Chest pain and esophageal reflux?

[worried878]

Just wondering...I have had chronic back pain for over 20 yrs....2 of my thoracic vertebrae have completely deteriorated and so i had blamed my "rib" spasms on the problems at my thoracic spine///since the ribs do connect all the way around....i will have gripping/disabling spasms in my chest that radiste into my jaw when severe....it will put me out for 20 minutes at least...if i am at work when it happens i am outa commission until the spasm ceases...ice helps...and i am a nurse so i have had my heart checked out and all was well..which i kinda knew it was cos i work out alot...but my last heart teat was 9 yrs ago..i am now 49 so may need a re-check.....anyway my voice has been becoming hoarse....not clearing but getting worse...suffer with sinusitis so went to an ENT ...come to find out i have esophageal reflux to the point it has damaged my vocal cords....but they can heal when i get the problem under control...but i never even have heartburn!  anyway they said the the reflux/GERDS/can cause that gripping chest sensation as well..i had attributed it to my back issues..just wondering if anyone else has had anything similar...i am worried one day i  may actually have a MI and not know it cos i will think its soft tissue pain or GERDS!  geez!  LOL!

[BGBG5]

I have GERD and yes this is a common sensation when I dont have it under check,I take Nexium and that cures the problem of the damage done by the acid though I still get the odd aspiration of stomach contents and that burns my lungs badly.

[worried878]

I will go do the stress test again to be safe...i researched gerds...quite a bumber to have!   i dont suffer heartburn but have all the symptoms of gerds....hoarsenessis not really improving after 2 weeks on meds..when i talk to someone who hasnt talked to me they question my vvoice change right off the bat!   it is like a smokers voice and i dont smoke!




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































2 weeks on meds and voice is worse!  gotta give it time and i will have another stress test..u never know...this gerds stuff after researching is a rooten deal,,,,ulcers, hoarseness..aspiration...chronic sinusitis...and stomach upset for mosr..and chest pain...i was also told thqt my chest pain was related to fibromyalgia...who knows...if i goes away with strict gerds treatemnt i will let u know

tucker...did ur chest pain go when u got steady of the reflux meds..i hope so cos that crud hurts!

[Tuckamore]

Hi Worried,

I think you have a valid point. It's one that I have been concerned with also. I don't know how well I can explain this but I'll try. When is new pain a progression of or related to our chronic pain or when should it be clinical evaluated as a new and possibly unrelated pain that needs treatment?

I have severe GERD also along with a hiatal hernia, so severe that surgery was recommended. Before DX, I just belched, hiccuped and coughed a lot, experienced chest pain and had a hoarse throat, I rarely had a true heart burn. I had pneumonia or bronchitis and sinusitis often. I had an astute PCP that referred me first to an excellent allergist that referred me to ENT's (sinus surgery) and finally a gastroenterologist. All of it was related to this severe GERD. Shortly after this I developed esophageal spasms (also related to the GERD), talk about chest pain! It is unbelievable how severe GERD can cause so many symptoms and conditions.

The good news (if there is any....lol) is that I can differentiate between chest pain from GERD, esophageal spams or a another chest pain. I think if you ever have symptoms of an MI you too will be able to tell the difference based on location, type and intensity. My best friend (female) says when she had her MI (also a nurse) she could identify it as a pressure pain and fatigue unlike anything she had experienced in the past.  

I wonder if the "gripping/disabling spasms in my chest  that radiste (radiates) into my jaw when severe."  that you describe is esophageal spasms rather than GERD alone? Mine drop me to my knees and can last 20 minutes but often last longer and require IV meds to relieve the spasm.

If you are concerned about the condition of the vessels and condition of your cardiac muscle I would not be afraid to request a baseline stress test. Women do not always have the normal MI symptoms that men exhibit. That is one of the reasons it can be missed by the female patient and her medical practitioner.

I hope this information has been helpful. Take care and best of luck.
Tuck

[bastet56]

My husband had the same problem. The dr put him on meds and it went away like magic. Good luck to you