Chest pain
Posted , 6 users are following.
Im 31. The pain started about 2.5 years ago. Ive been to doctors, ERs, cardiologists and no one seems to have an answer. Blood tests come back normal. Ekg is normal every time. Stress test is fine. Stress echo was fine. No explanation. Its eating away at me. Frustration level is thru the roof. The pain is in my left side .. ribs .. breast area... also in the sternum area. Also in my back by left shoulder blade. Its keeping me from doing normal exercise, normal life events like bike riding and other stuff that i enjoy. No one has come up with an explaination but it is very disheartening and tough to keep positive when the pain is there. It comes and goes .. sometimes there for days/weeks and then there will be days and weeks with nothing.
Anyone out there feeling this way?
1 like, 10 replies
Beezer dave44174
Posted
I was the same. Ended up having coronary microvascular disease. Hopefully it's not what's going on with you.
annette73255 Beezer
Posted
Hi Beezer!!?? Fellow non-obstructive heart sister! Fancy meeting you here!! 😘
Beezer annette73255
Posted
Annette - I always keep an eye on this board incase a fellow zebra is trying to make sense of its' stripes! As I see you do too! 😘
annette73255 dave44174
Posted
Well... something to think about would be non-obstructive heart disease. I was a fit 40 yr old with no signs in typical cardiac testing or blood panels that is have a vascular issue. Yet here I am.
Sounding to me a lot like I presented. It was so debilitating until I started right diagnosis and donor nitrate with a CCB.... because this is often both Microvascular construction and Coronary spasm related interference. Not tons understood so it's too likely to be dismissed for too long!!!
Check out a public info page on Facebook- Coronary Microvascular Disease-Non-Obstructive CAD. Lots of published info.
Be persistent and consistent! Sounds a lot like referred angina symptoms!!!
Best in all ways!
Annette
Mary_Beth08170 dave44174
Posted
Dave441, hi...you're not alone...was there any trauma physical or psychological 2.5 years ago right before the pain started and do you take any medications? I have similar pain except more so on the right side and it was/is very scary and I had both physical and psychological trauma which I believe caused the pain as well as me overworking already strained/injured muscles in my arms and chest area. I also had been on blood pressure medications which exacerbated all the pain. I see that the pain goes away temporarily and then out of nowhere re-appears; it's all so weird and strange. I got so sick and tired of doctors and googling that I finally decided to treat it myself with soft shoulder braces, ace bandages, soft elbow sleeves, extra strength Tylenol, ice packs, heat and then exercising other areas and not putting pressure on any injured areas. I'm going to see a chiropractor because I believe one of the injuries to my right arm caused elbow injury; hand numbness, shoulder and rotor cuff injury, breast pain, chest area above breast pain and also behind my ear in the bone pain, jaw pain and face pain...I know it's all from one very forceful injury that happened to me and the left side isn't as bad, but similar so I will check that out with chiropractor...I'm looking forward to being without pain if this chiropractor can manipulate all affected areas and realign things because basically that's what I do when i'm in pain except in takes several hours for me to do it...I know that some of the chest pain in the sternum is gas and heartburn and yet it doesn't feel like that, but it is because the gas is relieved by drinking ginger ale or taking a mint Rolaid...I also know that blood pressure meds and aspirin can cause a lot of bad side affects and my breast bones felt bruised to the touch, but that is gone when I wake in the morning so I attribute it to the meds...be your own detective because you've had many tests already...It sounds like you may have a rotor cuff injury which is agonizing so see a sports injury orthopedic and then chiropractor so it can get healed...the pain will radiate into the chest/breast area because it's all muscle there...Good luck and it takes some time to heal, but use all available for pain...I'm also looking into natural and supplemental vitamins to help with my health where needed. I don't want the prescribed medications that have nasty side effects and cause other conditions...try not to stress out about it too much..try inside or gym stationary bikes and treadmills where you don't have to use your upper body too much...
annette73255 Mary_Beth08170
Posted
Can see what you’re saying... may be clues there. Your case is sounding different than he explained from initial post. It doesn’t seem there was trauma. I will add that even with my cardiac dysfunction I have used Myofacial release hands on therapy, as I have chronic angina and it helps immensely. Important thing is to get to why this is first.... must know what is at work. And unfortunately sometimes that means in typical medicine? The ‘million dollar work-up’! It is not ideal, but as long as docs treat during diagnosis phase it helps discern what is NOT going on leaving the diagnosis by exclusion. There is a test for Microvascular involvement, but must be done with a cardiologist who does them often and not every interventionalist does them. Not owls how to read for ischemia of this type. Being a Zebra in medicine myself? I do understand these frustrations. But advising exertion without understanding what may be at risk is not optimal. If it is Cardiac this shouldn’t be pushed through and sore to touch would not be present. (Unless costochondritis is suspected).
And yes, natural or homeopathic medicine is something I integrated once I knew what was likely driving it. Referred angina is very real and presents in various areas due to nerves connecting to pathways. See photo I attached. When relieved by nitrates? Pretty clear what is at work. So do be careful and follow what your body is telling you.
I like your approach MaryBeth. I only wish my situation was musculoskeletal. And perhaps if indeed he had a forceful trauma this is similar to posted case above. I’m just saying as someone who was dismissed for too long? If it is indeed cardio? There’s not a moment to waste.
And i I want to ask Dave? If your pain is often after exertion? That’s another clue to micro or Spasm involvelment. I was kind of ok during exertion, it afterwards the pain presents as the nitric oxide need in dysfunctional vessels is not met.
Clarity and well being to you both!!! We are all a bit individual and I only hope we find what best suits our biochemical needs and individual presentations.💞
mickee06746 dave44174
Posted
I'm having similar issues. I'm 25 years old and for the past three months, I've been having awful chest pain/tightness/heavy feeling. It's in the center of my chest, and also to the left and right of my chest. It feels worse when I'm overexerting myself. The pain got worse and I went to Urgent Care, the Emergency Room and my physician. I had D-Dymer blood test to see if I was having a pulmonary embolism, but the test was negative. I then had 3 EKG's, three chest x-rays, blood work drawn up - everything came back normal. They said it could be pleaurisy, without the fluid on the lungs, but normally that only last 2-6 weeks. I was prescribed Ibprofen, Ketoralac, and a muscle relaxer ( all different visits and taken at different times), but nothing has helped. I've also tried every over the counter medicine for chest congestion with no relief. I saw a pulmonary specialist, and they gave me a breathing function test which came back normal. I will be getting a catscan soon... But I'm worried something is seriously wrong with me. This is a constant pain.
Mary_Beth08170 dave44174
Posted
Dave44174 and annette73255, hi. I believe that Dave had testing done and all turned out negative and it has been 2.5 years since the onset of his pain and sometimes we forget that we were injured or traumatized so I base my response on my own experience and also what Dave said. I can say for certain that a blood pressure medication called Lisinopril manfufactured by Lupin causes a whole list of cardiac symptoms for me and I thought I was having cardiac issues when in fact I was not..it's a matter of deducing and getting rid of the fear instilled by the medical world that all ailments must be related to the heart and blood pressure; they are truly obsessed with both and I personally was getting sick from them...I don't take Lisinopril and the pain completely is gone so that is that.. Doctors will do every available known test there is and they will always find something wrong when well enough should be left alone..I am a bit angry with some doctors for their tactics and ways as they can be dead wrong and cause a lot of harm to our bodies with the medications that can cause major organ damage so I personally steer away from the docs and go to trying to heal myself which has worked well and without any fear instilled by the doctors or medical world because fear is more than half the cause for most of my blood pressure condition...to each their own, but doctors are not perfect and seems so silly for a human being to get every test known when it could be muscle injury or something else..take care and good luck to all...
Beezer Mary_Beth08170
Posted
Microvascular disease/non obstructive heart disease is notoriously difficult to detect. Traditional tests may pick it up, but not always. I'm 36. Every heart test known to man done 3 times over...and I have it. Yes, doctors and the medical system can be dangerous;however, it's also dangerous to urge others to give up advocating and pushing for best care.
Mary_Beth08170 dave44174
Posted
Beezer, hello. I am not urging anyone to give up advocating or to doing anything at all. I gave responses to dave44174 based on what he wrote, based on my personal experience and based on what worked for me since he specifically asked if anyone else out there was feeling this way meaning the way he feels. As you have your personal beliefs and opinions medically or non-medically so do I and I am entitled to give my response I thought unless you want to have a forum where the answers are censored and where only traditional medicine works for everyone all the time...None of us are trained medical doctors and I hope that is understood by everyone and even if someone was a trained medical doctor here we are still entitled to what goes into our bodies and what treatment we choose to have for any ailments. I am not telling dave44174 what to do with his health or body. I am only giving a response to his post I do not believe everything in the medical world myself; I doubt and I ask so maybe I shouldn't post here if it's strictly traditional medicine that's wanted or needed...I don't see where I told anyone to give up on traditional medicine when I was stating my opinions based on my personal experience. If you look at my profile I specifically state that I never give up and I don't give up...so I know I did not tell anyone here to give up anything...so sorry for the upset and I will not post on this discussion again...I was sharing my own personal experience and i'm sorry I did..i know you shared some of yours and I never put you down or said a bad word about anything you wrote so i'm baffled...don't worry about it anymore; i'm out of here..and good health to all once again...