What Does Discomfort In The Upper Chest Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 24 Oct 2017

Question: Discomfort began upper right check, clavicle area, turned to pain. Now experiencing pain on both left and right. The pain is stronger when breathing deeply. A dull pain around 4, increased to a sharp pain around 8. Note: Post-op. Abdomen filled with a gas.Taking oxycodone. Had difficulty breathing after surgery, received treatment.

Correction: Upper chest, clavicle area. Not check/face.

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
muscular pain v/s neuritic pain

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting the query.

I have gone through your medical history and from the symptoms,it seems that the pain may be either muscular or neuritic in origin.

Muscular pain can occur due to unknowingly stretching of one or more of the cervical neck muscles.

Neuritic pain can occur due to inflammation or impingement of one of the spinal nerves inside the cervical spine.A slipped intervertebral disc is the commonest cause of such type of nerve impingement.

I would suggest you to take analgesics (like ibuprofen,tramadol) with methylcobalamin and folic acid tablets.Application of local gel with hot fomentation will be of help.

If symptoms do not improve within the next 3 days,you should consult a doctor and get MRI/X ray of the cervical spine done.

Avoid taking pillow below your head while sleeping.

Let me know if you have further doubts about this answer.

Thank you.
Best wishes.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana