Pain

[tx1980]

i have been having lung pain,night sweats,fitful sleep,been feeling bad all together flu like symptoms.Ive had ct,bronscopy,x ray all clear but still feeling bad does any one have any sugestions.i have been to Puliminary dr one said rib cartliage,one said no so what do you think.

[tx1980]

I had blood test done all Negtive but still have the lung pain,fitful sleep,night sweats,maliase,shortness of breath.All not checked pleura and larynx.

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

The night sweats, “lung pain” and flu-like symptoms suggest that you may have a systemic disease (one that involves more than a localized part of your body).  The normal/negative bronchoscopy, CT scan (presumably of your lungs) and (again presumably) chest X-ray almost completely rule out diagnosis of lung or chest disease.  Inflammation or separation of rib cartilage can be quite painful but would not cause the signs/symptoms you list.

It is worth considering that the CT and Chest X-ray and bronchoscopy, while very effective in the diagnosis of lung disease, might not demonstrate disease of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lung) or disease of the upper airways including the larynx.  This latter category would usually be seen with bronchoscopy, but if subtle, it could be missed.  In this regard, culture of sputum or of lung secretions encountered during bronchoscopy, especially culture for TB, could also be diagnostically important.

Evaluation with specific attention to the night sweats and your general symptom of “feeling bad” a search for infection could be done through blood testing by an Internal Medicine specialist or a Family Practice physician.  I suggest that would be a good place to start.

Good luck