Pain in left side of chest.

Question

I was laying back in my chair and when I bent to get up I breathed in and felt a sharp stabbing pain inside the ribcage under the left side of my chest.

It doesn't hurt or anything, I can breath normally but when I breath in deeply or turn my upper body I get the same sharp stabbing pain again.

Could someone please tell me what I just did to myself?

Thanks!

Answer 1

All chest pain sufferers should see they doctor ASAP for an ECG.  

Answer 2

The most common reason for chest pain when breathing is a muscle cramp in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdomen. If it doesn't seem to be going away after an hour or so, you should go see your doctor right away. It might be what's called a pneumothorax (collapsed lung). That's when air leaks from your lungs and into your chest cavity, making it painful to breathe. It would require an X-ray to know for sure, but there are other tests your doctor can do that are less expensive. If you're worried about finances, ask your doctor about Medicaid options.