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What Causes Sharp Pain In The Left Side Of The Chest?
Question: Hi, for the past two weeks I have had bad chest pain on my left side up by my heart. At first I thought it might just be a pulled muscle but the pain has not gotten any better. I can't cough or laugh or sneeze or move in a funny way without excruciating sharp pain. It hurts to touch the area and it is starting to hurt when I breath in and out. I'm just wanting to know if it sounds like a muscle thing or whether I need to go get an X-ray or something ?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your recent medical history and would like to explain that your chest pain feeling is quite unlikely to be related to any cardiac issue.
Instead, it seems that an extra-cardiac cause be the reason for such a kind og pain (modulated by coughing, laughing, sneezing or moving.
Coming to this point a careful differential diagnosis should be done, including alternatives like following:
- costochondritis,
- preural inflammation,
- muscular inflammation/injury,
- a backbone disorder
In this regard, a careful physical examination and some medical tests would be helpful:
- complete blood count,
- PCR,
- ESR,
- chest X ray study,
- lateral backbone X ray study,
- CPK, AST, ALT, LDH levels
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs similat to what you have tried have proved to be helpful, but their use should be guided carefully under the doctor supervision.
You need to discuss with your doctor on the above mentinoned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties,feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your recent medical history and would like to explain that your chest pain feeling is quite unlikely to be related to any cardiac issue.
Instead, it seems that an extra-cardiac cause be the reason for such a kind og pain (modulated by coughing, laughing, sneezing or moving.
Coming to this point a careful differential diagnosis should be done, including alternatives like following:
- costochondritis,
- preural inflammation,
- muscular inflammation/injury,
- a backbone disorder
In this regard, a careful physical examination and some medical tests would be helpful:
- complete blood count,
- PCR,
- ESR,
- chest X ray study,
- lateral backbone X ray study,
- CPK, AST, ALT, LDH levels
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs similat to what you have tried have proved to be helpful, but their use should be guided carefully under the doctor supervision.
You need to discuss with your doctor on the above mentinoned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties,feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
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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