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Anxiety caused muscle spasms in chest ?

Posted , 14 users are following.

Southport
Southport

Does anyone know if anxiety can cause muscle spasms in chest. I have bad anxiety thinking my heart is bad but all the test I have done have shown nothing wrong. Today and water day I have had Like sharp tightening in my far left side of chest and side and somewhat upper back . It’s last a few seconds and makes my heart race shoot up until I calm down. I am scared thinking it’s my heart but no one seems to think it is. I also get a lot of upper back pain shoulder arm jaw stomach ect pain burning finger tips sometimes. Headaches ect 

1 like, 39 replies

39 Replies

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  • baris
    baris Southport

    Posted

    I wonder do your muscle spasms and aches occur only in panic moment or mentally normal times?
  • andrew78866
    andrew78866 Southport

    Posted

    If you've seen a doctor about your heart and it came back fine then it could just be muscle tension. The weird feelings are frightening you and causing your heart rate to increase which normally you wouldn't even notice but anxiety can make you hyper sensitive. I recommend trying to relax your back muscles with a hot water bottle or take a hot shower. If you're like me I get pains in my side, shoulder and arms from having tight shoulder muscles because that is where I hold my stress. 

    Also try to straighten your back...I put a rubber band on my wrist to remind me to straighten up. I found my hunching was causing a lot of the pain in my back because with anxiety you tend to go to a defensive mode sub consciously 

    • Southport
      Southport andrew78866

      Posted

      Well I’ve seen my doc about 10 times and Er 6 times 3 different hospitals I just fear that it’s my heart I well be fine the suddenly get a tightness or sharp pain for a few seconds 
    • andrew78866
      andrew78866 Southport

      Posted

      Yeah that's the big problem with anxiety attacks...everybody and their dog thinks there is something wrong with their heart. Once they can convince themselves it's anxiety then they can start the path to getting better but it's on the individual to figure that out until they are 100% convinced it's anxiety. If it's not anxiety the doctors will find it. But if it's anxiety you can then practice mindfulness and CBT.

  • bita92558
    bita92558 Southport

    Posted

    Yes ,I have severe spasm in my chest because my anxiety is severe .I feel I can't breath and going to die .This is spasm 

    • Southport
      Southport bita92558

      Posted

      Is it sharp and tight? And goes away after a few seconds just randomly occurs. Also I feel like I am a little tender in left side as well
  • annie77547
    annie77547 Southport

    Edited

    I get all sorts of chest pains every day and don’t know why either. Had many heart tests and doctors say I am fine, must be anxiety although I am only anxious because of these pains, was fine before them. I know how you feel x
    • Bethany89
      Bethany89 annie77547

      Posted

      I have this same problem. I've been getting chest pains daily the last couple of weeks but my doctor says it's anxiety. I'm hoping it's just tension causing the pains. Going for bloodwork tomorrow morning but my doctor sounded sure I'm physically healthy.

    • Southport
      Southport annie77547

      Posted

      I think I am only worried because of these pains too. I will be fine and then all of sudden hurt and get scared and heart rate shoots up. I am so scared of health and the human body honestly. I’m sorry you deal with this stuff too but it’s nice to know I’m not alone may I ask how old you are. I’m 22 and the doctors think I’m crazy for thinking I have a heart issue and it’s hard to accept that the pain is from anxiety for me idk why
    • Southport
      Southport Bethany89

      Posted

      I had blood work 6 times and it all came back fine thankfully. It’s just a scary thing honestly. Hard to accept the fact that it’s just anxiety. Like I said I will get tightness for a few seconds and will try not to move then it’ll go away then I am fine. So it is probably muscle tension from being freaked out a lot and then I get a sharp pain sometimes in center of chest or on sides that’s quick too 
    • Bethany89
      Bethany89 Southport

      Edited

      It is very hard to accept, but unless we do it won't get better. I'm trying. My doctor is also deciding what medication will be best for me. I just got lorazepam to use as needed for now. I don't wanna rely on a daily one though.

      I get sharp pains like that too. Sometimes it goes to my back and feels like I'm being stabbed. Sometimes it feels like my lungs are sore, and sometimes it feels like somebody is pressing really hard with two fingers on one spot on me chest... All kinds of different pains. I've had flutters and palpitations and the doctor wasn't concerned when I told him about any of it. Crazy what your mind can do to you...

      I hope you feel better soon.

    • annie77547
      annie77547 Southport

      Posted

      Yes me too, I wasn’t anxious before all of this started. I am 20. I’ve had loads of ecgs lost count. 2 echos and two 24-48 hour heart monitors. I get irregular heart beats that make me dizzy too. I am waiting for results back on one last heart monitor and am being tested for vitamin D and got more blood tests in a few weeks that the doctor requested. I find it so hard to accept mainly because I’m not an anxious person and the pains are so real x
    • annie77547
      annie77547 Bethany89

      Posted

      Do you suffer with anxiety normally? Bless you, I know exactly how you feel. I get them every day and it always freaks me out. Keep us posted on how you get on with your blood tests. Sometimes I wish something would come up on mine only so I know I’m not going crazy lol x
    • Bethany89
      Bethany89 annie77547

      Posted

      I've always been mildly anxious (low self-esteem, terrified of conflict), but only last year I started to get these physical symptoms and have actual panic attacks. My doctor said I definitely have a panic disorder. I had an extremely stressful year so I'm hoping it is that my body just couldn't handle the stress anymore and started having physical symptoms. The doctor didn't want to put me through any cardiac testing because he didn't think I needed it, neither did the urgent care doctor I saw a couple months ago.

      I'll let you know how the tests go! It's interesting you mention vitamin D because when I had blood tests a few years ago I had a vitamin D deficiency. I was taking vitamin D supplements but stopped when the prescription price tripled overnight. Maybe that had something to do with it as well?

    • Southport
      Southport Bethany89

      Posted

      Any one have muscle spasm I believe on side of torso last for 30 minutes like hurts to move 
    • Bethany89
      Bethany89 annie77547

      Edited

      This reply is a little late but I finally got results of my blood test back yesterday. Everything is good. Cholesterol, sugar, thyroid- everything they looked at is fine. I have been having far less symptoms since seeing my doctor so it's just another reason to believe it's all anxiety and I'm going to be just fine!

    • annie77547
      annie77547 Bethany89

      Posted

      I’m so glad it all came back fine! And that you’re starting to feel better smile thankyou for letting me know. Xx
    • abbey93747
      abbey93747 annie77547

      Posted

      This is exactly me had chest pains for 3 weeks only got anxiet because pains won’t go away 
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