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chest/back pain, unknown cause?
23 years old, 6.3 370lbs. boardline high blood pressure which has been better with diet. history of anixity attacks.
Background, over a year ago, i had a bout of of left shoulder/chest pain. i had many tests done on my heart, including stress tests and an ct angiography, all were negative. The pain went away after about 3-4 weeks.
3 months ago the pain returned, this time with a feeling of flem buildup in my throat and pain centered about 2 inches above my left nipple and also near my armpit on my shoulder. A check with a ortho. surgeon found nothing wrong via phyiscal and x-rays, so i was given 2400 mg of motrin a day. I went back a week later and got a cortizone shot in my shoulder area and i didn't use my shoulder for 3 days at all. the pain subsided.
Two days ago, after some heavy lifting and prob. some overuse, the pain/tightness and flem feeling is back along with the urge to cough, with no results such as mucus.
Could this be caused my inflammation in my chest wall muscles? I'm kinda at a roadblock right now, for the ortho doesn't think i need anything but rest and when i was going to a cardiologist, he said i was in no need of him because my heart of perfect for my age despite my weight and blood pressure. the pain is least when i wake up and worst at night after a day of use.
thanks
Background, over a year ago, i had a bout of of left shoulder/chest pain. i had many tests done on my heart, including stress tests and an ct angiography, all were negative. The pain went away after about 3-4 weeks.
3 months ago the pain returned, this time with a feeling of flem buildup in my throat and pain centered about 2 inches above my left nipple and also near my armpit on my shoulder. A check with a ortho. surgeon found nothing wrong via phyiscal and x-rays, so i was given 2400 mg of motrin a day. I went back a week later and got a cortizone shot in my shoulder area and i didn't use my shoulder for 3 days at all. the pain subsided.
Two days ago, after some heavy lifting and prob. some overuse, the pain/tightness and flem feeling is back along with the urge to cough, with no results such as mucus.
Could this be caused my inflammation in my chest wall muscles? I'm kinda at a roadblock right now, for the ortho doesn't think i need anything but rest and when i was going to a cardiologist, he said i was in no need of him because my heart of perfect for my age despite my weight and blood pressure. the pain is least when i wake up and worst at night after a day of use.
thanks
Regarding heart issues - I will tell you what my last ER doc told me. "If you were 40 with these symptoms, I would definitely say that it's your heart." and "We are here to tell you what is going to kill you. I'm not saying that there isn't something going on with you, but you are not dying - your heart is fine." You have had repeated and extremely sophisticated test ran on your heart. If there was an issue with a 23 year-old's heart, it would have been detected.
I have the same pain in my shoulder blade. The pain / numbness often radiates into my left arm and can last for hours, days, and weeks without letting up. Sometimes, it radiates under my armpit and around the front of my chest.
I also get pin point pain to the right of my nipple, both above and below the nipple.
Anxiety is also an issue with me. I have also had very sophisticated tests ran on my heart (everything except a cardio cath). Under these circumstances, when I start to experience increasing distress, I force myself to stop what I'm doing and continue to reassure myself that it is not my heart causing these symptoms. Most of the time, the symptoms subside within 1-2 minutes of doing this. Sometimes, I'm not so lucky (I'm beginning to think that this is due to waiting too long to calm myself down).
I will use myself as an example. If my symptoms are GERD-related, then my chest / arm issues would arise when I'm pushing acid up my esophagus. This commonly occurs after being physically active, laying down after eating, or eating the wrong foods. When this starts, I freak out. Anxiety then causes my stomach to start churning even more, which pushes even more acid up my esophagus if left unchecked - which prolongs or increases my symptoms.
With that said, what Mike mentioned is very true.You may have a healthy heart now, but you need to get in better condition while you can - otherwise you WILL face heart problems in your late 30's and early 40's. Also, it is MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to get in shape at 23 than 30 (just from my personal experience).
Once again, I'm not saying your symptoms are GERD-related, but since your heart has been ruled out (and based on your history it HAS been ruled out), it is an alternative explanation. We are not doctors - talk to your doctor. Good luck.
I have the same pain in my shoulder blade. The pain / numbness often radiates into my left arm and can last for hours, days, and weeks without letting up. Sometimes, it radiates under my armpit and around the front of my chest.
I also get pin point pain to the right of my nipple, both above and below the nipple.
Anxiety is also an issue with me. I have also had very sophisticated tests ran on my heart (everything except a cardio cath). Under these circumstances, when I start to experience increasing distress, I force myself to stop what I'm doing and continue to reassure myself that it is not my heart causing these symptoms. Most of the time, the symptoms subside within 1-2 minutes of doing this. Sometimes, I'm not so lucky (I'm beginning to think that this is due to waiting too long to calm myself down).
I will use myself as an example. If my symptoms are GERD-related, then my chest / arm issues would arise when I'm pushing acid up my esophagus. This commonly occurs after being physically active, laying down after eating, or eating the wrong foods. When this starts, I freak out. Anxiety then causes my stomach to start churning even more, which pushes even more acid up my esophagus if left unchecked - which prolongs or increases my symptoms.
With that said, what Mike mentioned is very true.You may have a healthy heart now, but you need to get in better condition while you can - otherwise you WILL face heart problems in your late 30's and early 40's. Also, it is MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to get in shape at 23 than 30 (just from my personal experience).
Once again, I'm not saying your symptoms are GERD-related, but since your heart has been ruled out (and based on your history it HAS been ruled out), it is an alternative explanation. We are not doctors - talk to your doctor. Good luck.
Anxiety seems to build upon itself in my opinion. Once your mind gets GOING it is hard to clear it. Anxiety was worst between the months of late march to june. Since then it has been a little less. No more er visits and alot less dr visits. Since i had my CT angiogram, echo and corotid doppler i feel a little better. But i am still in pain everyday most of the time. I am an avid hunter and i have done alot over the last few months. I walk for miles dragging deer over rough terrain and feel like a million bucks. After a few hours i usually feel pains again. Weird isnt it? I guess everything is ok.
Are you on any meds for anxiety? I am on xanax that i havent taken for over a month now. I am trying to get off my meds.
I know if i would have read crambone's post 5 months ago i would have FLIPPED OUT!!! He cant tell you its your heart. ONLY A DOC can.
Have you seen a cardiologist? If not, its another option you can do.
My best suggestion is to get out, exercise, no more soda's, fast food, junk food and lose some weight. Watch your sodium intake, caffine,fats.
If you need anyone to chat with please feel free to message me and i will get back to you. In the meantime take care and hope you feel better.
Mike
Are you on any meds for anxiety? I am on xanax that i havent taken for over a month now. I am trying to get off my meds.
I know if i would have read crambone's post 5 months ago i would have FLIPPED OUT!!! He cant tell you its your heart. ONLY A DOC can.
Have you seen a cardiologist? If not, its another option you can do.
My best suggestion is to get out, exercise, no more soda's, fast food, junk food and lose some weight. Watch your sodium intake, caffine,fats.
If you need anyone to chat with please feel free to message me and i will get back to you. In the meantime take care and hope you feel better.
Mike
the anxiety is a huge issue in all this for me as well. When this first started, i was getting shortness of breath and severe chest pain that led to er visits almost daily for a week, this was AFTER my all clear by the cardio and tests. Everytime i walked into the er, the pain and shortness of breath left as the anxiety subsided. My pain does the same, it hurts least when i'm occupied and hurts most when i have time to think.
There is some pain with certain movements of my left arm as well, just nothing consistent. Right now, there is back near the bottom center corner of my left shoulder blade and some pains in my chest around my left nipple, like before classic heart signs, but like stated before everything has been given the ok in there.
Its really frustrating.
There is some pain with certain movements of my left arm as well, just nothing consistent. Right now, there is back near the bottom center corner of my left shoulder blade and some pains in my chest around my left nipple, like before classic heart signs, but like stated before everything has been given the ok in there.
Its really frustrating.
There are MANY other reasons for this pain other than heart. Many that have the classic symtoms of heart issues. I have had the same pains you mentioned for the last 9 MONTHS non-stop. Had same tests you have had done plus many more tests. My docs say anxiety, neck issues, costocongritis and acid reflux. Read my other posts if you like.
Good luck and take care.
Good luck and take care.
hmmm, once and a while i will wake up at night with an intense burning in my throat and bad taste, this happened the night my pain started back up. Maybe there is a relation, i'll have to ask my doc about it.
Sorry, I cut my post short.
I also have been experiencing similar symptoms and tests results.
1 month ago, doctors told me that the only remaining test would be a cardio cath, and with my existing test results and age - this wasn't necessary.
Yesterday, I was diagnosed with gallstones. Which my new doctor explained can cause the heartburn issues that I have (also reflux for me). Reflux can cause heartburn or it can occur without heartburn. It causes symptoms similar to the feeling you describe in your throat. And bending over or straining your ab muscles can cause reflux to occur. The body responds to the acidity from reflux by coating the throat with mucus - to help prevent damage to the esophagus.
He also explained that reflux can cause pain in the chest that radiates into the arm - similar to heart problems.
I literally called him a liar and explained myself several times, each time he told me that he understood the symptoms I was describing and that reflux can definitely cause them.
I'm not a doctor, and I'm sure there are tons of reasons for our symptoms, but your story is similar to mine.
If you haven't already, get checked for reflux (GERD) or talk to your doctor about it. If it isn't the source of your problems, then it's something else to check off your list.
I also have been experiencing similar symptoms and tests results.
1 month ago, doctors told me that the only remaining test would be a cardio cath, and with my existing test results and age - this wasn't necessary.
Yesterday, I was diagnosed with gallstones. Which my new doctor explained can cause the heartburn issues that I have (also reflux for me). Reflux can cause heartburn or it can occur without heartburn. It causes symptoms similar to the feeling you describe in your throat. And bending over or straining your ab muscles can cause reflux to occur. The body responds to the acidity from reflux by coating the throat with mucus - to help prevent damage to the esophagus.
He also explained that reflux can cause pain in the chest that radiates into the arm - similar to heart problems.
I literally called him a liar and explained myself several times, each time he told me that he understood the symptoms I was describing and that reflux can definitely cause them.
I'm not a doctor, and I'm sure there are tons of reasons for our symptoms, but your story is similar to mine.
If you haven't already, get checked for reflux (GERD) or talk to your doctor about it. If it isn't the source of your problems, then it's something else to check off your list.
Do you experience any heartburn, reflux, or digestive issues?
Have you been tested for reflux?
Have you been tested for reflux?
the problem is, while the symptoms are classic heart, they did just about every test possible short of a cardiac cath. last december and found NOTHING wrong. the angiography showed no blockages in my heart. Its not like the cardiologists, yes i went to two of them with same opinions, is some 2 bit hack from a backwoods hospital either, they are from st. joe mercy medical network in michigan, a very good hospital.
plus, during the times of no or little pain, i could play baseball, work my rear end off on my cars, and do other high impact, cardiac wise, activities and have no problems. If my heart had blockage leading to the pain, it should have shown itself during those times as well.
plus, during the times of no or little pain, i could play baseball, work my rear end off on my cars, and do other high impact, cardiac wise, activities and have no problems. If my heart had blockage leading to the pain, it should have shown itself during those times as well.
its your heart,,all classic heart symptoms.
this doc has no clue telling you your heart is perfect,,,whats going to happen is your going to go on like this for awhile,with these symptoms,and think your fine,then,,,BAM!!!.....heart attack or heart failer and your a gonner,,,,go to someone elce and get on some meds,and loose the weight if you want to live.
this doc has no clue telling you your heart is perfect,,,whats going to happen is your going to go on like this for awhile,with these symptoms,and think your fine,then,,,BAM!!!.....heart attack or heart failer and your a gonner,,,,go to someone elce and get on some meds,and loose the weight if you want to live.
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