Chest pain and aching limbs

[Kevin Michael]

Can anyone help with a possible diagnosis. for a few months I have experiencing chest pain on both sides of my chest quite high up near my collar bone, i have also experienced pain close to my armpits and also pain that travels from and up my left arm across the chest and into the right arm. The area on my chest feels like it is tender or like a bruise but no marking is present. I have also had spells when I am walking along and I feel light headed or as if I am off balance.

I have visited my doctor who thought it might be angina and prescribed a spray but this does nothing. I have had blood tests Liver function test thyroid test and cholestrol test all of which are normal. I have been under a lot of pressure in my life lately and have felt stressed but this has eased in the last few weeks and I no longer feel stressed but the pain is still with me. I have been back to my doctor who has given me a mild tranquilizer but this does nothing. I also have pain in my back and shoulders frequently does anybody have any Idea what is causing my pain. On two occasions int the last six months I have had severe pain in the middle of the chest which was like Knives sticking in me this went away after about twenty minutes but it was very painful.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Kevin,

Sorry to hear about your recent health problems.  I am encouraged that your pain does not respond to nitro spray.  What you are describing above does not sound like cardiac pains.  The overall diffuse nature of your symptoms suggests it may be rheumatologic in origin.  Have you seen a rheumatologist yet?  A quick check of your systemic inflammatory markers with elevated levels with help substantiate this. I think this is the next place to start.  The knife like pain is sometimes associated with aortic pathology and the aortic is involved in some systemic inflammatory conditions.  I would talk to your doctor about this tomorrow.  You may have a problem that is very treatable.

It is also possible that stress and depression cause symptoms like this, but other conditions must be ruled out first.

I hope this helps and that you find a more definite answer soon.

[tickertock]

Have you thought about consulting with a rheumatologist? I have similiar pains and was diagnosed as having chronic costochondritis but mine is secondary to a connective tissue disease I have, so i know the root cause. I suffer with it everyday, but sometimes i have had it last 3-4 weeks at a time during a flare up almost debilitating, this might have nothing to do with what you are experiencing, I am just saying what i have been diagnosed with and that my symptoms are very similiar to yours. Good luck

[PikaPika88]

I've 4 cases like this in this half year.  The first one thought is a chest pain and went to ER at 2:00am.  Right now have a shoulder pain.  Need the other hand help to move it.  Everytime when I go to see a Dr.  They thought is a clot and want to do scan and blood test.  The pain killer will hurt my tummy very much so I went to the Traditional Chinese Massage.  It gets heal shorter time than the western medicine.  The point is why it happened so often?  What cause this?  I believed this can be related to heart.  I find out A-Fib in Feb 05.  Before that I never had one muscular pain like this.  Hopefully you'll get sort it out and keep us in post if you find out anything. Pika.

[line]

Hi Kevin,

I read your post and wanted you to know I have the exact type of pain.I have had fibromyalgia for 22 years and myofascal pain syndrome. About 6 years ago was dxed with costochondritis, plus have cervical and thorastic arthritis, so I do not know what is causing the pain but sure know it is there,.

It is a very scary pain to have, mine feels like a burning pain at times and I have so many areas on my chest that even clothes seem to make it hurt more. I cannot tolerate pain meds so just use advil and heat, helps some.I also get the pain in the low ribs below the breast and in the breast, the underarm pain as well.
The DR. told me any chest pain that hurts more with movement or by pressing on the area is muscular.

I have had ekg's at my DR"S. when having the pain and recently went to the ER after having sharp shooting pains in my upper chest from shoulder to shoulder, one after another for 18 hours, had the normal cardiac workup and everything was fine. The DR. dxed costochondritis, inflamation (inflammation) in the rib cage.

My husband gets a lot of chest pain from cervical and shoulder problems and 5 months ago had a heart attack, he knew he was having it and said that pain is totally diffferent.

The Dr. and others have given you good advice about seeing a rhemotogist. My pain can go away for weeks and than comes back with a vengence. It use to be more left sided but now is on both sides.


Hope you are better soon, Linda

[Veritas01]

It sounds like costochondritis.  I have the same pain, soreness and tenderness behind my sternum and near my collar bone and muscular tenderness where the pectoral muscle meets the armpit.  My pain is associated, I am convinced, with my AFIB and PVC problems.  They are almost always occuring together.  My cardiologist poo poos this but there are others here who go through the same coincidence.  I have tried heat and massage with mixed results.  I also take Celebrex as it is less hard on the stomach.  Rest is also recommended.  Good luck.

[alone45]

I want to thank you all...I have been reading your comments and it has help me so much.  for years I have been complaining to my va doctors about this same problem and have ask to see a rheumatologist.  but repeatedly ignored and i go on suffering.
  They state I have fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome and all of it started after surguries from feet and shoulder problems.  I suffer everyday, can't sleep most of the time.  but reading your remarks helps me understand a little more.  at first i thought maybe my heart was bad now i think that Costochondritis is the problem.  thank you

[panndora]

Hi
I have read all of the comments regarding chest pain etc!
I have had the chestpains back pains arm etc as described  here I called my Ortho who is following me for my bad knees who said it was Costocondritis can't tell me where I got it why etc some say it is an inflammation of the rib cage  I get a tiny better and then worse again seems it can last several weeks or months. I would appreciate any feed back as I am in my 6th week and notheing has made it better. There is a theory that stress and anxiety make it worse.SHEESH!!! relaxation would help or a massage tried the massage helped a tiny bit valium short term I have had 4 ekg all normal and my Ortho diagnosed mine on the phone they are pretty areful so I assume that this is what I have did anyone have stomach discomfort and neck or headache's with this. I am desperate for some insight and ideas to get rid of this.
Sandy/ ***@****