chest pain

[sonographer2004]

I have been having chest pain along with these aggravating vibrations and left arm numbness for over a year now and it has just recently gotten worse.  I've had a stress test, echo, nuclear medicine test and lab work done last year when it first started and everything came back normal except for a little regurgitation and they said it's nothing to worry about.  Can you tell me what causes this and if I should be worried.  These pains and vibrations are getting stronger and are happening more often and it causing me anxiety.  Also, I have a lot of fatigue associated with all of this.  Please help me.

[Bordom]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that from time to time I have fluttering in my chest that cant be felt in my pulse..or I havent noticed anyway.

[Bordom]

     I am 40 years old and have been having chest pains for the past 6 years.  The pain is never in the same place and might be sharp this time and dull the next.  It is always in the chest area.  I had a series of cardiac test ran to include stress test, ekg, and sonogram.  I have been to the emergency room  so many times that I finally just quit going and just waited to see what happened.  It has never killed me yet.  It all started right after I had a bleeding ulcer which took months to diagnosis, probably due to my inability to describe what I was feeling.  Finally I passed out and they did a blood count followed by a scope.              
      My doctor first associated the pain with stress and anxiety.  But I think the anxiety was due to the chest pain.  He then contributed the pain to cartilage in the chest.  He said the name of it.  It was named after a doctor in Africa….not sure this was a “sugar pill” diagnostic approach or not.  Anyway, the pain is still there and there is no treatment for the African cartilage disease that I am aware of.  Pushing on my chest hurts but I am not certain that it is a new pain induced by pushing on my chest.
     In the back of mind there is the doubt that it is not my heart (seems like after 6 years I wouldn’t worry at all about it) although the cardiologist assures me that if I move and it makes it better or worse its not my heart.  He also told me that I shouldn’t worry unless my heart rate goes over 200 bpm.  It is usually between 60 and 70 bpm down from 90 since I stopped smoking.  So I have the pain just about everyday and wonder if it’s the last.  One time, I was so fed up with the pain, at the height of the pain I ran laps in the front yard.  It didn’t make it worse maybe it helped it a bit. I take arthritis otc pain medicine not sure if that really helps or not.  The bottom line is, due to the location of the pain, not to mention it is pain, I would really like not to have it.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  

[DominionPC]

A related discussion, Same Pain was started.

[dgiacomo]

I have had similar problems for 8 years now and no doctor has ever figured it out.  As I sit here my chest is hurting  mid chest, and the pain will radiate through my left breast and to under my left armpit. Done the halter monitor, blood work, etc etc and had a Bravo Capsule on the 8th of this mornth now I am being sent for an MRI of the chest - but no radiologist willt ouch me until it's been 6 weeks after the Bravo capsule!!!!!!  My doc said there's no other test he can do between now and then, wondering if I should take a trip to the ER although I don't have a lot of faith in my local ER (used to work there once upon a time)
At night when I lay down to go to sleep - as I start to fall asleep I get this "thump" followed by "electric shock" feeling in my mid chest.  It lasts for a few seconds then goes away.  As I start to fall asleep again - bang! it'll happen again.  THis goes on everynight. Some nights are mild and most are really bad and the "spasms" can't think of another way to describe it (other then thump & electric shock) - are numerous on bad nights.

Anyone got any ideas as to what this could be? No history of heart disease in the family, I'm 46 and really frustrated that nobody has yet figured this out.  Oh, a lump appeared on the back of my right shoulder yesterday - feels like a hugh knot but this one you can see through my sweater and it's about 8" long, I also had some swelling (not much) on my left forearm a few days ago which now has a numb spot on it.    

[sugarpea013]

Hey I just wanted to say your symptoms sound very much related to stress/anxiety. I suffer from the same things.

[sonographer2004]

I will keep you  informed...right now I am wearing the 24 hr. holter monitor again and then I have to go have another stress test done and then they are recommending a pulmonary workup. I just want an answer...I am only 37 and there isn't any heart problems in our family, so nothing genetic.  It worries me.  

[greg62]

I know what you mean I have similar issues I have been dealing with for two+ years. I get chest pain mostly center of chest, sometimes to either side, with thickness under my tongue, feel dizzy and some left arm sensations( sometimes pain other times tingling) and nausea. Had all the tests done and cannot find anything. i wish someone could tell me what this is if it isn't cardiac. I'm afraid to give up on the cardiac in case its something weird and something happens. Still pursuing cardiac. Also looking at the possibility of anxiety so I will go and talk with a psychologist. If you get any leads I would like to know and if I get any I would surely pass them on. Obviously everyone is different but some similarities could lead to finding the root of the problem.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Not all chest and arm pain is heart related. The list includes lung problems, gastrointestinal problems, nerve problems, spinal problems and even neurological problems. I can't make your diagnosis over the computer, but a good GP, using careful history taking, physical exam and laboratories, and even some imaging ( CT of the neck and brain) may be able to better assess the likely culprits in your case.