back and chest pain for 8 months

[conniemugs]

About february, Ideveloped a very anxiety provoking condition. I have had 2 babies in 3 year period who are now 3 and 1.5 since then i have moderate pain below my left shoulder, very noticable when im driving and the pain just comes and goes, i also have a pain in the middle of my sternum where the typical heart attack pain would be it feels like a very sore muscle with some times a feeling of pressure also. i have had an ekg,blood work etc, all neg- i did have pneumonia in april,after that i worked out ran 2miles etc with no problem- and ilost weight and look good but i am very concerned and driving everyone crazy-is it my heart or a tumor. why do i feel pains like these and they are often at different times.i am 33 and weigh 160, 5'7. My hida scan was -, but i have an ulcer since i also have a gnawing feelingbelow the sternum in my abdomen as well, so ihave 3 things that are really scaring me , i also am large chested and am a nurse where i lift pts etc, and my children who are 35lbs. each, my doctor gets frustrated it seems that she assures me this in nothing no CA etc. i am on protonix and now zoloft to help with my worry. please tell me the direction i need to go . also my doctor said maybe try new bra's????!!  I recently got a massage and everyone is telling me i am tight and it isonly muscle could this also give me the midsternal pain. i have no SOB, or any other symptom except frequent bouts of these pains. i can palpate most of the back pain, but thesternal pain is very vague. please help me . Ps no family history of cardiac either. and i also did change my bras to wireless  ones which it helped for a week or two but things are now the same no better and maybe mildly worse.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There are many things that can cause the symptoms you describe, such as the ulcer, GERD, inflammation of the upper digestive tract, musculoskeletal pain, heart pain, or pain related to the pneumonia.

Of these, heart pain would be the most serious, so I suggest an exercise stress test to ensure that the heart isn't causing the discomfort.  

If negative, then you may want to consider physical therapy to evaluate and treat a possible musculoskeletal condition or a GI evaluation to optimize treatment for the ulcers (i.e. testing for a bacteria known as H Pylori which can exacerbate symptoms).

You may want to discuss these options with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[conniemugs]

just a note to follow up i had an mri of cervical spine and it did show a bulging disc of c5-6. i am therefore told to undergo chiropractic care which when i can get to go it does improve my symptoms. hopefully i can heal completely with diligent chiropractic. conniemug