i cant belive how painful this is !

i totally agree!! this is the 2nd time i have had pleurisy but it was far worse this time. I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago having the same symptoms as your self. i can only say that you do get better( it takes a while)and it doesnt last forever even though you think that it might at the time !!

[quote:daf4308d05=\"SUE (guest)\"][color=blue:daf4308d05][/color:daf4308d05]I was told on Christmas Eve 2007, after my hubby dragged me back the the doctors after 2 lots of antibiotics for a bad chest infection that I had pleurisy. I was so much pain. it felt like some one had stuck a sharpened stick in my chest, I could hardly move and breathing was very painful. If put my hand on my side I could feel popping and crackling inside when I breathed it was awful. I was given paracetamol and 30mg codeine tablets and told to take brufen and rest. I slept sat in a chair for 3 nights as I could not lie down in bed and getting out of bed felt like I was being ripped open by a meat hook holding me to the bed! I had been ill for 5 weeks before this too. I now still have pain when I bend down or put shoes on I cannot drive as I cannot use my left arm properly (it hurts to lift it) as the muscles are very sore. I found the pain killers no use at all but the brufen helped and so did a heat pack held on my side. I should have gone back to work today but have been signed off sick by my doctor and told to stay warm and rest.

Does anyone agree with my description of the symptoms?[/quote:daf4308d05] thanks di di i feel a little betta now knowing i am not being soft or imagaining the pain hope u feel better soon too x sue

I can sympathise 100% with your pain and symptoms. I was diagnosed with pleurisy on 17 December 2007.

Having struggled with what I thought was a cold and bit of a cough for about 4 weeks, dosing myself with the usual branded cold & flu remedies, on the Saturday night, just as I got into bed, I coughed violently and felt as if every muscle up my back had torn...searing pain shot through my body with each tiny move I made. Turning over in bed and getting out of bed the next morning were extremely difficult and I too spent nights cushioned on all sides in a chair as lying down, on my back, front, or sides was bearable only for a few minutes before I felt the need to turn which just resulted in more pain.

When the doctor visited on the Monday, I could barely take breaths to talk and she advised me not to go into work prescribing painkillers and antibiotics. Later that week she also prescribed Pholcodine to suppress the cough.

I have rested, rested and rested some more; existed on painkillers, cough medicines and cold/ flu remedies; have visited my GP and been signed off work on 2 further occasions at her surgery and had a chest x-ray. Although I have reduced the painkillers to 'as and when required' rather than religiously every 4 hours, I am still suffering. I still have a cough which just feels as if I'm being stabbed in my left lung. My side feels sore and uncomfortable, and turning over in bed is still a very delicate operation. Stretching up/ down/ dressing are carefully planned manoeuvres and attempting to drive my automatic car has left me aching again today. Just as I thought I was improving!

Since the x-ray results and listening to my chest seems to indicate I no longer have any infection, my GP has given me a date to return to work believing that any residual pain will be gone...I intend to go back to see her tomorrow!!

Thanks for your reply hope u feel better soon. I am going back to work tomorrow even though i still have pain in my sides like i have been on the recieving end of a good kicking. I actually managed to drive my car today too which i have not done for 4 weeks now,hopefuly this is the beginning of the end of it take care sue x

Sue and others,

I have had pleurisy since an August bout of pneumonia (Legionnaire's and Coccidioidomycosis), and I can tell you it takes a long time for this to heal. My x-ray shows a residual lung nodule abutting the pleura, and I am stuck at home waiting until scar tissue forms on my lung. This is very, very painful, and you need to be very, very patient!

I am sorry to hear you are in pain as well. I wish you a speedy recovery!

Hi Sue. I am so glad to find I am not alone! I started off with flu which then went to a chest infection. On xmas day I finished the antibiotics and was still feeling very rough. Kept on leaving it thinking would improve until the new year, by which time I could not walk, drive or sleep due to pain. Had x-ray and was advised I was at the tail end of pleurisy, told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen, neither worked. Was signed off work in total for 6 weeks, went back this Monday. I have had 2 courses of anti-inflammatories which again have done nothing. I am still in pain all the time and am now back to sleeping on my side again as the pain is too intense on my tummy (thats how I have always slept). It hurts to cough, sneeze and laugh. I was beginning to feel depressed until reading all the comments on this site. At least now I know that the pain can last a long time. It would just have been nice to hear how long from the Doctor!!

Hope you start feeling better soon.