chronic chest pain

[hahahahaha]

i was wondering if this makes any sense.   someone has chronic upper middle chest pain that is not worse with exercise.   the echo, xray and EKG are normal.   the basic labs are normal.   where else can this pain come from ?    

Could it be from GERD or esophogitis, even if it doesn't hurt to swallow food?
could it perhaps be an enlarged lymph node in the chest? (lymphoma maybe?)

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

It does not sound cardiac and you should talk with your doctor about this and potentially you may need a CT scan of the chest and possibly an upper GI endoscopy.

[erijon]

It could be costochondritis which is an inflammation of the costal joints where the ribs connect to the sternum. This condition can be chronic and is usually able to be reproduced by manipulating the joints on the left side of the sternum. I have this condition due to Rheumatory Arthritis and it is a constant dull aching pain that is not made worse by exercise or eating. I had all the same heart tests as well before clearing the heart and I was sent to a Rheumatologist that diagnosed the problem.

May be worth looking into. Good Luck,

Jon