Pleurisy - What a Pain!

by Shelley White

I'd been having an aching in my side, round my ribs for a few days. I first felt it when I twisted round sharply on my computer chair in the office at work. I thought I'd strained something and that it would get better by itself. If not, I could make an appointment for a massage one lunchtime - that would surely do the trick.

Apart from that little niggle, I felt fine and continued working in the office. However, over the next few days, it became more intense. I felt sharp pains in my chest if I coughed, breathed in deeply or even when I laughed. It was a bit like the pain I had once when I'd fallen off my bike and bruised my ribs - but this time, I couldn't remember having injured myself.

I managed to keep going at work, hoping the pain would soon go away. Unfortunately, no such luck. My colleagues insisted that I go home -

'Pam, you don't look well at all and you can hardly straighten up. You're not doing yourself any favours forcing yourself to carry on. Don't you think you should see a doctor?'

It seemed sensible to do as they suggested. The bus journey home was a nightmare. Its suspension left a lot to be desired, every jolt jarred my body, sending shooting pains through my ribcage. It was such a relief to arrive home at last.

I immediately took some painkillers and tried to lie on the bed, hoping to rest. No such luck. I couldn't even put my head on the pillow, for as soon as I leaned backwards it felt like a knife was being twisted in my chest. All I could do was count the minutes till, Jeff, my partner, returned from work.

When Jeff eventually arrived home, I was writhing in agony. The stabbing pain was so bad I could hardly stand.

'Right, that's it Pam, you can't carry on like this. We need to know what the matter is. I'm taking you straight to Casualty.'

I was in no state to argue, though the thought of going to the Accident and Emergency ward scared me.

If the bus ride home from work was bad, then the car ride to hospital was the journey from hell! Jeff's a careful driver, but even driving over the slightly raised, white lines in the road sent excruciating pains through my chest. By the time we reached the hospital, tears were streaming down my face, my mascara had run and I had black rings round my eyes like a panda. Thankfully, though, I didn't have to wait too long before I could see a doctor.

'Hello Pam,' said the doctor. 'Tell me exactly where it hurts.'

Although he looked young enough to be my son, he had an assuring bedside manner and made me feel safe. After a few minutes, the pain eased off a little and he was able to examine me. He listened to my chest and back, examined my abdomen and kidneys and asked me all the relevant questions about my general health.

'I'm sending you for a chest x-ray and I'll take some blood too. By the time you get back here, we should have your blood results too. Don't look so worried, Pam, we'll soon find out what's the matter.'

The radiologist was a kind lady and after having advised me on the best way to remove my bra without causing too much discomfort, gently put me in the correct position for having my chest x-rayed. I soon returned to the Accident and Emergency ward to be greeted by the doctor -

'Hello again, Pam. Are you feeling any better? I'll just have a look at your x-ray.'

'Hi there. Yes, I feel a little better. What's wrong with me, doctor?'

'Well, Pam, I'm pleased to tell you there's no sign of any damaged ribs, a blood clot or a collapsed lung. It looks like pleurisy.'

'Pleurisy? I've never heard of that. What is it exactly, doctor?'

'Pleurisy's often caused by a viral infection. Have you had a cold recently?'

'As far as I can remember, I only had a bit of a cough and sore throat about two weeks ago.'

'Well, it might have been that. Anyway, the pain can be severe - as in your case - but it soon goes. Pleurisy's actually inflammation of the pleura. The pleura's a thin membrane with two layers - one layer lies inside the chest wall, the other covers the lungs. Between these two layers is a small amount of fluid which acts like lubrication between the lungs and chest wall as they move when you breathe.'

'Right, I see. And it's the inflammation of the pleura that's been causing me all this pain?'

'Yes, though there are various other lung disorders which can cause the kind of pain that's made worse when you breathe in or cough. Quite often it's because of a little infection, a cold or something like flu which is causing the inflammation. Your immune system should soon clear it up, though, and the pain you're feeling will go as the virus clears away and the inflammation settles.'

'Thank goodness for that - I was really frightened. But what about my blood samples? And do I need to take any medication?'

'Now I told you before you mustn't worry. Your blood samples are absolutely fine. I'll need to give you some strong painkillers, though. Take them regularly until the pain eases.'

'What about going back to work?'

'You should be fine to go back to work when the pain eases. I can't be precise how long that will be but it's not usually very long. But if you feel feverish or ill in the meantime, go and see your own doctor.'

'OK, thank you so much for everything, doctor.'

Despite enduring some pain at first, Pam made a speedy recovery and returned to work fully fit again after a week's rest, much to her own and Jeff's relief and that of her colleagues in the office.