Chest pain

[Forest96]

I have recently been diagnosed with a chest infection to which I am on my second lot of anti biotics ( it seems to be clearing now), although I am still coughing a lot.

I developed a pain in my right hand side at the top of my ribs around a week and a half ago, I went back to the doctors and they said it could be pleurisy. He recommended taking ibuprofen for it, but this doesn’t seem to have any effect on me, The pain doesn’t seem to be easing, if anything it’s getting worse. Should I be worried about the pain? If it is pleurisy then how long does this last and are there any other things I can do to reduce the pain? I’ve tried heat pads, which work a little but not a lot.

Thanks

[CanuckAnon]

Could you ask your doctor about cortisone injections? They helped me when I had soreness in ribs from coughing... if you are on antibiotics it will generally clear up once infection is gone.

Sorry to hear you are suffering the pain from this as sadly it’s beyond your control. Advil will help a bit for the clogged feeling but not much for pain when you cough, inhale etc...

[Forest96 in reply to CanuckAnon]

I could ask about the injections but I’d rather not have them.

Think what I’m struggling with is being on the 2nd lot of antibiotics and on my last day of the course tomorrow and it hasn’t fully cleared up.

The pain is horrendous at times when coughing or breathing in sharply, but I seem to have a full pain there constantly there which isn’t much fun!

[CanuckAnon in reply to Forest96]

Maybe you need a diff med or further tests... don’t stress about it... just watch for fevers etc. It does hurt with all involuntary activities... that part is very crappy! Just keep in contact with your doctor?!

[Ladyatlunch]

May I ask if you’ve had a CXR? Perhaps this should be done before anything else. When you are coughing you could pop a towel round you and pull tightly on both sides to provide support. I also find ice packs help more than heat so you could try that. I had pleurisy about 10 years ago and while it wasn’t pleasant it does go. I’m sure mine lasted a few weeks and then the next month was spent getting my strength back. I wish you well and hope you are through this rough spell soon.

Isabel

[Rukhsana26]

Be careful could lead to numerous problems like bronchitis chest infection I had it 13 weeks and cough was so bad I was bed ridden in pain they told me to rest and drink water was horrible x I dont even smoke

[Forest96 in reply to Rukhsana26]

Thanks. I’ve been back to the doctors, they’ve given me more antibiotics and told me to take cocodamol for the pain. They’ll arrange a chest x ray if it gets no better

[Rukhsana26 in reply to Forest96]

I went chest x Ray's and had 2 course antibiotics and hospital put me on steroids they was okay x 🙂 was horrible get well soon worse pain I experience the doctors said will go away on it own take a while x never go thru that again god bless you x

[Amkoffee]

There are a couple of things I can think of. If you're doing a lot of coughing it's possible you broke a rib. There's no real treatment for it they don't recommend taping it anymore just dealing with the pain. The other thing it could be is a intercostal muscle strain. I've had it before and it is extremely painful. But once again other than heat or ice there's really nothing to be done about that it will just get better with time.