1. Community
  2. Chest and lungs
  3. Chest Pain

I’ve had chest pain that comes in goes for 1-2 years now

Posted , 3 users are following.

mschafer1
mschafer1

Hey guys

Like i said I’ve had chest pain off and on for between 1-2 years now. It comes and goes several times throughout the day, and I feel like it’s gotten worse these past couple of weeks. I almost always feel it in the area of behind my sternum and to the left a couple inches as well as sometimes just anywhere in my left chest area. I also often have pains in my left shoulder/bicep/forearm/wrist. Upper back pain sometimes as well. Pains usually don’t last more than a minute or two at most, sometimes they’re all present at the same time. I’m, 27, male, 5’10 and I’ve smoked and drank pretty heavily for the past 3 years or so. But before that I was never overweight and was a college athlete. I’ve had several trips to the ER the past couple years because of this, EKGs and X-rays are always normal. My doctor chalks it up to anxiety, GERD and costocondritis. I can’t convince myself that there isn’t something wrong with my heart. Maybe I should try and force my way into seeing a cardiologist but my doctor says he thinks that’s unecessary because of how healthy he thinks my heart is. I just can’t 100% convince myself that none of these pains are a sign from my heart. Anyone else feel like this? Maybe it’s just my anxiety I need to get over. But I think the chest and arm pains are real, anxiety just makes them worse. Could the doctors be wrong?

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • Beezer
    Beezer mschafer1

    Posted

    Can you recreate the pain? Can you push on your chest or move a certain way and get the same pain you feel? Is it worse when you take deep breaths in? Any shortness of breath? Shallow breaths or breath holding? Better or worse or no change during exertion? Better, worse or no change after exertion? Any fatigue? 
  • annette73255
    annette73255 mschafer1

    Posted

    Excellent questions Beezer is asking you to figure out what might be driving this. Ones you must consider as should your doctor.

    It certainly sounds like how I first presented with a tricky form of heart disease that is non-obstructive. Shortness of breath along with, before or after pain can be a clue. If you tend to have pain or symptoms typically post exertion- even 30min or more after, rather than during, is also a clue. Bottom line is, you need a doctor who listens and not only considers what he or she sees in testing (as those tests can bely non-obstructive Vascular issues) but also thinks outside the typical checked boxes and addresses your symptoms. Also, be your healthiest. Make the healthiest choices!!! I was fit and made healthy choices and am still dealing with this, but I know it could be worse if I didn’t keep paying attention to good healthy heart choices.

    The short lived pain, is logically, making me think possible vessel spasms which are typically shorter lived. These can be treated by nitrates and calcium channel blockers. Some cardiologists will give a trial month or so on these types of meds to see if it works... both older safe meds... that can help elucidate what is happening by showing what may work to ease symptoms.

    Good luck. Keep listening to your gut and find a doctor who knows more about non-obstructive heart issues if you feel you are truly presenting in this way. 

     

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.