Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Has Dull Pain In Left Side Of Chest. Taking Nexium. Suggestions?
Question: My husband has a dull pain in the left side of his chest... It comes and goes and he runs four miles a day and it is not worse with exercise....
Brief Answer:
Chest wall pain
Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.
It is very important to try to determine if this pain is musculoskeletal or if it is somehow related to a problem with his XXXXXXX organs. One of the easiest ways to determine this is to press on the area with your hand and if this reproduces the pain this is most likely an indication that the pain is related to the musculoskeletal system.
if pressing on the area does reproduce pain then the most likely cause is inflammation of the chest wall or Chestwall muscles. This is also often referred to as costochondritis. usually we treat this with supportive care including warm compresses and ibuprofen or Tylenol. Generally the symptoms will improve over a few weeks.
if you're not able to reproduce the pain by pressing on his chest then I really think this should be evaluated by a pneumonia or possibly problems with the heart can contribute to left-sided chest pain. Also sometimes if there is significant inflammation of the esophagus this can also cause various types of chest pain.
Thanks again for sending your question. Please let us know if you have any additional specific concerns.
Dr. Galamaga
Chest wall pain
Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.
It is very important to try to determine if this pain is musculoskeletal or if it is somehow related to a problem with his XXXXXXX organs. One of the easiest ways to determine this is to press on the area with your hand and if this reproduces the pain this is most likely an indication that the pain is related to the musculoskeletal system.
if pressing on the area does reproduce pain then the most likely cause is inflammation of the chest wall or Chestwall muscles. This is also often referred to as costochondritis. usually we treat this with supportive care including warm compresses and ibuprofen or Tylenol. Generally the symptoms will improve over a few weeks.
if you're not able to reproduce the pain by pressing on his chest then I really think this should be evaluated by a pneumonia or possibly problems with the heart can contribute to left-sided chest pain. Also sometimes if there is significant inflammation of the esophagus this can also cause various types of chest pain.
Thanks again for sending your question. Please let us know if you have any additional specific concerns.
Dr. Galamaga
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
