Heart Cramps

[mikeyb]

Hi Guys,

I am 45 male with history of chest aches(8 years in total)
Had ecg, stress test etc, with no problems so doc says I am OK
Put down to sternum chondritis or somehting like, no diabetes or anything.
So I basically have just put up with feeling constant aches.

Recently (last two weeks) I have had strange attacks of what I can only describe as Heart cramps and constant pains in arms and legs.
The cramps feel like my heart is sqeezing for several seconds then relaxing, not excrutiating but worrying. It then seems to flutter a bit, all very weird.
The arm and leg pains are all over pains, both upper arms, both lower arms, calves, but the main one is the top of my right thigh.
As I write now I have a strange fluttery feeling in my chest and my thigh is still aching, with other pains moving about in arms and legs.

It's really bugging me as otherwsie I am quite fit and can run three kilos no prob, but when at rest seem to be worse.

Is there any connection to heart disease and leg/arm pain?
Surely, if I had any kind of heart problem I wouldn't be able to run three kilos?
And what can I do about it as no-one seems to believe my plight?

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Mikeyb,

These can be very frustrating problems.  Hopefully the problem is not that no one believes your story, it is probably more to do with no one knowing what to do and having trouble communicating that they don't know the answer.  Often in situations like this I will tell patients that I do not know what is causing their symptoms, but the constellation of symptoms does not point toward a cardiac cause.

I do not know of a cardiac syndrome that cause both leg and arm pain, especially over an 8 year period.  This is further supported by the fact that they are worse at rest than with activity and you can run 3 kilo's without symptoms.

Unfortunately all I can do is reassure you that this doesn't sound cardiac, I cannot tell you what is causing it.

I hope you find an answer.  Good luck and thanks for posting.

[Dasobel]

I'm not a doctor, but--  you didn't mention a holter or event monitor as being among the tests you've had.  You might wish to talk to your cardiologist about having this done.  Having a longer-term record of your heart's activity can be very helpful.  Your cardiologist needs to look at your heart's pattern WHILE you are experiencing these symptoms, and that doesn't always happen during the stress test. Good luck!    

[H.Bruce]

Of all the comments placed here, all with some very similar symptoms I have had. It was 12/22/02 when I became very short of breath, all this air out there and all I could get it seemed was a thimble full no matter how deeply I tried to breathe. I went into ER and was admitted promptly. They suspected CHF right away and did some preliminary tests to confirm their beliefs. They were right, I had CHF (congestive heart failure). They performed many tests, and the one that showed the most was the echocardiogram, real time pictures of the heart working. If all of the tests you have had in the past were inconclusive, I think I would request this one, it tells a doctor a lot and a lot about the heart and how it is doing. And, one more important thing to mention, the most important of all, prayer, the doctor is a tool used by our maker to perform the tasks that need to be done. I had too many things against me to humanly speaking, ever survive this whole ordeal. One doctor there told me that I would never make it out of the hospital alive without open heart surgery to repair a defective valve. My doctor who was in charge of all the other ones said no surgery now, he cannot stand it, we are first going to try this other method first, and can always resort to surgery if this doesn't work. And the other problems they discovered thru an MRA have been cured except for a complete blockage in the bottom of the aorta which has been there for 10 years and is not going anywhere soon. I had atrial fibrilation for a long time and meds didn't help this, so a cardioversion was performed, and instant results. I had the best cardiologist in the nation, and a very understanding person, and a bedside manner equalled by none. If you would like his name, email me at:***@**** and I will be happy to give this info to you along with any question or comment you may have. He does not believe in cutting open if there is a window of hope otherwise. Thanks much for reading, Bruce

[CJ_10]

Hey Guyz...

Ive been having heart cramps for a few wekks now... pushing over a month.... their kind of like little shocks llocated where my heart is. I've went for a check up and until now everything is normal... the doctor thiks it migh tbe muscle related but this seems to persist. According to me muscle related cramps wouldnt persist.. i am very athletic (soccer..basket ball...volley ball..track) which dont seem to affect this problem. These cramps occur a dozen times during the day... sitting down and relaxed as much as standingup and moving.

Bottom like is that i need your opignon on this one... And there is a history of irregular heart beating conditions on both side of our family...

Please right back,
and good luck to all..

[TA1616]

Has anyone had calcification around the heart?

[upbeat63]

Hello,
I have not had calcifications around the heart, but I wanted to encourage you to post your question higher up in a more current thread, I'm not sure how many people read through these older questions/posts unless they themselves have posted here and are looking for a response or to continue the discussion.

You might have to "break into" a thread, which means your post might be a little off topic from the current discussion/question, but most people on this forum wouldn't mind, they are very helpful and supportive. Good luck.

[TA1616]

Hello All.  I was having alot of the same issues mentioned in the thread and was told to have a cath then a TEE and a CT scan.  They found a mass they are calling calcification on the heart wall.  Has anyone had this before?  I have been to 2 Thoracic surgeons who said not to worry about it and no further testing would be needed and another who wants to do a 64 slice CT.  Any insight would be great.  Thanks

[ozibiza]

Hey, I'm 25 and am suffering from some of the above chest pains and heart palpitations? All tests have so far shown nothing. My right arm is currently completely numb. Through research I've found out that a lot of these symptoms can be caused by cocaine use, recently and in the past? 8/10 young people in ER suffering from these symptoms are related to this according to studies.

[sklein]

hi everyone.i can't believe there are other people here who have the same symptoms as me. i'm 27 and in good health, but for the past year or so i've been having really strange heart pains, palpitations, and pain radiating down my right arm and also into my back. this past summer i went to the er b/c the pain in my chest was so severe that i felt like i couldn't even stand up without grabbing at my chest, but they ran all of the tests and everything came back normal and while i was there for about 2 hours, i didn't experience any palpitations. following my er visit, the pain subsided and i really didn't think about until the last 2 months or so, the symptoms have returned with more frequent palpitations and more noticeable pain in my right arm/back. i'm actually going to the dr. this friday for a regular cholesterol test (i do have high cholestrerol, despite the fact that i'm not overweight and i don't eat high-cholesterol foods..it's unfortunately genetic)so i plan on discussing these symptoms with him. but from what it sounds like on this board, unless tests show something abnormal, it doesn't seem like there's much diagnosis for these symptoms. i'm still concerned though b/c they defintiely do not feel normal to me and although i know i'm young, i'm concerned about this pain and the fluttering sensation i have in my heart (at least once a week now).

[sr3]

WOW ~ I shocked! The first website I go to and I find that I'm not the only one that has these feelings. I am a 28 yr old with all the same symptoms as mentioned above. I also have been getting the racing heart beat,arm,leg,armpit,chest pain. Along with a mild headache, shortness of breath and more. The other night it felt like someone was stepping on my chest. I then felt as if I was going to pass out! This has been going on and off for a couple years, however more in the last couple weeks. IN fact almost every night. It seems to only occur when I lay down.
Why doesn't anyone know what this is. I have not had any test. I don't have ins. so I'm just hoping to find help here then go to the appropriate DOC. Please keep me updated. Good luck again to all.

[sr3]

PS. I will check out the POTS and others mentioned. I cannot run for nothing.

[Dizzy dame]

Have you talked to your doctor about blood clots?

I had a blood clot in my leg several years ago and it was pretty scary.

[missmai2]

I've recently found this forum nad have to say that it's been helpful, if only to know that I'm suffering from similar symptoms.  I, too, am only 25, and for about 8 weeks, have been feeling pulsating numbness, achiness, "heaviness" in the left side of my chest and left arm.  It's difficult to take a very deep breath (the feeling you get after eating too much), and sometimes deep breaths trigger a slight pain in my "heart".  I've had the worst doctor, who diagnosed me with acid reflux and carpel tunnel's in my arm.  Just last night, I almost fainted and the numbness and tingles in my left arm was much more profound than usual.  I rushed to the ER, where they did some tests, including an EKG. Everything is normal except that my platelet count was a little high (around 550).  My pulse ox is good (100%).  My arm this morning is very tired and sore, and the pains are still there.

I am healthy, eat well, and can run 2 miles (pains do not get worse during exercise).  There is hearth disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure in both sides of my family.

I have a follow-up next Monday--what sort of tests should I request to have?  A treadmill-stres test?  Echo?  Any suggestions would help.  Thanks!

[Dizzy dame]

In regards to the previous post, I've been diagnosed with POTS. Trust me, if you can run, you don't have POTS. However, the symptoms you describe sound a little like fibromyalgia. Have you ever heard of this condition?

I have fibro on top of my POTS and it causes chest pain, as well as pain in my arms and legs. Your doctor can perform a simple test to diagnose it.

Hope that helps...

[Aruba417]

Your symptoms sound like mine. I'm only 25, I get heart palpitations, have had them for 4 years. And I've had left chest, right chest, and center chest pain for almost a year. I also get left arm pains, arm pit pains, and calf pains as well. I've had blood tests, EKGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, and everything has come out normal. The doctors don't know what else to tell me. I've been treated for Anxiety Disorder and Panic disorder, which has helped me not to worry too much about my symptoms, but it doesn't lesson the weird cramps at all. I know how you feel! Good luck and let me know if you ever find an answer!

[kcgrant]

Check out a website called www.potsplace.com. Too often, when you have a "heart" complaint (racing heart, palpitations, chest pain) and no tests show any problem with the heart, you have to look to the nervous system. POTS and NMH are autonomic nervous system disorders that cause many of the symptoms you're describing. good luck

[madgeOwens]

sob=short of breath

I get smptoms with pvc's....such as sob...lightheaded...chest pain...
I started Inderol 80 mg time release, and I am doing realy well on it.
Good luck to you.
Madge

[mom3kids98]

mom3kids98
10/15/2005
C4 . Hi, I just found this forum and it is great to get to talk to people who understand what your going through. I have a strange symptom when I have pvcs or irregular heartbeats, not sure which. I have mild mitral valve prolapse, had an ablation for svt about 10 years ago, did ok for about 10 years and now seem to be having more pvcs and some atrial fib. Back to symptom, does anyone else in the world hava a strange, breathtaking sensation in their throat with these pvcs or rapid beats? They sort of take your breath, it is a sort of odd thing to describe and scary. I take lopressor 100mg a day but my cardiologist changed me to Rhythmol 150mg but havent' taken it yet (just changed today) because of the pvcs I show now on my strips. It showed about 6 in 10 seconds. Does anyone take this med and does it work for you any side effects? Cardiologis talked like ablation would be hard to fix pvc or atrial fib? Does anyone know if that is for sure? Could someone tell me what is sob and bigeminy? Thanks so much. Mom3kids98