I think I have a few problems with my body that arent getting any better

[dmon29]

Ten years ago I used to work as an architectural consultant. I designed "as is floor plans" for architects getting ready to renovate. I would carry a 5 pound tablet with my left arm and draw with my right. I did this for 4 years. The tablet was one of the first on the market and the battery alone weighed 2-3 lbs. I started getting pain in my left shoulder, chest, and the area bellow my left rib cage during that time. I'm right handed and have always been much stronger with that side. I also started getting some moderate/severe lower back pain. I thought  I was having a heart attack one day so I went to the emergency room to get checked out. They did an EKG, Stress test and a few others. Everything came back negative and all the doctors could tell me was that I had a torn front left chest muscle. He told me it would heal with time and less use of my left arm. The pain has not gone away and I notice the pain is the worst when I raise my left arm in a few different ways, (Its a sharp pain, feels like someone is giving me a dead arm) Which reminds me when I turned 13 all of my friends gave me my 13 birthday punches which left me unable to move my left arm for a few days. The older kids really gave me everything they had. My arms were as purple as plums. Since then my left side has always been extremely weak compared to my right. My shoulder pain has gotten worse too. Its a sharp pain just bellow my left shoulder blade. Applying pressure helps but I've been dealing with this for more than 10 years now, I started getting numbness in my left arm and fingers this past year. I can lift 4-5 times more weight with my right arm. Now my lower back is starting to go and I'm worried if I don't do something soon things are going to keep falling apart on me. I go nights without sleep because the pain is too much. I'm also dealing with an awkward pain underneath my left rib cage. The best way I can describe it is that something feels inflamed. I'm 6 feet tall 210 lbs and I have bad posture. I'm mostly slender with a growing pop belly. I think I have a few things wrong can anyone offer any insight. I have been smoking for 13 years and I'm confused if the chest pain is muscle/nerve related or something to do with my lungs. Thank you for reading my life story haha.  

[Totie]

You need to be seen by an orthopedic doctor.

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, and welcome. If your getting numbness in your fingers youve got a torn nerve somewhere in your arm and this also would account for any weakness your having in the left arm as well. Have an MRI and you can also go to a nerve doctor who uses an electrical instramant that can pin point the tear. But have a torn nerve most likly will never heal as the connection has been broken.

The rib cage feeling may be ligiments or muscle section getting caught on your ribs but an MRI will show all thats going on.