Pains

I have had a bunch of ekg's bloodwork, xray's, stress test, coronary calcium screening done, scored a 0.  I am still having arm, jaw, and some chest pains.  I am 32 yo male with good bp and all of my cholestorol levels are within the normal range.  I smoke lightly.  do not drink.  This has been going on for months now.

Should i be worried.  My docs are not worried.  They insist on anxiety?

All responses would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Crewchief67t]

Forgot to mention that all my pains are pretty much localized.  

[Crewchief67t]

Do i have anything to worry about after having all these tests?????  Please help!

Thanks

[kenkeith]

Usually a diagnoses is a procedure by exclusion beginning with the most serious possibility.  You can almost exclude any coronary artery disease as your stress test is negative and your calcium score is zero.  Good bp, cholesterol, etc. indicate a healthy diet, and lifestyle, or at least a non-issue.

Anxiety, or stress, is linked to temporary increases in blood pressure, but not to chronic high blood pressure. This is true even in patients who suffer from chronic anxiety disorder.
It is possible to have anxiety and normal blood pressure so your normal pb does not rule out anxiety.

[Crewchief67t]

Thanks.  

I get these fleeting chest pains that are localized very well and last only a couple of seconds.  Pains in both hands and wrists.  Sometimes my left arm will hurt somtimes my right will hurt.  No particular pattern.  Usually when i am either driving or sitting.  Or not event moving around at all.  Pains seem to be postural but i cant tell for the most part.  If i have a chest pain then stand up it usually goes away immediatly.  The arm, hands, wrist pains along with the jaw aches come and go as they please.  Usually when i am swinging my arms.  But sometimes when i am doing nothing at all.

I had a exercise treadmill test without the stuff they put in me.  Along with all the ekg's and bloodwork and xrays.

Like i said the docs are insisting on anxiety.

[Crewchief67t]

Forgot to mention bp thing.  Bloodpressure was sort of high in the past but in the last couple of months since i have changed my lifestyle my bp has dropped significantly.

Thanks

[cindysue310]

I have quite a bit of the same symptoms that you are mentioning and have for quite a few years now.  Chest pain, shoulder and center of back pain.  Hands tingly at times, aches in my arms, jaw and neck hurt at times.  Here is what I found out.  I have a hierneated disc in my neck and 2 in Thoracic part of my back.  They say this is what is causing the chest pains and other upper body feelings like I'm having a heart attack at times.  It still scares me even after all this time because I wonder how I would ever know if I really was having a heart problem when I suffer with these symptoms so frequently anyway.  I'm a 52 year old female.  My point is - has anyone ever checked out your neck or thoracic part of your back.  You don't necessarily feel the pain in those spots, the pain radiates from hitting nerves.  

[grendslori]

Cindysue....my thoughts exactly! Have a MRI of your neck. What you are descibing is not heart related at all, that's why the doctors are telling you it is anxiety The symptoms you are descibing and the tests you are having, don't added up. It takes 20 years to build up enough plague in the heart arteries to have a problem with chest pains that are heart related. You're too young and the types of heart diseases that cause true heart related chest pain, they would have been picked up on the tests you have had done. Besides that, you wouldn't be writing on these forums....you'd KNOW you had a problem.

[Crewchief67t]

I have a MRI scheduled for next monday.  Thanks for the response!

[Crewchief67t]

Thanks for the resopnse.  The pains come at anytime.  Resting, running, exercising anything.  Most often when i am sitting doing nothing.  The pain has most certainly progressed over the last few months.  Getting soo frustrated with this.  It seems like something new everyday.

thanks if you have anymore to add please do so!

[Crewchief67t]

I just dont know what to do anymore.  The pains are getting too frustrating for me!

Is this just anxiety?  There is really no specific trigger to this.

[fedup100]

If your MRI comes out clean you may want to consider other possibilitiies for your pain. I used to have a lot of muscular chest pain and pain in my shoulders upper back etc. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Almost four years ago, a chiropractor suggested I try a gluten free diet. It has made a tremendous difference. Following this diet has decreased my pain and fatigue considerably. Medical research is connecting more and more health problems with gluten sensitivity. If you do decide to follow this diet you will need to become very vigilant about reading labels, gluten is in almost everything. The grains you will need to avoid are wheat, barley, rye, spelt and Kamut. There are others but these are the main ones. Trying this diet for a few weeks is risk free and maybe you will feel better. Good Luck.

[Crewchief67t]

Thanks for the resopnses!  I am still in pain and still think i am having heart issues.  I sure hope the mri shows something.

Please, if you have anymore to add please do so.

Thanks

[Crewchief67t]

One more thing,  The pains mentioned had started as just tingling of the hands, arms, and fingers.

Thanks once again
.

[fedup100]

It sounds as though you are having a tough time. It is really hard to wait for tests appointments to see the doctor. I am currently experiencing heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Two of my doctors, not including my cardiologist, have heard heart murmurs. I have had a 24 hour holter and an echo both of which I was told were normal. I am currently on a 30 day heart monitor to see if I can capture an arrhythmia. I sure hope that the doctors can figure out what is wrong with me.

Back to your problems. There are other nerve problems that could be causing your symptoms. I have long thoracic nerve palsy and suspected thoracic outlet syndrome. Both of these can cause tingling in the fingers, hands and arms. Sometimes I awake with my pinky,  and ring finger totally dead. This feeling goes up to my elbow. Physical therapy has helped a lot. As long as I do my stretch for my peck minor regularly I have a lot less nerve symptoms. Do not give up. I hope you find out the reason for your symptoms. Try not to panic and try to be patient :) Impatience only makes things worse. Easier said than done, I know. Good luck.

[Crewchief67t]

Thanks for the resopnse.  I did mention TOS to my doc and he didnt even aknowledge me.  I think he thinks i am crazy.  Well i am going there quickly!  If  you know what i mean.  New pains everyday, they last longer ect ect ect......

Thanks

[fedup100]

You might be interested in the following: http://www.dellon.com/publications/ipnsbrochure123_Thoracic.pdf. This is a booklet put out by the Dellon Institute. They are doing groundbreaking work in the area of periphial nerve damage. I hope this helps.

[Crewchief67t]

Do i have anything to worry about?  Pains are still the same.  Lasting seconds at a time usually.  I have noticed i dont get worked up as much about this anymore.  I still do occasional but not often.  

Thanks

[Crewchief67t]

I did have endoscopy done a few months ago, i have esophogitis.  Been on aciphex and nexium since then.  Still have pains.

[Crewchief67t]

Well i had my MRI yesterday and got results back today.  Doc says i have mild disk bulging of c5.  No nerve impengment.  So no i am back to square One.  I asked doc for a referal to cardio doc but he said NO.  I really need to find out what the heck is going on.  

Pain is worse in left arm for the last few weeks.  Still have sharp chest pains lasting only seconds here and there but nothing more.  Only time chest hurts for extended periods of time is if i am sitting down and bend over seems to put pressure on my chest.  and upon standing pain goes away within seconds.  I can apply pressure to right side of chest and will get sharp chest pains on left side and vice versa.  So with saying that the chest pains dont bother me too much.  But the arms and jaw pains sure do.   I guess the best way to explain the pains in my chest are sort of a pinch on the skin.  The arms are more of a ache or burning sensation.  

My doc is still insisting on anxiety.  There isnt to much time that passes with me being pain free.  I do sleep fine and uninterupted.  

Thanks alot for your support!!!!!  Please add anything.

[grendslori]

Can you see a cardiologist on your own without the referral and just pay for it yourself? What you are describing is not chest pain from the heart. Some of the things you are writing are actually the OPPOSITE smptom for true heart disease. That is probably one reason your doctor is saying 'no' at seeing the cardiologist. This is something I never really tell people to consider, but have you seen a chiropractor? Better still see is you can make a 'first' appointment with a D.O  doctor. He's had the exact same training as an M.D. but has an extended training in bone structure of the body and can do Chiropractic realignments. That could be the problem. You wouldn't need a referral to see him because it would be the same as switching doctors..

[vickilane]

Hi my name is Vicki and this is my first time to post.
Believe me I know your pain. I would have bet my house and everything I own that it was my heart. I was and still am seeing a cardiologist. Ok let me explain my pain.
It starts in my chest, goes through to my back between my shoulder blades, down my arms, up my  neck into my jaws. It is exscrusiateing pain. I can hardly stand it. Like you,
it only lasts a few seconds. But, it seems like forever.
I insisted on a heart cath. My Doctor found out I have Spasmatic Esophogus. When I feel this coming on, I simply drink something very cold and the pain is gone. I figured this out on my own. I too take Nexium.
Maybe this will help you a little. I know how scary your pain is. I hope you feel better and
my prayers are with you.

[Crewchief67t]

Thanks to all who have posted replies.  Hopefully someday i will be pain free again.  I was good all day long until early this evening.  But i guess life goes on.  I just want to feel like myself again.  

thanks

[Crewchief67t]

Forgot to mention this has been going on for 6 months now!