Sensation of Heaviness in the Chest

[DTomwing]

My mom has severe shoulder pain around to the front. It feels like someone is tighting a belt around the area. Its just under her breast- all the way around the front and down her right side mostly. Kind of like a belt being tighten. The pain onsets when she begins to walk or move around. The pain subsides when she sleeps on lies down. She describes it as a sensation of heaviness and a downward pulling sensation on  the sides.

[DTomwing]

Thank you very much for your response. I have forwarded your response to her. They have cleared all heart issues. I just received her medical history. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Once again thank you very much!!

The pain is getting worse over time-

- Diabetic for about 15 years
- Hypertensive for about 25 years
- Frozen shoulder for the last 2 years
- Present medication:
o Glucotrol 5 mg; taken once a day
o Plendil 10 mg; taken in the morning
o Cozaar 100 mg; taken at night
- Complaint started in about 2002 with slight band of discomfort just below the breast
- Initially, not continuous discomfort and it was never during rest/ sleeping/ during the night
- When the discomfort continued and occurred more frequently medications prescribed were:
o Lyrica
o Tegretol
o Cymbalta
o Neurontin
o (among others)
- These did not provide any significant relief
- Other tests (as seen in file) were undergone
- Condition worsened
- Discomfort was accompanied by pain; tightening below the breast and on either side of the waist. Almost as though someone was tightening a belt around under the breast. Some of the pain seemed like muscle pain.
- The pain was not severe and she was able to function up till about mid-June 2009
- Pain became continuous during the day; went away while resting at night
- Massages with medicated oil (Kwan Loong) was the only source of relief
- Painkillers were generally ineffective
- Panadine Forte & Voltaren Forte would give (at best) 2 hours relief
- Pain increases substantially when agitated/ anxious
- August 2009: had vertebroplasty; this failed to resolve the situation
- Body became a lot less flexible after the procedure. Sitting became more uncomfortable
- Chiropractor suggested adjusting the spine would help; this was stopped after 4 sessions because there were no signs of improvement and also due to scepticism.
- Apart from being treated for nerve pain treatment has also been targeted to wards:
o Acid reflux
- Currently taking Pantecta to treat acid reflux but pain persists
- Pain also increases while standing/ sitting


Warm Regards,

Danielle

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Any tightness in the chest that comes with walking, even if it is on the right side should be investigated for angina and heart attack, by a 12 lead EKG. I would suggest you consult a doctor ASAP or take her to an ER.
The pain could also be due to some shoulder pathology or costochondritis or due to liver infection or gall bladder problem.
Sometimes a duodenal ulcer causes similar symptoms. If the heart issues are clear then other causes have to be ruled out one by one.
It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!