Burning, tingling pain on left side of abdomen and chest

by Megan
(Michigan )

I am 21 years old nursing student. I work as a home health aide for the elderly. I am having bad pain on my left side, right under my left breast down the left side. It is a burning, tingling, painful feeling that is made worse by having clothing or anything touching it. This is not relieved by ice or heat, and I do not have any lesions that are causing this pain. This has been going on for about five days and is getting progressively worse, to where I am in so much pain that I can not even wear clothes. I also have had a very bad headache starting today. I am having increased perspiration overall.

My past medical history includes a left ovary and fallopian tube removal, a teratoma tumor on my left ovary, my appendix removed, and a right wrist ligament repair due to a work injury and kidney stones. I also have depression and anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder, but that is well managed and treated by a psychiatrist and a psychologist. I am taking 100 mg of Zoloft once daily. I do not smoke, and I drink approximately 3-5 drinks per month but it is normally more like 1 drink per month.

I have a family history of diabetes, kidney cancer, and cervical cancer, high cholesterol, polycystic ovary disease,

I have tried ice, heat, and over the counter pain medications I have also tried stretching exercises in case it was a muscle. I am contemplating going to the Emergency room for treatment, but do not know if I am over reacting. I would like to know if I could wait until tomorrow morning and call my regular doctor or if I should go ahead and go to the emergency room. Any advice would be greatly and much appreciated. Thank you very very much for your services.

Neuralgia Pain

Megan, the pain you are describing is strongly suggestive of neuralgic pain. The most common cause for this is shingles and usually shows as a blistering rash, which you don’t seem to have. I wonder if you are developing shingles, but the rash hasn’t yet appeared.

Simple pain killers usually don’t touch neuralgia and if you are in so much pain, you should get this checked. I am also concerned that you have the headache as shingles sometimes can affect the brain causing encephalitis.

It may not be developing shingles, but I would get this checked as it is normally treated with Aciclovir and could stem your symptoms.

There are other causes for neuralgic pains, but I think the above needs excluding so I would get it checked. Hope this helps.


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