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What Causes Debilitating Right-sided Pleuritic Chest Pain?

Posted on Wed, 1 Jul 2015

Question: Hi I am a 34 year old healthy, very active athletic female, although I do smoke. I have been having random severe pleuritic-type pain on the right side of my chest, in the exact same place about 2-3 times a week for the last couple weeks. It usually starts when I am exercising hard. The first time it was when competing. This is not a muscle cramp, or rib pain, as when it stops, the pain is 100% gone. I have not recently had a cold, no cough, no other symptoms. When it does come on though, it is debilitating. I become very short of breath (because of the pain) and have to stop all activity. The pain starts under the right armpit and spreads though my entire right chest. My major concerns is the is could be a pulmonary embolism, however, would the pain go away for 3-5 days and then return? Thank you!!

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
possibility of bronchitis is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system.
2. Chest x ray
3. PFT (pulmonary function test).
Chest x ray is needed to rule out lung infection.
PFT is needed to rule out bronchitis.
Lung infection and bronchitis can cause pleuritic pain.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these. Pulmonary embolism is less likely.
Hope I have solved your query.
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 (5 minutes later)

Thank you for your reply! If it were bronchitis or a lung infection, would I not have a cough, fever, other symptoms? I am really in the best shape of my life and have never felt healthier except for this issue. It really scares me when it happens and I will be competing again this weekend...scared it will happen again. Where I live there is a 24 hour ER wait time and several month wait time to see a Physician, and that is not including time to see a specialist. That is what brings me to this site.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You might be having muscular spasm related pain.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your situation.
Since you are having pain only during exercise, possibility of severe muscle spasm and related pain is more.
With strenuous exercise, some of the muscles get tired and went into spasm state. This causes pain. Once you finish your exercise, this spasm will relieve by its own. And so pain is relieved.
So in my opinion, you should avoid exercises for 1-2 weeks. And if still pain persists then better to consult doctor and get done investigations.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

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