Chronic Left Sided Chest Pain

[sunshine1109]

For the past 2 yrs I have suffered with unbearable left sided chest pain, its not on my skin it feels like its in and around my left breast. I have had every test imaginable, ct scans, bone scan, mammogram, breast ultrasound, heart tests, nothing has come back abnormal, all my blood work is fine I even had intercostal nerve blocks that only numbed be for a day and it was back full force,  I am suffering everyday of every minute of my life with this awful burning intense pain that never ever lets up. My Dr's are thinking post herpetic neuralgia because around the same time it started with a slight burning I had about six blisters in the center of my chest right where my bra is and I remember them being itchy but never gave it much thought after that but this intense pain thats been just getting worse and worse over the yrs is just killing me and my life is not the same anymore and I dont know what to do. Has anyone ever had this and was it from shingles?? Please please I need some insight on this..and its not heartburn.....Thanks... shine

[sunshine1109]

Yeah I think 2 yrs is a long time to have this pain that seems to be increasing instead of getting better, but all the Drs I have gone to seem to come to the same conclusion but none of the treatment is working on me.  I dont know wht to do , I go back to the Dr. tomorrow and see if he can come up with something else, I feel like a guinea pig cause I have tried about everything to see if it will work... Im so tired of it but thanks for your input and I just have to have faith that something one day will work...shine

[Ricobord]

I just reread your post and I think shingles is indeed a possibility. That could explain the nearby "blisters" you had before.  The pain you are describing is consistent with shingles, but usually there is a blister or red bumpy rash where it hurts. Two years is a long time to have it, but many years ago, my grandfather was disabled for a year because of the pain from shingles. It might be worth asking your doctor about it.

There is a shingles vaccine to help prevent outbreaks, but I don't know if it is advisable during an outbreak.  Perhaps there are some anti-virals you could try to see if it eases the pain.

[sunshine1109]

Hi and thanks for responding. No thats probably the only Dr. I haven't seen. Right now I am on 1800 mg of gabapentin and 50 mg of nortriptyline and hve been on them for 5 weeks with now relief at all. I go back next week to see what he wants to do next. I have gone through hell these past 2 yrs trying to find out what this could be, the pain is unbearable and it never lets up not even for a minute.. I have been to one of the best pain specialist in my area, its really getting upsetting because its affecting my quality of life.. Im just trying to keep strong...again thanks for responding...shine

[Ricobord]

Sorry, but I don't have any suggestions for you other than that it is probably neurological.  Have you seen a neurologist yet? Perhaps a nerve has been overstimulated and damaged and is sending false nerve signals.  Have you tried any meds for nerve pain, such as Lyrica or Cymbalta?