Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Suggest Treatment For Pain Under The Rib Cage While Breathing

I am 42, 226 lbs, 5'6". I am experiencing severe pain in the upper left quadrant under my rib cage. The pain radiates through my chest to my back and in my left shoulder. When I breathe deep, the pain intensifies. My BP is 133/83, pulse is 75 bpm. In July of 2010, they found a small mass between my lung and heart. After my 2nd scan, it was nearly completely gone. Could it be recurring?
Thu, 17 Jul 2014
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
You are having severe pain in the left rib cage and this pain is radiating in the back and left shoulder joint . Pain aggravate when deep breath .
According to your height you are over weight but your B P and pulse if fine . Mass is no more .
This may be due to these reasons , these include.
1 Pleural effusion , diagnosis can be confirmed by X ray chest . This is the msot common cause of pain in this area , particularly pain intensify due to deep breath .
2 Thickened pleura may be the next reason of such pain and this is also radiating to the back , so this is a characteristic feature of such disease . Diagnosis can be confirmed by M R I of lungs and in this area .
3 Tumor in the lungs may be the another reason of such pain and M RI will find out the exact position .
Pain in the shoulder joint is a radiating pain due to irritation of diaphragm ( a membrane between abdomen and thorax ) because phrenic nerve supply both to diaphragm and shoulder joint .
In thickened pleaura or in pleurisy or any tumor in lungs in this area presses diaphragm hence pain in shoulder joint and also on the back side.
In my opinion consult a PULMONOLOGIST and get his opinion.
Hope this help you.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
Suggest Treatment For Pain Under The Rib Cage While Breathing

Hello You are having severe pain in the left rib cage and this pain is radiating in the back and left shoulder joint . Pain aggravate when deep breath . According to your height you are over weight but your B P and pulse if fine . Mass is no more . This may be due to these reasons , these include. 1 Pleural effusion , diagnosis can be confirmed by X ray chest . This is the msot common cause of pain in this area , particularly pain intensify due to deep breath . 2 Thickened pleura may be the next reason of such pain and this is also radiating to the back , so this is a characteristic feature of such disease . Diagnosis can be confirmed by M R I of lungs and in this area . 3 Tumor in the lungs may be the another reason of such pain and M RI will find out the exact position . Pain in the shoulder joint is a radiating pain due to irritation of diaphragm ( a membrane between abdomen and thorax ) because phrenic nerve supply both to diaphragm and shoulder joint . In thickened pleaura or in pleurisy or any tumor in lungs in this area presses diaphragm hence pain in shoulder joint and also on the back side. In my opinion consult a PULMONOLOGIST and get his opinion. Hope this help you.