and breath only in a very shallow and careful manner.  Those incidents have each been a few years apart.  On each occassion I went to the emergency room where I was given a shot of something that immediately took away all of the pain (and aches and pains in other areas of my body, too.  I was told that this drug is not prescribed because it would cost at least $20.00 per pill.)  I have asthma but it is easily managed.  What can you tell me about this condition that the E.R. Dr. speculated was "probably Pleurisy."  This began happening when I was approximately forty years old.  I am now fifty-nine years old.  Lastnight when it happened during the night, I'd initially felt very chilly and weak, then went to bed and woke up later with this pain.  My cortizone inhaler seemed to take care of the problem.

[lynnkay]

I have read both of your posts. I am no expert by any means, so bear that in mind. But, I have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. I have experienced pleurisy 5 times within the past year. My first time with it, it took 3 mths. to get over. It was a miserable 3 mths. I went to the doctor, but still took that long to get over. I have had two other episodes of pleurisy, that I did not go to the doctor for. Those were milder episodes, that lasted maybe 4 to 7 days. Just two months ago, I had a severe enough bout again, that required me going to the doctor. I was given an antibiotic and luckily I got over it within about a week. Just last week, I once again developed pleurisy. It has since passed, but took some days before it did. The 5 times that I have had pleurisy it never comes and goes. The pain is consistent. And it is very painful. The worse case that I first had, was located under my right breast area. This is a very common area for pleurisy. I have experienced it at othe times, through my shoulder blades, upper chest area and lower right lung. Ibuprofen does ease the pain somewhat and helps with inflamation. All 5 times that I have developed pleurisy, I will go to bed feeling okay and just will simply wake up with it. I am on various inhalers for my lung disease. These inhalers do not ease my pleurisy whatsoever. Like one of you posted, I too have known indigestion. I have acid reflux. Pleurisy pain and indigestion pain are no where near the same. With pleurisy you can feel ill with it. I especially did with that 3 mth. bout I had with it. Chills, fever and general feeling of not feeling well. Hope this helps you both somewhat. I cannot say whether you all have had pleurisy or not. This has just been my experience with it. Whenever I wake up and have pleurisy, I simply dread it. Good luck to you both and hope you find answer to your alls' condition.

[Chinacat321]

I am 24 years old, I also have easily managed asthma and believe I have had the same symptoms as you had. However I more frequently have had these bursts of sharp pain over the past...at least 6 years.  I sometime get in the exact same place, lower back and almost stabbing sharp pain into my lungs.  I have also had the experience in the middle of my chest, or to one side or the other, and up high near my clavicle,  but always shooting sharp pain toward under the rib cage and in my lung. I also almost hold my breathe and try to breathe slowly, but I don't think it is for lack of ability to breathe, but more to bare the pain. Inhalers do not work for me. Nothing I do can alleviate it. It usually lasts for only a few minutes, but up to maybe 15 min. and sometime starts and lessens and gets worse again. I never got any answer as to what it was, Pulmonary doc said it was strange and maybe indigestion (i know what indigestion feels like) but didn't know what it could be. A friend told me it sounded like Pleurisy...but in my research on it, doesn't seem to fit. I don't know if you have done any research that explained anything, but I would be interested to know if you have.