Pain can be classified as burning, aching and even stabbing. The pain may be constant or intermittent. Specifically, stabbing pain can occur as a result of an infection, an abnormal pregnancy or a clot in the lung's blood vessels. The causes of stabbing pain can and should be managed promptly.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia refers to a medical problem in which the skin and nerve fibers are affected. The Mayo Clinic states that symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia include a sharp, stabbing, aching or burning pain on the skin; a headache; and itching. Postherpetic neuralgia can also cause numbness and sensitivity to temperature changes and touch.
This condition is actually a complication of shingles, a medical problem in which the varicella-zoster virus damages nerves.
Treatment for postherpetic neuralgia involves taking antidepressant medications such as duloxetine or desipramine to help reduce the body's perception of pain. Pain killers such as tramadol, injected steroids, lidocaine skin patches and capsaicin skin patches can be used to manage postherpetic neuralgia symptoms. Other treatment options involve using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulation. These devices stimulate the nerves and decrease pain.
Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy refers to a type of pregnancy in which the fetus becomes implanted in a region other than the uterus. MedlinePlus states that symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include severe pain in the lower part of the stomach, low back pain, breast tenderness and nausea. An ectopic pregnancy also causes pelvic cramping, fainting and shoulder pain.
Scarring from fallopian tube surgery, a history of an ectopic pregnancy or fallopian tube infection can lead to an ectopic pregnancy. Sometimes, fallopian tube abnormalities, a ruptured appendix and endometriosis, a condition in which the uterine lining grows in areas other than the uterus, can lead to an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy must be ended because the fetus will not survive to term. Surgery or a dilation and curettage (D and C) procedure may be performed to remove the ectopic pregnancy.
Pulmonary Embolism
A pulmonary embolism refers to a clot in the blood vessels of the lungs. MedlinePlus says that symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include a stabbing or sharp chest pain that can get worse with eating, breathing, stooping or bending. A cough, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, clammy skin, lightheadedness, pelvic pain, a blue skin color, low blood pressure and fainting are other pulmonary embolism symptoms.
MedlinePlus indicates that the common cause of a pulmonary embolism is a clot in the legs (deep vein thrombosis). A clot in the legs can travel up to the arteries in the lungs.
Oxygen therapy and medications such as tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase to break up the clot is necessary. Heparin and warfarin can also be used to prevent blood clots from forming. Sometimes, an inferior vena filter is placed when medications cannot be taken. This filter catches any blood clots before they get to the lung.
