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What Causes Recurring Flare Ups Of Pleurisy?
march 30, 2015 I went to the ER for severe chest pain. The pain started under my xyphoid process and then wrapped around my entire body as if my diaphragm was in pain. But the small area around my xyphoid process was still greater then the pain in my diaphragm. Long story short I was diagnosed with pleurisy. Ever since then, on occasion (once a month for april and May) I would have flare ups. I could still breath but I had uncomfortable pain. Now more recently this month of June I ve been having flare ups once a week. I had one last Monday, yesterday and in the middle of the night today. So I guess it s more frequent now than once a week. But when I have these flare ups it s usually in the middle of the night between 4:30 and 6:30 am. I still have 800mg ibuprofen from when I went to the ER, I take one and after about an hour the pain goes away and I m fine. But my question is, why do I keep having these flare ups? What is causing these flare ups? How do I prevent it from happening again?
Tue, 9 Mar 2021
Hello,
You have history of pleurisy. Pleurisy can be commonly caused by viral and bacterial infections, that get cured when treatment course is completed. Other causes are blood clot blocking the flow of blood into the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or lung cancer. Pus in your pleural cavity (empyema). These conditions may cause chronic symptoms if left untreated and may cause recurrent flare ups of the symptoms.
You are suggested to get repeat tests, investigations and imaging tests done. Get follow up clinical examination done so that you can be treated at the earliest. To accurately diagnose the cause of pleurisy, your clinician will combine a history of the patient’s symptoms with a full physical examination and results of diagnostic tests.
You will be treated accordingly. In the meantime, take heat therapy for relief. Get gentle massage done with pain relieving ointments. You can take analgesics, one SOS for relief. Stay away from addictions if any, take home made food rich in minerals and proteins, stay hydrated and take adequate sleep.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
You have history of pleurisy. Pleurisy can be commonly caused by viral and bacterial infections, that get cured when treatment course is completed. Other causes are blood clot blocking the flow of blood into the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or lung cancer. Pus in your pleural cavity (empyema). These conditions may cause chronic symptoms if left untreated and may cause recurrent flare ups of the symptoms.
You are suggested to get repeat tests, investigations and imaging tests done. Get follow up clinical examination done so that you can be treated at the earliest. To accurately diagnose the cause of pleurisy, your clinician will combine a history of the patient’s symptoms with a full physical examination and results of diagnostic tests.
You will be treated accordingly. In the meantime, take heat therapy for relief. Get gentle massage done with pain relieving ointments. You can take analgesics, one SOS for relief. Stay away from addictions if any, take home made food rich in minerals and proteins, stay hydrated and take adequate sleep.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
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