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Suggest Treatment For Mild Cough And Post Nasal Drip
Question: Hi. I am 31 years old. I have smoked off and on for a while, from the ages of 18-21, then again from age 27 until now. I have recently been having bad upper back pain on the left side. The dr. thinks it is muscular. I had a ct scan of lungs in April of 2014, it was clear (shortness of breath was from anxiety - which I have pretty bad.) I had a chest x ray in March for a cough (clear, allergies) and another chest x ray in May for this upper back pain. (clear) I do have a mild cough - dr thinks smokers cough and allergies from post nasal drip. But I have ongoing upper back pain. Should I seek another ct scan of lungs? Worried about lung cancer.
Brief Answer:
No need to worry for lung cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to worry for lung cancer because you are having normal CT scan in the past and recent chest x ray is also normal.
In my opinion, you are mostly having bronchitis.
Smokers are known to develop bronchitis.
And it can cause coughing and chest pain.
So better to get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
This is needed for the diagnosis of bronchitis.
It will also tell you about severity of the disease.
And treatment of bronchitis is based on severity only.
You may need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
Avoidance of smoking is must.
So no need to worry for lung cancer at present. No need for CT thorax. Better to get done PFT.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
No need to worry for lung cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to worry for lung cancer because you are having normal CT scan in the past and recent chest x ray is also normal.
In my opinion, you are mostly having bronchitis.
Smokers are known to develop bronchitis.
And it can cause coughing and chest pain.
So better to get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
This is needed for the diagnosis of bronchitis.
It will also tell you about severity of the disease.
And treatment of bronchitis is based on severity only.
You may need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
Avoidance of smoking is must.
So no need to worry for lung cancer at present. No need for CT thorax. Better to get done PFT.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
But since my CT scan was over a year ago, would I need another one? I know a couple of people that had lung cancer and it did not show up on an x ray. The pain is right behind my left shoulder blade and is there 24/7, sometimes very intense. My chiro did say my muscles were extremely tight and there was little elasticity there. Also have pains going down my arm. Back also hurts to breathe deep sometimes. Just wondering if I should have another look at the lungs?
Brief Answer:
You are mostly having musculoskeletal pain.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of lung cancer is extremely low in your case. Yes, you are right about chest x ray not picking up early lung cancer.
But if your pain is due to cancer than it must be of atleast 4-5 cm size and this size is detectable on chest x ray.
Small nodules are not painful. So possibility of lung cancer is extremely less in your case. But if you still want to be 100% sure than CT thorax is needed.
Your symptoms are more suggestive of musculoskeletal pain. So apply warm water pad on affected site. Start painkiller and muscle relaxant drugs. And quit smoking as soon as possible.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
You are mostly having musculoskeletal pain.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of lung cancer is extremely low in your case. Yes, you are right about chest x ray not picking up early lung cancer.
But if your pain is due to cancer than it must be of atleast 4-5 cm size and this size is detectable on chest x ray.
Small nodules are not painful. So possibility of lung cancer is extremely less in your case. But if you still want to be 100% sure than CT thorax is needed.
Your symptoms are more suggestive of musculoskeletal pain. So apply warm water pad on affected site. Start painkiller and muscle relaxant drugs. And quit smoking as soon as possible.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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