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What Causes Dull Pain On Left Side In Lung Area And Anxiety?
Question: I have had a dull pain on my left side for 3-4 days now that started after smoking weed one day after basketball. The pain is not terrible, rather it is barely noticeable when not aggravated and is only really noticed when coughing. Smoking perhaps exaggerates the sensation as I smoke weed and cigarettes daily. I'm trying to figure out where this discomfort is actually located- I would want to say my lung - but I'm under the impression one does not usually feel lung pain in general and rather it could be the muscles or linings around that area. Long story short, I want to know how worried I should be about this and if I'm just having anxiety because I smoke and it feels like it's "from the bottom of my lung". I guess the reason I have anxiety about it is because I have had temporary sensations like this before after smoking where it feels like I almost want to hit or dig at the area to get the feeling out if that description makes any sense but it always goes away by the next morning
Brief Answer:
All of them may be causing the pain together, needs evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. The pain you mentioned in left upper torso and upper chest is due to multiple causes three of them are found in you and all of them could be playing their role in this chest pain.
1) Recent basketball play ( you might not have warmed up enough or over stretched your muscles leading to spasm and likely the pain in follow up)
2) Smoking weed and cigarette:
Both of these are notorious for airways irritation and pleural membranes inflammation which results in pain referred to the very same area you mentioned.
3) Anxiety:
Anxiety and panic attacks are the commonest cause of such pains and altogether be attributing to your case.
Nutshell here is what you should do.
1) Quit smoking weeds and cigarettes. These are bad and devastating both in short term as well as long term sequelae.
2) Take some ibuprofen for the pain with some skelaxin. If its muscle pull secondary to the game, it should resolve.
3) If the pain persists get evaluated. A simple chest radiograph with some baseline work up would tell if the lungs are inflamed or infected.
Talk to your doctor and let them decide what is best for you.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
All of them may be causing the pain together, needs evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. The pain you mentioned in left upper torso and upper chest is due to multiple causes three of them are found in you and all of them could be playing their role in this chest pain.
1) Recent basketball play ( you might not have warmed up enough or over stretched your muscles leading to spasm and likely the pain in follow up)
2) Smoking weed and cigarette:
Both of these are notorious for airways irritation and pleural membranes inflammation which results in pain referred to the very same area you mentioned.
3) Anxiety:
Anxiety and panic attacks are the commonest cause of such pains and altogether be attributing to your case.
Nutshell here is what you should do.
1) Quit smoking weeds and cigarettes. These are bad and devastating both in short term as well as long term sequelae.
2) Take some ibuprofen for the pain with some skelaxin. If its muscle pull secondary to the game, it should resolve.
3) If the pain persists get evaluated. A simple chest radiograph with some baseline work up would tell if the lungs are inflamed or infected.
Talk to your doctor and let them decide what is best for you.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the information and to name some of the possibilities. I just wanted to specify that the pain is on my lower left side. Like right under the bottom of my ribs as opposed to the upper chest region. If it were my upper chest I would be more familiar with the associated pain as I have had a respiratory infection before. But if it is associated with my lungs it would be at the very bottom of them and it is just a strange location to me. I will follow your advice and cut of smoking activities and go the doctor but with the information I provided does that give any clearer of a picture?
Brief Answer:
Needs correlation clinically
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
With further specifying the location this is right hypochondriac pain and can be attributed to gastric discomforts as well and can be the 4th cause of this pain. Taking some antaicds as an option will also help.
If the problem persists despite these baseline home remedies i would suggest to talk to your doctor and let them see what it is by narrowing the possibilities.
Regards
Khan
Needs correlation clinically
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
With further specifying the location this is right hypochondriac pain and can be attributed to gastric discomforts as well and can be the 4th cause of this pain. Taking some antaicds as an option will also help.
If the problem persists despite these baseline home remedies i would suggest to talk to your doctor and let them see what it is by narrowing the possibilities.
Regards
Khan
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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