Pain in lungs after Pneumonia

Dear Ask The Doctor: I hav been diagnosted with Pnemonia after a CT. Am on my 4th antibiotic. My cough is almost gone but I have pretty severe pains in my back lung area and now also in the sides and front. It is at its worst when I lay down. Is this normal and if so how long should it last. The pain is pretty intense.

Dear Colleen:

I understand how worried you are about your recent Pneumonia and the persistent pain. Certainly due to Pneumonia which is an inflammation of the lungs caused commonly by Viruses and bacteria, some complications such as pleurisy that causes chest pain fluctuating with breathing.

Pleurisy or Pleuritis occurs when the double membrane (pleura) that lines your chest cavity and surrounds each of your lungs becomes inflamed and typically causes sharp pain, almost always when you take a breath. Over the counter analgesics might help deal with the pain or prescribed codeine would help you as well as codeine decreases the cough.

Other condition known as Costochondritis caused by inflammation of the cartilage at the end of the ribs commonly caused as a result of intense cough might be related too, the same treatment might work. If the pain lasts more than a week, I would suggest you to consult your primary care physician for a more detailed evaluation. I wish you the best.