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Anxiety and constant chest/arm pain
I'm 34 yr old male and have been experiencing various chest and left arm pains for about three months. I've seen a plethora of doctors from cardiologist to internist to GI doc to psychologist. Heart problems have been ruled out by numerous EKG's and stress echo test. GI doc found I have a hiatal hernia/GERD from upper GI and is currently being treated with Nexium. Have also had ultrasound of liver/gall bladder and MRI of abdomen - all normal. Feel like a pin cushion from all the blood work - again all within normal ranges.
My psychologist insists anxiety is the culprit. Though I have been under a fair amount of stress with work and family, can these pains linger around for this long just from anxiety? They come and go throughout the day and are very disruptive to my thinking of 'what's going on with me? - which I'm guessing only breeds more anxiety.
The only other med I'm on is Lipitor for cholestorol.
I'm reluctant to try any anti-anxiety meds since I had a bad bout with cymbalta a few months back and I really don't feel as though I need it. I just want the pain to stop. I've tried numerous relaxation and meditation methods which are very calming and helpful, but still the pain comes. The only time I don't notice it is when I'm exercising (usually run 3-6 miles/day).
Any thoughts of what's going on? Anxiety, current med side effects or something else?
My psychologist insists anxiety is the culprit. Though I have been under a fair amount of stress with work and family, can these pains linger around for this long just from anxiety? They come and go throughout the day and are very disruptive to my thinking of 'what's going on with me? - which I'm guessing only breeds more anxiety.
The only other med I'm on is Lipitor for cholestorol.
I'm reluctant to try any anti-anxiety meds since I had a bad bout with cymbalta a few months back and I really don't feel as though I need it. I just want the pain to stop. I've tried numerous relaxation and meditation methods which are very calming and helpful, but still the pain comes. The only time I don't notice it is when I'm exercising (usually run 3-6 miles/day).
Any thoughts of what's going on? Anxiety, current med side effects or something else?
I was recently diagnosis with anxiety, I am so tired of feeling this way. I am wondering when relief is going to come because I feel like sometimes I am not going to make it. My doctor said I need to exercise more and from reading this thread I know it helps . I need all encouragement because I am not use to this feeling... I want my life back !! HELP
Me too. Left side and seems to radiate down my arm. Been going on for two years but recently morphed into a slightly more stabbing pain on occasion. I have made the correlation of stress by 1) happens when I drive as passenger with my hisband and 2) I got pulled over and it started. One thing that does help is regular vigorous exercise. Asprin, tylenol and nothing else mkes it better. I know its stress but here I am "reassuring" myself. Have not sought help through doctors yet.
my husband 82 with Alzheimers was put into a VA Hosp, Baltimore two days ago, I have had anxiety for many years, but never had to take any more then 1 & 1/2 tabs at bedtime, I am 66
the pains started up yesterday, and today I thought I was going to actually die the burning pains were so bad I could not stand up straight , I took my max of 4 500mg Tylenol during the day trying to ease it, no luck, finally took one Xanax fell asleep on the couch and woke with no pain. the stress here is so thick it could be cut with a knife,
the pains started up yesterday, and today I thought I was going to actually die the burning pains were so bad I could not stand up straight , I took my max of 4 500mg Tylenol during the day trying to ease it, no luck, finally took one Xanax fell asleep on the couch and woke with no pain. the stress here is so thick it could be cut with a knife,
Hi, everybody I had anxiety for three years now and now I am sure that anxiety is what I have. Before I thought it was a heart condition or maybe I was going crazy; I feared everything, since I was too used to being healthy. Well I've come to realize that anxiety is like bullying, it teases you and frightens us, but that will end if we start fighting it and no let it take over our lives. We only live once and this is not the way to live.
We need to relax and stop worring. Remember when you used to not have anxiety and our heart would beat fast after exercising, and you wouldn't get scared? But since the first attack we have been fearing the nextand the next. And we give it to much important and that why it does what it does. Lets relax and fight it, talk to it tell it I feel you and that's fine but you don't scare me anymore. Keep practicing until that day that it knows you don't follow the game then it will leave.
Something that really helped me is changing your lifestyle a little like don't drink as much exercise a little like run.and try not to stress, nothing in this world is worth more than our health.
We need to relax and stop worring. Remember when you used to not have anxiety and our heart would beat fast after exercising, and you wouldn't get scared? But since the first attack we have been fearing the nextand the next. And we give it to much important and that why it does what it does. Lets relax and fight it, talk to it tell it I feel you and that's fine but you don't scare me anymore. Keep practicing until that day that it knows you don't follow the game then it will leave.
Something that really helped me is changing your lifestyle a little like don't drink as much exercise a little like run.and try not to stress, nothing in this world is worth more than our health.
Wow, reading all of this is very helpful for me as well.I have had anxiety issues in different capacities for as long as I can remember. I am now 30 years of age and it has manifested itself much like you all are describing.
I, too have found that the more distracted I am (exercise, work, socializing, etc) the less I feel the symptoms both physically and emotionally.
I also have had reassurance from physicians after ekg's, blood pressure/pulse monitoring, and blood tests that there is nothing physically wrong with me and I am in ideal health. They even chuckle when I tell them I run 3-5 miles per day/5-6 days per week as if it were a serious physical condition I would A) not be able to handle even half of that exercise and B) I wouldn't feel relief both during and after.
It's tough to live with the fear, but I have researched some CBT, meditation, and even some religious therapies and exercises which all help a little bit at a time. Medication has also never been much of a help to me and I have been in trying, anxiety-filled times in the past where it always has passed as long as I didn't let it completely control my life.
This time around is a bit more confusing however, having the symptoms more so physically than emotionally, but as we all can see, this thread is helpful on it's own as it has stood the test of time!
Just wanted to show my appreciation for it.
I, too have found that the more distracted I am (exercise, work, socializing, etc) the less I feel the symptoms both physically and emotionally.
I also have had reassurance from physicians after ekg's, blood pressure/pulse monitoring, and blood tests that there is nothing physically wrong with me and I am in ideal health. They even chuckle when I tell them I run 3-5 miles per day/5-6 days per week as if it were a serious physical condition I would A) not be able to handle even half of that exercise and B) I wouldn't feel relief both during and after.
It's tough to live with the fear, but I have researched some CBT, meditation, and even some religious therapies and exercises which all help a little bit at a time. Medication has also never been much of a help to me and I have been in trying, anxiety-filled times in the past where it always has passed as long as I didn't let it completely control my life.
This time around is a bit more confusing however, having the symptoms more so physically than emotionally, but as we all can see, this thread is helpful on it's own as it has stood the test of time!
Just wanted to show my appreciation for it.
Have you asked your doc about it? If it is from bending and lying it sounds like a physical thing, perhaps pulled muscle.
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