Persistant Chest Pain

Hi,

    I am a 20 male active runner who had already completed 3 marathons. However, 2-3 weeks ago, I started to have chest pains on my left side, sometimes spreading over to the arm, back and neck. Fearing that I might have an heart attack, I went to the neighbourhood clinic, and was prescribed with painkillers, as the doctor suspect muscular injuries.

   However, the chest pain did not go away after 3 days, and I went to the out-patient of a local hospital, did ECG and blood tests for cardiac enzymes, the results which showed that I have no heart problems or heart attack. I was diagnosed with phurelcy (sp?), the inflamation (inflammation) of the phurel membranes in the lungs. I was prescribed with Augmentin antibiotic for 5 days.

  After I completed the course, I went back to the hospital as I still get the occasional chest pain. Did a chest xray which showed that I have no growth or lesion in my chest. I was then prescribed with painkillers and told to rest.

However, till now, almost 3 weeks, the symthons still do not go away. I still have the occasional chest pain, especially after I had exerted. I wonder if there had been wrong diagnosis by the doctors ( I had seen 2 at the hospital). Or maybe I should just rest and wait?

Any advice? Thanks a million!

[National Jewish]

If your symptoms are getting better, I would continue to wait.  If your symptoms are staying about the same or getting worse, I would recommend checking with a lung specialist, also called a pulmonologist.

[krista]

I am a 22 year old female, and last summer I started to have chest pain on my left side.  I went to the emergency after three days (it was a weekend and my doctor wasn't open), they did an EKG, and xrays, everything was normal.  I saw my doctor constantly because no one would tell me specifically what was wrong, just that I must have pulled something.  I've been on a multitude of anti inflammatories, and I'm pretty sure everyone thinks I'm now a hyperchondriac. At university, I have been seeing another doctor regularly, after 2 more EKG's, she diagnosed me with an anxiety disorder. I do not feel anxious.  To calm my fears of thinking I am having a heart attack, she sent me for a cardiac stress test.  Everything was normal.  Its been 10 months and I still get chest pain, I don't go out and party anymore because I am afraid that I will die (so I think I've talked myself into anxiety problems), and I have trouble breathing on occasion.  Its not that I cannot breath, just feels like there is pressure on my chest.  My sternum hurts to touch, so I guess this makes me feel better.
My mother died when I was 14 from heart complications, I am worried that I have this and I will die young.  
I just wish I knew what was wrong.  I would post this question on the forum, but apparently it is full.  I just hope a doctor will answer me.  I believe my doctor at school when she assures me that I am not having heart problems, but its always in the back of my mind.

[drod30]

I am 31 years old and I have had a chest pain on my left side for about 3 years now. I have gone to the doctors to get checked out and I have also gone to the Emergency Room acouple of times because of this. I have had X-rays of my chest and lungs. Also, the doctor has taken blood to test and examed me with an EKG.

Still I am getting pains on the left side and it really bothers me, but if I go back to the doctors they will tell me the same thing. It is a muscle that is causing this issue and there is nothing wrong. I even exercise often as I can thinking that I need to be active.  Less on my left side, so I do not hurt it.

When ever I breath in deep I feel the pain on my left side. Some days it is not there, but other days it is. Anyone know what I should do next, because this really bothers me?

[Chris1963]

I have just spent a terrible week with the same symptoms as you all. I thought it was something terrible, although my husband kept saying I had just pinched a nerve. I worried so that my heartrate went up which made everything worse and convinced me that I had a serious situation on my hands. Now I'm sure it's a pinched nerve and try to work it out with stretches. We'll see...

[janiceb]

I am so glad to see that you all are experiencing the same pain that I am and that your tests all come back normal.  I would go see my doctor, but she thinks I'm a hypochondriac as well.  I first saw her a year ago because I was experiencing a tingling, weakness in my left arm.  She told me that it was stress.  Then I went back to see her and she sent me for an MRI to rule out MS.  It came back normal and she said that I am fine.  Now, I still have the persistant tingling on my left side in addition to this pain on left sid of my chest.  I feel lightheaded at times, but don't have a problem breathing.  I think you all saved me from a trip to the emergency room over Labor Day weekend.