What are the signs and symptoms of Pleurisy. Had this pain in my ribs and chest on and off now for months, just not going.

[spanishsal]

Can anyone help me please

[sassy59]

Can you get to see a doctor in Spain? You need to be checked over really. Hope you get all the help you need. Xxx

[spanishsal in reply to sassy59]

I have private health insurance, I have had xrays done but trying to get an appointment to see the doctor to give me the results is a joke. At my whit's end with the pain, Keep taking painkillers, don't get no sleep with the pain,

[sassy59 in reply to spanishsal]

That’s awful but keep pushing for help. Don’t give up. Xxx

[peege]

Severe pain on moving and in taking an in breath mainly. Often followed by or accompanied with a chest infection. I've had pleurisy several times and also fractured ribs several times and I can say that the pain is very similar indeed.

Another similar type of pain can be costochronditis, inflammation or soreness of the intercostal muscles (along ribs).

I seriously think that you should get a medical opinion, pleurisy can be heard through a stethoscope.

[spanishsal in reply to peege]

Thank you for your reply, I will try yet again to get to see a doctor, May have to go to the emergency A & E here in Spain.

[peege in reply to peege]

PS I should have added that through a stethoscope pleurisy is a rasping sound (infection = crackling & PF a different sound) . The problem with pleurisy is that because of the severe pain you tend to take only shallow breaths (just as when ribs are fractured). Shallow breathing doesn't allow for the natural expulsion of mucus (too painful to cough) allowing it to become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. I guess that this goes for all types of chest pain including costochronditis (which thankfully I've not had). Once again, best wishes for speedy help. P

[PepC]

I had pleurisy recently and it was severe chest pain under my left breast and pain in my left shoulder/back. Shallow breathing as it was very painful/felt like I had minimal capacity in lungs and movement was painful. Accompanying pleural effusion. Stethoscope can identify pleurisy as it’s a crackling and X-ray can identify effusion (fluid on lungs).

I had intermittent chest pain during several weeks prior but it came on very suddenly at the point I found out about pleurisy and effusion, needing to call an ambulance at that point.

I had intravenous and ongoing course of antibiotics and painkillers and rest. Doctors couldn’t identify an infection however or blood clot so doctor put it down to a vaccine reaction (had my second Pfizer just before chest pains started). He said he’s seeing lung, heart, neurological issues with no rationale other than recency of the vaccine. Also that I can expect a 10-15% improvement per week.

Hope that helps although I’m sure people will feel differently with pleurisy.

As people have said, keep pushing and insist to see your doctor so you can get your answers x

[Bakery40]

Hi spanishsal and very sorry for what you going through . I had pleurisy few months ago followed by a chest infection 😫 and exactly how you described it. My doctor send me to hospital as they were worried if it's another blood cloth on my lung but I knew this was different pain. I had x-ray, blood tests and when the doctor pressed on my chest bone and ribs I screamed .

He said it pleurisy after chest infection, take ibuprofen/rest and unfortunately it will take few days .

All the best and hope you feel better soon. X

[spanishsal in reply to Bakery40]

I have had this pain for Months now, started on my right side of my rib went into my back, went to emergency a & e they gave me a drip with tramadol in it, was off my feet for days, but did help with the pain, since then It has come back again but now in both sides of my ribs, and in my back. As said before get no sleep at night with it, come and goes all day long. I am going to try yet again to get another appointment to see the doctor, I had a chest xray back in August and the doctor still has not told me the results of this.. It is a night mare here in Spain trying to see a doctor, when you do, you have to say what you want they do not do a lot at all. I just need help with this, I could cry some days with the pain. at my whit's end with it, on my own most of the time, my husband works away. so I get worried of a night when I am in pain with it. I got rushed to hospital last year with the pain as at the time thought I was having a heart attack, got to the hospital said I wasn't having a heart attack sent me home. did nothing to help me. have private health insurance for what good that is. only want your money in Spain. But today is a bank holiday here, so going to push it tomorrow to get to see the doctor ask him to look at my xrays and do a blood test. I suppose to be moving to Cyprus end of December, but so worried if not got this sorted how am I going to cope. Thank you for listening to me. and all your support.

[Bakery40 in reply to spanishsal]

I'm very sorry. Did you try hot water bottle or ice to try and relief the pain? You have to go back to the doctor. I hope you get it sorted very soon 😊. All the best xx

[ck101]

Are you hyperventilating Sal? When I over breathe I have type of pain. I also notice certain inhalers cause it, always appears on the upper left of my back. I have tried to catch it with the odd x-ray and even a CT scan once, always clear. I did have a Pulmo tell me once he could hear a pleural rub but that was 20 years ago and things haven't progressed, I've also outlived the Pulmo.