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What Causes Right Side Chest Pain?
Question: I have a pain in the right side of my chest and am not sure if it's a muscle strain or something more serious. i have been working out for the past 5 weeks and little pain until this past week. I would like to know if this is something serious and if not how long the pain will likly last. The pain appears to increase when laying on my back or during a workout if I try to do sit ups.
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Right side chest pain is usually not a reason to concern. Left side chest pain is what we are always afraid of as heart issues can give such symptom.
However if the pain has appeared suddenly with shortness of breath and some radiation to the arm, pneumothorax is possible. This condition can appear with no reason. Sometimes sudden cough or sudden lift of heavy object can cause it. It is more possible if you smoke or have chronic lungs disease like asthma or bronchitis.
If nothing like that is present, strained muscle is the most probable reason. Strained muscle usually appears only when the chest is moving, and should be completely gone when lying down and not breathing.
If the pain is sharp and well localized, more intense when breathing, rib nerve issue is the most probable reason.
In both cases, rest and anti-inflammatory medicines like Diclophenac should help.
If the pneumothorax sounds possible, you should have chest x-ray done as soon as possible.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Right side chest pain is usually not a reason to concern. Left side chest pain is what we are always afraid of as heart issues can give such symptom.
However if the pain has appeared suddenly with shortness of breath and some radiation to the arm, pneumothorax is possible. This condition can appear with no reason. Sometimes sudden cough or sudden lift of heavy object can cause it. It is more possible if you smoke or have chronic lungs disease like asthma or bronchitis.
If nothing like that is present, strained muscle is the most probable reason. Strained muscle usually appears only when the chest is moving, and should be completely gone when lying down and not breathing.
If the pain is sharp and well localized, more intense when breathing, rib nerve issue is the most probable reason.
In both cases, rest and anti-inflammatory medicines like Diclophenac should help.
If the pneumothorax sounds possible, you should have chest x-ray done as soon as possible.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If this is a pulled muscle, how long will it take to heal? I have little to no pain when laying still but if I lift my arms I have a pretty significant amount of discomfort. I am not a smoker nor do I have any type of cough of feeling of being ill. I would be considered overweight but again am in good shape and pretty well conditioned. Can you tell me if Diclophenac is an over the counter drug and if not are you able to call in prescriptions?
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
Pulled muscle can heal from a week to few weeks. The pain should gradually decrease. Please treat the pain as an indicator. It tells you that you should not move the painful part as it is not healed already. Rest is very important in healing process.
Pneumothorax is hardly possible in your case.
Diclophenac is on prescription only in US and I am unable to call in prescriptions.
However you may try Naproxen instead of Diclophenac which is OTC in US and has similar effect. It is under brand names: Aleve, Anaprox, Anaprox-DS, EC-Naprosyn, Leader Naproxen Sodium, Midol Extended Relief, Naprelan 375, Naprosyn.
Hope this will help.
Regards.
.
Detailed Answer:
Pulled muscle can heal from a week to few weeks. The pain should gradually decrease. Please treat the pain as an indicator. It tells you that you should not move the painful part as it is not healed already. Rest is very important in healing process.
Pneumothorax is hardly possible in your case.
Diclophenac is on prescription only in US and I am unable to call in prescriptions.
However you may try Naproxen instead of Diclophenac which is OTC in US and has similar effect. It is under brand names: Aleve, Anaprox, Anaprox-DS, EC-Naprosyn, Leader Naproxen Sodium, Midol Extended Relief, Naprelan 375, Naprosyn.
Hope this will help.
Regards.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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