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Suggest Treatment For Left Sided Chest Pain
Posted on
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Answered on
Tue, 2 Feb 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : i have left chest pain under my left pec it does radiate to the back it is localized to where i know the exact area it hurts it does not spread it stays in that same area its like a stabbing pain not squeezing or anything no other symptoms and it comes and goes been going on for 24 hours i am a healthy 25 year old male had my heart tested 1 year ago and it was healthy any ideas
Brief Answer:
Possible muscle soreness
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Well, there are a lot of causes that can trigger pain in the chest area. The symptoms, as you describe them, adding the young age of 25 years old, rule out angina (pain derived from blockages within coronary arteries) and pleuritic pain (sharp, stabbing, more widespread pain in the chest, generated from acute or chronic inflammation of within chest organ linings such as pleura and pericardium). Therefore, my opinion is that this is merely a between-rib muscle (intercostal muscle) soreness. This happens mostly when activities, such as physical ones, which require laboured breathing, during which the intercostal muscles are also included in the respiratory cycle, besides diaphragm, are performed. Also, minor traumas to the ribcage, even those that one cannot remember of happening, can cause this kind of pai, due to minor trauma to the rib bones. I would recommend you to follow a short (5 to 7 day) course of over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, e.g. ibuprofen or ketoprofen). If no pain relief is achieved, it is only then when we can discuss about further tests.
I hope I was of help. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. If you do not, please close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you the best,
Dr. Meriton
Possible muscle soreness
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Well, there are a lot of causes that can trigger pain in the chest area. The symptoms, as you describe them, adding the young age of 25 years old, rule out angina (pain derived from blockages within coronary arteries) and pleuritic pain (sharp, stabbing, more widespread pain in the chest, generated from acute or chronic inflammation of within chest organ linings such as pleura and pericardium). Therefore, my opinion is that this is merely a between-rib muscle (intercostal muscle) soreness. This happens mostly when activities, such as physical ones, which require laboured breathing, during which the intercostal muscles are also included in the respiratory cycle, besides diaphragm, are performed. Also, minor traumas to the ribcage, even those that one cannot remember of happening, can cause this kind of pai, due to minor trauma to the rib bones. I would recommend you to follow a short (5 to 7 day) course of over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, e.g. ibuprofen or ketoprofen). If no pain relief is achieved, it is only then when we can discuss about further tests.
I hope I was of help. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. If you do not, please close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you the best,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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