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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
2 years worth of stabbing chest pains
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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2 years worth of stabbing chest pains
by dks_22364, Oct 02, 2007 09:59AM
When I started with my first chest pain I was 22, and I had just quit smoking, and not overly active. The pain started off feeling stiff, similar to the discomfort you get if you have to crack your back. The pain didn't last long, but there was a lasting discomfort. 6 months later, I had another chest pain. Then less than one year ago I felt another. I mentioned it in passing with my doctor. He gave me some meds to try, but since I didn't feel the pains often, it was hard to pinpoint if it helped. I ended up being put on 3 inhalers, and some symptoms, as the doctor thought that my cold had asthma symptoms. I was taking these inhalers up to 15 times a day, and then I started to gain weight. I ended up puting on 40-50 pounds in less than 2 months, and I have stretch marks all over my body. But my chest pains were getting worse. Not only was I getting them as often as once a week, but they would last from 5 minuts to 4 hours long. I had my thyroid checked, and my stomach checked for both heartburn and Hiatus Hernia, and I have also been to an asthma specialist. I have been unable to link the pains to food products. I do usually experience the pains later in the evening, and when I have the pains, they are accompanied by shock like symptoms. When I have the pains, they come as quickly as they go, but I am usually left with discomfort after. I have been experiencing these pains for the last two years, so I am open to any suggestions as to what could be wrong with me. Thank you for taking the time to read through my problem.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Oct 02, 2007 04:45PM
, Oct 02, 2007 04:45PM
Your pain do not sound cardiac in origin at all. It sounds like it could be musculoskeletal in nature. Either a pulled muscle or a paiful bone in the chest. Physicial exam typically reproduces these pain so your doctor should be able to let you know whether or not there was anything particular when he examined you. I am assuming that you are about 24 right now, so the risk of coronary artery disease in you is very low. There are other organs in the chest that can cause chest pain. It sounds like your stomach was checked out and i don' think this is asthma or lung related. One thing to do is to try some ibuprofen maybe 400 mg or so and see whether the pain gets better. If it does one should really consider a musculoskeletal origin for this pain. If your pain persists then maybe you should have some form of imaging performed. Starting with an XRAy and ending with an MRI.
Member Comments (2)
by joy-cc, Oct 02, 2007 09:48PM
To: dks_22364
I have a similar pain that I describe as a Charlie Horse in my chest. It is a cramping type pain that hurts into the left shoulder. The doctor said it was constochondritis , if I sleep flat on my back I will wake up with this and I can hardly move until it lets up. The next day in the center of my chest if you push on this section it is very tender. I thought I was having a heart attack when it hits. I hope this helps.
