Deep breathing caused sudden sharp pain in lung/arm & back?

Question

I was doing some breathing excercises three nights ago, and I decided to try and inhale as deep as I possibly could. (I used to be a very strong competitive swimmer and almost had no limit to how much I could inhale).

Well, about 3 minutes after I took this "way too much" breath, I got a sharp pain (kinda burning, more like a shot going into your lung), which initially felt like it was SOLELY in my lung.. not my back. (Hint, I know what a pulled muscle and a pinched nerve feel like. This was not that feeling.) I even had my boyfriend rub the area for a while. Now luck.

So then I started getting this pain significantly worse when I inhaled all the way (even normal breathing.) I ended up not sleeping that night because I was restless about my shallow breathing I was having to be conscious about... 'not crossing the threshold into severe sharp pain'.

The sharp pain I get from regular breathign has subsided, but when I try to take that deep breath again, it can be felt.

My friend says maybe I popped a blood vessel in my lung?

Has anybody else had this happen? Found a cause? Found a cure?

Thanks much!

Answer 1

I'm not entirely sure what's happened I think your best bet is to see a docter or go to hospital if your still having sharp pains just incase something serious is wrong, no harm in wanting to check?

I had something a while ago after doing some excersises, which included deep breathes also and afterwards I got bad chest pains, shortness of breath and sometimes felt a bit dizzy and weak. After going to the docters they said it could be a lung clot but turned out I just pushed myself too hard excersising, the pains were from muscle spasms and I had to take painkillers for a few days and that was it but being reassured is always nice :)

Answer 2

You can't go back to how you used to be.Without taking the proper precautions and warm ups as a former competitive athlete you must know that was looking for trouble.You need to get proper medical advice to make sure it's not the obvious but it could be you've nipped the diaphragm and may have a small hernia.Either way whatever it is you need to see the doctor even cramp in those areas as you'll know can be very dangerous.

Answer 3

Could be a muscular pain.  Could be caused by stretching of the lungs.  Stretching lungs is a problem faced by Divers, (Deep sea) but if your trying to inhale as much air as possible, much more than you need then you are stretching your lungs.  

Do not continue this,  the pain will pass in time but if you continue you could cause permanent damage.  Divers have been killed from stretched lungs.  

Answer 4

HI Maybe you pull the muscle between two ribs usually it causes that you cant inhale properly