Suggest treatment for pain between armpit and waist while coughing
Patient: I am female, 52 and have a sharp pain when I move or cough.  It's located on my left side in between my arm pit and waist.  I had a case of Shingles last June and the pain area is similar but this is much more painful.  Could it be the same thing, meaning wait it out? Doctor: Hi there! A sharp pain in the left edge of the chest which worsens on moving or coughing could indeed be due to post-herpetic nerve damage (shingles=herpes) though I'd still recommend a chest xray to look for lung infection or fluid in the chest which might cause similar symptoms. Do write in with your reportsAll the best!