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Sharp Side Pains
Since last night on and off I have been having a very shrap pain on the left side, along the rib area. It started and only happenned about every hour, but this morning its more like 8-10 times an hour. It's cripiling pain, I stop moving and have to bend over till the pain passes. Any suggestions?
I would not worry too much about a cardiac etiology. The pain is not at all typical. Cardiac pain is generally dull, generally substernal and the hallmark is that is it never positionally relieved.
It sounds pleuritic. These pains tends to be self-limiting and then go away inexplicably. Sometimes there is inflammation and infection.
There are worse-case scenarios. It is possible to develop what is called a tension pneumothorax, in which the lung collapses. Even though this is rare, normally if there is serious unexplained chest pain, it's best to head for an ER. In your case I am going to make a guess and say this is not the problem. It would have progressed to a lung collapse by now.
Muscle pull and shingles are also good guesses.
My two cents worth is that an emergency room is the place to get such problems diagnosed. Not in a physician's office. One of the reasons is that "two heads are better than one". In an ER you always get input from two to four physicians, each of whom had something to contribute.
While a CT is acceptable, in the United States an MRI offers more information with less danger from radiation. In a hospital you also generally have a pulmonary specialist on call. These people are very good with evaluating lung problems.
When you talk with the physician provide him with a clear history. The time of onset. What you were doing when the pain came on. And make a time-line to explain how and when the pain came and went. Compare and contrast the pain to the same pain you had several years ago. Think about any activity you may have been involved in that may have caused you to pull a muscle.
Should you still be concerned?
Boy, that is a million dollar question.
The chances are this is not life-threatening. There is always the possibility that it is, but it's not likely.
Post back when they provide a diagnosis.
It sounds pleuritic. These pains tends to be self-limiting and then go away inexplicably. Sometimes there is inflammation and infection.
There are worse-case scenarios. It is possible to develop what is called a tension pneumothorax, in which the lung collapses. Even though this is rare, normally if there is serious unexplained chest pain, it's best to head for an ER. In your case I am going to make a guess and say this is not the problem. It would have progressed to a lung collapse by now.
Muscle pull and shingles are also good guesses.
My two cents worth is that an emergency room is the place to get such problems diagnosed. Not in a physician's office. One of the reasons is that "two heads are better than one". In an ER you always get input from two to four physicians, each of whom had something to contribute.
While a CT is acceptable, in the United States an MRI offers more information with less danger from radiation. In a hospital you also generally have a pulmonary specialist on call. These people are very good with evaluating lung problems.
When you talk with the physician provide him with a clear history. The time of onset. What you were doing when the pain came on. And make a time-line to explain how and when the pain came and went. Compare and contrast the pain to the same pain you had several years ago. Think about any activity you may have been involved in that may have caused you to pull a muscle.
Should you still be concerned?
Boy, that is a million dollar question.
The chances are this is not life-threatening. There is always the possibility that it is, but it's not likely.
Post back when they provide a diagnosis.
Thanks! I have an appt. tomorrow to discuss a few things with my doctor. The pains have stopped. Should I still be concened with it?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If you had cough or cold in recent past, then it could be a pleuritic chest pain. Pulmonary embolism is another possibility. A CT scan of chest should be diagnostic. The other possibility is a pain of angina. This can be diagnosed by an EKG. Other than that pain of pericarditis can also present this way. Muscle pull too could be a cause. Shingles too starts this way with pain along a dermatome (area supplied by a nerve) and appears like a band in the chest area. Rash follows later.
Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If you had cough or cold in recent past, then it could be a pleuritic chest pain. Pulmonary embolism is another possibility. A CT scan of chest should be diagnostic. The other possibility is a pain of angina. This can be diagnosed by an EKG. Other than that pain of pericarditis can also present this way. Muscle pull too could be a cause. Shingles too starts this way with pain along a dermatome (area supplied by a nerve) and appears like a band in the chest area. Rash follows later.
Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!
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