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Sharp Pain In My Left Chest Area. Very Painful To

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Posted on Thu, 11 Apr 2019
Question: Sharp pain in my left chest area. Very painful to cough, sneeze, inhale very deeply and move?
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
different possible causes

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Chest pain can due to any structure in the chest: lungs and its coverings, heart, esophagus, muscles and bones, nerves

Heart attack pain is most concerning with any chest pain but it is not likely with the symptoms described. Heart attack related pain does not vary with breathing or coughing or sneezing or movement.

Pleuritic pain can be worsened with breathing, sneezing, coughing, laughing. Pleuritic pain refers to pain due to inflammation or irritation of the pleura.

The pleura refer to linings that cover the outside of the lungs. They can become inflamed for different reasons : (1)viral infection
(2)pulmonary embolism (PE)- clot in the lungs
(3)pneumothorax(air in the space outside the lungs, in the chest space)

PE and pneumothorax tend to get worse over a few minutes to hours whereas pleuritic pain due to infection takes days. this helps to distinguish causes but tests are still needed

There are conditions such as pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart- also commonly due to a viral infection) that can also cause this type of pain

A chest x ray, ECG- provide further information if the pain continues.

The fact that your pain also varies with movement implies that it may also be muscle related- inflammation of the muscles of the chest wall. Inflammation of the muscles can cause pain with any movement of the muscles even with taking a deep breath or laughing

Anti inflammatory pain medication is commonly used for pleuritic pain or muscle related pain eg naproxen, cataflam, ibuprofen

If related to a PE , then additional treatment needed

Summary: With pain on movement, muscle pain is likely but because of the other symptoms,need to rule out pleuritic pain as a cause
Tests may be needed

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Sharp Pain In My Left Chest Area. Very Painful To

Brief Answer: different possible causes Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Chest pain can due to any structure in the chest: lungs and its coverings, heart, esophagus, muscles and bones, nerves Heart attack pain is most concerning with any chest pain but it is not likely with the symptoms described. Heart attack related pain does not vary with breathing or coughing or sneezing or movement. Pleuritic pain can be worsened with breathing, sneezing, coughing, laughing. Pleuritic pain refers to pain due to inflammation or irritation of the pleura. The pleura refer to linings that cover the outside of the lungs. They can become inflamed for different reasons : (1)viral infection (2)pulmonary embolism (PE)- clot in the lungs (3)pneumothorax(air in the space outside the lungs, in the chest space) PE and pneumothorax tend to get worse over a few minutes to hours whereas pleuritic pain due to infection takes days. this helps to distinguish causes but tests are still needed There are conditions such as pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart- also commonly due to a viral infection) that can also cause this type of pain A chest x ray, ECG- provide further information if the pain continues. The fact that your pain also varies with movement implies that it may also be muscle related- inflammation of the muscles of the chest wall. Inflammation of the muscles can cause pain with any movement of the muscles even with taking a deep breath or laughing Anti inflammatory pain medication is commonly used for pleuritic pain or muscle related pain eg naproxen, cataflam, ibuprofen If related to a PE , then additional treatment needed Summary: With pain on movement, muscle pain is likely but because of the other symptoms,need to rule out pleuritic pain as a cause Tests may be needed I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions