Dull Ache in Chest/Back for a Year...
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi. I'm a 25 y/o male with no history of heart problems.
For the past year, I've had a dull, aching pain in on the left side of my chest, and left/upper back. It comes and goes. The pain gets worse when I tilt my head down toward my chest, and when I take a deep breath with my head forward.
My pain does not get worse when I exercise (actually disappears) and is worst when at rest.
I've had x-rays, EKGs, and blood work done—all normal except for mildly high cholesterol.
Please, if anyone has felt what I'm feeling before, or knows what I'm describing, please tell me what I should do. I'm so sick of feeling this way—I just want to feel normal again.
1 like, 9 replies
Kifselfadvocate taylor42857
Posted
taylor42857 Kifselfadvocate
Posted
Anyway, the doctor had sent my xray to a radiologist and called me back the next day to tell me that the radiologist said that the spot wasn't acutally a spot at all and was very normal. I showed it to a friend and very well-established radiologist who also said that my xray was "as normal as could be".
So like you, I've found myself determined to get a CT, Echocardiogram, or something more definitive, with my only hesitation being that my GP has refused to perscribe it (thinks it's uneccessary) so it's not covered by insurance.
I just wish that there was something out there that perfectly matched my symptoms. I don't exhibit the common symptoms of a heart issue, or of cancer, or of a pulled muscle or anything else, which is the most frustrating part.
The not knowing is like a constant cloud over my head, and like i'm in a fight with some invisible thing...
dawn68509 taylor42857
Posted
kevin53196 taylor42857
Posted
Well, this is a difficult one. Its quite feasable that you could be trapping a nerve and when you are exercising, this somehow makes it better.
It is also possible that you just have this pain. Unfortunately, there are some people whom have pain and will never find out why they have it![sad](https://patient.azureedge.net/forums/emoticons/sad.gif)
How long is it after exercising do you get the pain back.?
Are you trying any painkillers, if so, which ones?
Do you have any neck or spinal problems?
Type to you soon and chin up, all the best.
Kev (UK)
taylor42857 kevin53196
Posted
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. It's weird to hope for a diagnosis even if its something not great, but an unexplained pain forever would drive me nuts
.
To answer your questions, It will disappear as soon as I get into the workout/start to work up a sweat, and will start coming back as soon as my heart rate comes back down.
Strangely enough, none of the pain-killers I've tried have remedied my discomfort (advil, tylenol, aleve, etc.) The only medication that I've taken that really seems to have any effect on it has been anti-anxiety medication.
Anxiety runs in my family, and the doctor seems to think it could be the cause of my discomfort. Still, even when I'm on the medicine the pain doesn't completely go away.
And finally, no neck or spinal problems, never even a broken bone.
Thanks again for your support and for whatever insight you can provide!
dawn68509 taylor42857
Posted
taylor42857 dawn68509
Posted
The thing that confuses me is that if its not one of those things and it is anxiety, why don't I ever feel anxious or anything outside of this discomfort? Also why does the position of my head seem to make it worse?
I'd love if it were something as simple as a nerve, but can that last for a year? How can I get that diagnosed?
Thank you so much for your input, talking about it really helps
kevin53196 taylor42857
Posted
Got to admit, I am at a loss.
Is it nerve pain !!!!???? god only knows.
I have heard that "anti-anxiety pills" in smaller dosage is quite a good painkiller for some people,glad it seem's to be working for you.
All I can say is, hopefully you will find out one day what as been causing this. Personally, I would ask for a scan to be done, or a second opinion.
It is not fun living with pain, espescially when you have no idea what is causing it.
Best wishes to you my friend and if you ever find out, let me know.
Kev (UK)
Kifselfadvocate taylor42857
Posted
PTTP!!! Power To The Patient!!!! And I've got nobody else advocating for me, like my mom, sister and dad did so......yes, I will remain, politely assertive :-) BTW, getting that appointment pushed up, 10 days early, released, 98% of my fears. I feel, mentally and physically, so much better. And, I feel proud of myself.