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What Causes Sharp Left-sided Chest Pain While Breathing?

Posted on Mon, 30 May 2016

Question: I have a sharp pain on my left side at top of my ribs that I would describe as pleurisy as it increases as I try to breathe in. I have had it for two days. I am over 65 and obese and female.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have fever or cough or breathlessness?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Chest pain on breathing is commonly seen with musculoskeletal pain and pleuritic pain.
Pleuritic pain is commonly seen with lung infection. So it will give other symptoms like fever, cough, breathlessness etc.
If you have any of these symptoms then chest x ray is needed to rule out lung infection.
So please let me know
1. Do you have fever?
2. Do you have cough?
3. Do you have breathlessness?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

No fever, cough or breathlessness.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry for pleuritic pain.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Since you are not having any symptoms like fever, cough, breathlessness, no need to worry for pleuritic pain.
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
Please let me know
1. Do you feel pain on resting position?
2. Do you feel pain while moving your chest? Like getting out of bed or turning?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

There is pain on resting but less. And when I move and breathe there is more pain.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
See, your pain is more with movements. This favors musculoskeletal pain.
But you are also having pain at rest.
And at your age we should definitely think of cardiac chest pain first.
I forget to ask you few important things.
1. Do you smoke?
2. Do you have any comorbid conditions like diabetes or hypertension or dyslipidemia?
3. Are you taking any drugs for this pain?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

No smoking but obese. No comorbid conditions but do have treated hypertension. No drugs for pain at this time. Pain distinctly on left side at top of ribs.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Take simple painkiller like ibuprofen.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to worry for heart related pain.
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
So do following things.
1. Avoid movements causing pain.
2. Avoid heavyweight lifting and strenuous exercise?
3. Avoid bad postures in sleep.
4. Take painkiller like ibuprofen.
5. Apply warm water pad on affected areas.
You will mostly improve with all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar