Severe Pain with Running (Arm, Back, Chest)

[ConcernedRunner]

Hello,

I used to be an avid runner, long distance.

About 3 years ago, I realized that any running at all or severe cardio causes severe (20 out of 10) pain in my chest (over my heart). My left arm down through the elbow becomes also 20 out of 10 painful. I cannot sustain running beyond 30-60 seconds before its so severe I have to stop, and it takes nearly 1-2 minutes to calm down.

I have asthma, but it never interfered before, I was always able to mentally not think about it and 5minutes or so into my runs, it would totally not bother me.

I was diagnosed with TOS in both my shoulders, where-in any motion causes near 100% blockage of the blood flow, my arms / fingers grow cold. I've seen many specialists who say surgery is no option and I have been told... just don't do any exercise that requires me to raise my arms in any fashion (which is nuts..)

If i use the treadmilland I walk, even at 4.3 which is the max I can speed walk at, I am fine, the pain does not come in my arm or chest and my asthma is in check.

It really only appears to happen when I have to use my arms and list them up.  At times when I try to run my back also hurts like crazy and it builds up worse and worse.

I really really really miss running. I am 6 foot, 190 and am in good shape.

Can TOS really cause such severe pain? It's totally a massive nerve pain, massive ache etc. Doctors swear I am fine... but I cannot possibly believe that this feeling like my heart is about to explode is in any way normal.

I want to run so badly, but I just cannot. on rare occassions I have pushed myself to try to run for longer and at 3 minutes in, i had to stop and lay down I was in so much pain.

Any thoughts, suggestions, magical herbs, unicorns or anything else :-( I am willing to try. I just feel like doctors aren't connecting the dots, so one checks X and goes yep and one checks Y and says yep your fine... but that cannot possible be true...

You don't go from 15-20 mile runs a day every day to zero miles... and be fine, I just don't buy it.

Thanks all!!!

[achillea]

Wow, you have a really interesting condition!  I know; I know:  It is not that 'interesting' to you, but still...

As I understand it, the problem with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is that our nervous system, in the interests of simple economy, lets various types of nerves piggyback onto each other, sort of in bundles.  The result is that, for example, sensory information from the upper extremities can be carried on the very SAME nerve tracts that carry information from the heart!

Google Thoracic Outlet Syndrome for much more information about this phenomenon.

The short answer is that yes, TOS might be responsible for your pain, but my best guess is that you need to go to a good university medical center for an extensive workup and differential diagnosis.

[CFS56]

Just a couple of thoughts here...I don't know if you have been evaluated by a cardiologist but I would highly recommend it.   My husband had problems with his shoulder and experienced severe pain, much like you are describing only when doing  certain exercise.  He wrote it off as his shoulder and it went on like that for a couple of years.  He ended up having a heart attack and a quadruple bypass.  .