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What Causes Pain In Ribs,sternum And Burning Under Arm?
Question: Hi. I am a 31 year old female. I had pneumonia in XXXXXXX of this year. Later this year I developed extreme pain in my ribs, sternum and burning under my left arm and shooting down left arm. It is painful to talk/laugh. I'm also very fatigued and losing weight. Chest xray and bloods are clear. Would a CT scan show intercostal neuralgia? My doctor does not seem to interested in assisting me since ruling out pneumonia relapse.Could it be PE or pleurisy either?
Brief Answer:
CT scan is a detailed investigation and can help
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
A CT scan chest would definitely give a clear picture of the chest and lungs. As you have had a pneumonia early this year, there might be causes such as pleurisy which can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. PE is usually associated with breathlessness and may not be associated with your condition. Intercostal neuralgia is pain in the front and back of chest caused by damage to one of those nerves and/or loss of function of that nerve. A CT scan chest will show any condition causing irritation of intercostal nerves leading to the pain.
Any residual pneumonia changes will also be seen on CT scan chest.
A general clinical examination and basic blood workup may be required to causes of fatigue and weight loss.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
CT scan is a detailed investigation and can help
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
A CT scan chest would definitely give a clear picture of the chest and lungs. As you have had a pneumonia early this year, there might be causes such as pleurisy which can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. PE is usually associated with breathlessness and may not be associated with your condition. Intercostal neuralgia is pain in the front and back of chest caused by damage to one of those nerves and/or loss of function of that nerve. A CT scan chest will show any condition causing irritation of intercostal nerves leading to the pain.
Any residual pneumonia changes will also be seen on CT scan chest.
A general clinical examination and basic blood workup may be required to causes of fatigue and weight loss.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your reply. My blood work showed up normal. Could I have shingles without a rash? Would this show up on blood tests? I'm also having memory and attention problems which I don't know if are because I am off work sick or related to my other symptoms. Could it be MS?
Thank you for your reply. My blood work showed up normal. Could I have shingles without a rash? Would this show up on blood tests? I'm also having memory and attention problems which I don't know if are because I am off work sick or related to my other symptoms. Could it be MS?
Brief Answer:
Shingles without pain unusual but possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
It is possible to have shingles pain without developing rashes. Pain is the first symptom in shingles. It is important to keep in mind that shingles is usually seen in patients with a weak immunity and in the elderly. The rashes may form later in a band or stripe fashion wrapping around the right or left side of the torso.
MS is a condition that is diagnosed based of clinical and imaging criteria standardized internationally. Without doing a complete neurological clinical examination and following it up with a MRI if indicated, its nearly impossible to confirm MS. Memory and attention problems have many causes from mild to severe medical conditions. Even normal people under stress related anxiety may have memory and attention problems.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Shingles without pain unusual but possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
It is possible to have shingles pain without developing rashes. Pain is the first symptom in shingles. It is important to keep in mind that shingles is usually seen in patients with a weak immunity and in the elderly. The rashes may form later in a band or stripe fashion wrapping around the right or left side of the torso.
MS is a condition that is diagnosed based of clinical and imaging criteria standardized internationally. Without doing a complete neurological clinical examination and following it up with a MRI if indicated, its nearly impossible to confirm MS. Memory and attention problems have many causes from mild to severe medical conditions. Even normal people under stress related anxiety may have memory and attention problems.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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