Chest pain, arm numbness and upper back pain

[laurenissick]

I have been to the hospital 3 times for chest pain, mostly on the left side, left arm pain (sometimes numb, sometimes achey), and sharp pain in my upper back.  They ran an EKG, CT scan (they thought i had a blood clot in my lungs), and a chest x-ray.  Their results where all basically the same, that it was anxiety or indigestion.    Now, I have been on Zoloft for a long time now for anxiety, but when I started having chest pains and numbness in my arm, I began having panic attacks. (Mainly because nobody can figure out what the problem is)  So, I am now on meds for anxiety attacks, which isn't helping because nobody can tell me what is wrong with me. Now I still have numbness/sharp pains in my left arm, which varies in strength.  I have a pain directly to the right of my left shoulder blade and another about 2 inches below my collar bone.  Pain medication temperarily helps. The other thing that really helps is drinking beer, which is very costly.  Sometimes it hurts when I breathe in, but it may just be the expansion of my chest that hurts.  Does anyone know of anyone who has the same sort of thing. This has been going on for 4 months and I just cannot take it anymore. I am basically afraid its my heart since my arm keeps getting numb and my chest hurts.  Help!!! Please! (Oh yeah, Im 26 years old, I smoke, but I am pretty healthy. I am 5'5'' and weigh 124 lbs)

[Pattino]

I am also experiencing chest pains associated with palpitations and numbness of the left arm. The pains get worse, especially at night, to apoint where I literally get up from sleep and sit upright. I have been to a GP who referred me to a physician who then referrred me to a hospital where I was booked in for a night. An observation was made on me overnight and tests were run the following day. I was told that everything was normal with my heart except that I had an overgrown muscle which sometimes overlaps on an artery when it contracts and therefore reducing the flow of blood, hence the numbness. For me the only permanent solution, I am told, is surgery. Pain killers often help but for a short while. There are no clots or blockages in the path of the blood but I am consdering the surgery because of the severeness of the pain. Doctors say the condition is not fatal.

[villevalo1331]

I have had panic attacks for years, and they went away about a year ago out out the blue...i reduced my stress ate better etc etc....the last week also "out of the blue" i can barely function, i am literally living on ativan, i was walking down the street and all of a sudden i got left side chest pain, my head started to get dizzy, face went pale, i knew i was having an attack. I got the shoulder blade pain (under it) left side, and also jaw pain left side, but i do grind my teeth at night as well......................i also take one advil as soon as i wake up so i dont have to feel anything again.

panic attacks and anxiety is brutal, thing is with panic, it attacks the weakest parts of your muscles, i am right handed so my left is weaker, its common sense, i bet most of you are right handed as well, so if your muscle groups on the left are not used as much that's where the anxiety strikes, left chest muscles, arms, jaws, back.....it's an evil evil disease! also at night it tends to get worse because thats when the body starts to slow down and shut down, for sleep time...........anxiety knows this, finds you off your guard and strikes, i swear.STRESS, fighting with people, bad times at work ALL TRIGGER ANXIETY, i now try to sit in peace and quiet, low music, and i breathe and meditate. it helps me PLEASE TRY IT!

[villevalo1331]

I have had panic attacks for years, and they went away about a year ago out out the blue...i reduced my stress ate better etc etc....the last week also "out of the blue" i can barely function, i am literally living on ativan, i was walking down the street and all of a sudden i got left side chest pain, my head started to get dizzy, face went pale, i knew i was having an attack. I got the shoulder blade pain (under it) left side, and also jaw pain left side, but i do grind my teeth at night as well......................i also take one advil as soon as i wake up so i dont have to feel anything again.

panic attacks and anxiety is brutal, thing is with panic, it attacks the weakest parts of your muscles, i am right handed so my left is weaker, its common sense, i bet most of you are right handed as well, so if your muscle groups on the left are not used as much that's where the anxiety strikes, left chest muscles, arms, jaws, back.....it's an evil evil disease! also at night it tends to get worse because thats when the body starts to slow down and shut down, for sleep time...........anxiety knows this, finds you off your guard and strikes, i swear.STRESS, fighting with people, bad times at work ALL TRIGGER ANXIETY, i now try to sit in peace and quiet, low music, and i breathe and meditate. it helps me PLEASE TRY IT!

[tkl1107]

A Chiropractor can help you but what your problem is your chest bone needs to be popped and more than likely your back is messed up. If you are experiencing these pains sit down in a chair and stretch as far as you can up and breath deeply and lowly. you will find that this will relieve some of the tension in your back. I have been suffering from back pain for 13 years and it will only get worse. the reason alcohol works is because it is a muscle relaxant. the doctors are not going to tell you anything because it can't be fixed except through painful surgries and pain killers. Get into a swimming pool (heated preferred) and make yourself float. Don't drown, but by taking the pressure off your spine will help heal the pain and you discs. I choose to take Aleve through the week when I am working and if I feel that it becomes to much I will take Ativan 1mg to help destress from the pain. Pain killers are a last resort because your body WILL get addicted to them and the only thing you can do is increase the dosage.

[vudoodad]

I am a 33 yr old male. I have been experiencing these symptoms for 6 years now. Dr, e.r.,  cardiologist, all cannot tell me what's wrong. It is frustrating. I can't believe everyone that is having the same problems. I read all the way back to 2007 in these posts. I'm shocked isn't there a doctor reading this somewhere that could help us?  I will be a study subject gladly. I don't drink, smoke, or any recreational drugs. I've been told its anxiety and my Dr called it the "Vegas nerve" wth?!!!

[KayZZZ]

Most responders in this thread that have diagnosis are finding its thoracic outlet syndrome or in my case thoracic disc disease which are so rare doctors are not familiar enough to recognis and diagnose. Please talk to your doctor specifically about getting an Mri to diagnose this.