Why would one side of the diaphragm be elevated (and in pain)?

Question

My boyfriend went to the ER for chest pains; I couldn't get down to be with him, and he completely neglected to ask even basic questions, so he has no idea what went on while he was there. He's going back next week for an appointment when more doctors are readily available.
Apparently most of the doctors are on vacation and he could only meet with a nurse practitioner, who had little idea what was wrong with him. He has a slight fever. EKG was fine. X-rays showed that part of his diaphragm is elevated (idk what part, how, or to what extent; he didn't ask).They prescribed an antibiotic for "possible infection" (once again, for where or what idk; not pleased with bf's complete lack of questioning or info gathering).
What could be the problem? I suppose some form of mild pneumonia is possible, but  I'm not medically inclined enough to know or even to find much useful info after googling his symptoms.

tlc289 · Accepted Answer

Could be a number of things, but it's good that his EKG was normal.  If he recently performed any strenuous activity involving lifting heavy objects it could be costochondritis (an inflamed/painful area located beside breast bone); if he's coughing it could be (acute or chronic) bronchitis; there's also the chance of a tumor pushing the diaphragm upward -- but before you get all crazy, since the chest xray was (presumably) negative for a tumor or growth, it's probably not this (or pneumonia, unless the chest xray revealed some sort of infiltrate(s)).  It could also be something he's had since birth (displaced diaphragm), just undiscovered due to never being sick before and having a chest xray.  If he's normally a healthy individual it's probably nothing about which to worry.  If the symptoms subside, he still needs to visit with his regular family doctor to let him know what happened... and his regular MD is likely to get more information out of him than an ER provider.

Why would one side of the diaphragm be elevated (and in pain)?

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