Long term, unexplained chest pain
Posted , 235 users are following.
Hi all
After struggling with docs for years over this I thought I would turn to the wider world some input. I am a 27 year old, healthy (enough) male who has been getting intermitment, iregular and infrequent chest pains on and off for around 10 years.
During an 'attack' the pain can be quite severe and sharp - I guess a bit like being stabbed. The pain is localised to the left side of my sternum and feels fairly deep (i.e. it cannot be palpated).
Attacks can last anywhere from a few seconds to a day or so, and tend to come in 'clusters' that can be present for up to a week. There can be months between each cluster of attacks (if you get my drift!).
Pain can sometimes be exacerbated when leaning forward, coughing, lying on my side or raising an arm (seems to always vary - and can sometimes not have any stimulators).
During a 'cluster' period and between attacks I can often feel a mild, underlying ache in my chest. This is easy enough to ignore however.
I have had ECGs and chest xrays that have all been fine, and am not affected at all during exercise - I can happily go out and run 10k with ease.
Doctors have in the past rulled out gastro refulx as there was no tenderness on palpation of my stomach area, although I have sometimes thought that attack can follow a big meal and be accompnied by burping (although this may be my mind tricking me).
Muscolskeletal problems have been mentioned, but why would attacks come in clusters and seemingly out of the blue?
I am at a compltete loss and doctors have been no help. My wife is scared that I will just drop dead from a heart attack - and I am struggling to find new ways of reassuring her.
Any help/thoughts/insight/advice would be seriously welcome!
Thanks
20 likes, 457 replies
richa05315 ji86
Posted
I m from India, I too have chest pain from last 1 year... one thing I want to add is all of you suffering from chest pain must once go for pulmonary function test and make sure your digestion is proper... Because initially when I had severe pain my Ayurveda doctor has given me some Ayurvedic medicine.. after having medicine for 5 months I m relieved from severe pain.. BT still my pain continue,,, then I went to my alopathic doctor, he did my pulmonary function test,, in which he found my lungs are not able to dilate properly,, so this condition s arising,, although my 2DEcho says my heart is fine..I get relaxed when I take respihalers.. but still pain occures, I am getting into depression...
suzanne38885 ji86
Posted
carlos020776 ji86
Posted
So far no relief other than just keep living and ignore the pain most of the time. I got anxiety and depression because of this, and also I put a lot of weight since the first visit to the ER. Got panic attacks and my life has been miserable. My only comfort is my wife and family.
Now I'm decided just to be stronger and keep exercising to lose weight and see if sport can help me with my chest pain. I travel a lot and has been hard to even be on a plane. Change on weather affects me a lot and now I even feel pain on my left arm and lower back. Doctor said that is muscular. If I take any muscular relaxation medication, I get palpitations (I think is all on my head).
My only advice will be to keep going, if doctors did not detected anything, just try to ignore the pain. Enjoy every minute of your life and be sure that we are all going to die, then just enjoy every second of your life.
northernsoul197 ji86
Posted
Just to say that you have my sympathy. It sounds almost identical to what I and a lot of people on this thread are suffering from.
Mine started last April time when I noticed pains in my left part of my back and the left hand side of my chest, with the pain the worst under my left armpit and radiating down left side. One night my heart was racing and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I went to A&E and had an ECG and blood tests. Everything came back fine. Since then the pain hasn't gone and I've had a further 3 trips to A&E, two doctor ECG's sent off to a Cardiologist and paid for a BUPA Wellman check. All of which have told me that my heart is okay and this includes two chest X-rays. I still don't know 100% as a few of the ECGs look like they've had a slight blip in them but I was told this is because iv been anxious. Blood tests have been fine and there's no trace of anything. I'm currently waiting on the results of an MRI nuclear scan and am seeing a Rheumatologist who specialises in muscular skeletal issues.
All of this has left me broken compared with this person I was 14 months ago. I have the pain almost every day and it an be in clusters so it is quite severe. The he last 3 days especially. Some days the pain isn't too bad and I just get on with things. But I do have it every day at some point. I also have pain in the chest that can be a short 1 second jab every now and again and parts of my rib age, chest and arms can be really painful to touch.
I'm 38 male and recently a dad and someone who was sporty, social and outgoing. All this seems to have gone and I feel a shell of the person I was. Very anxious and scared to exercise in case I drop down dead. Stupid I know but it's how I feel. Medication I've been given has done nothing and seems to be more for anxiety. I just hope the test results help me to get to the bottom of this.also I've lost over two stone in body weigh 15 down to just under 13 stone and maybe this is why I think I can feel my heart beating more.
I just don't know what to do, the Internet is a bad place to start looking at self assessing what you have wrong with you and I should listen to the medical professionals but after 14 months of this I'm none the wiser into what I have and I still have this every day.
calvin58903 ji86
Posted
shegegill ji86
Posted
dominicsag ji86
Posted
Hey everyone I'm a 20 year old male from new York and I have had cheat pain over my heart for a couple months now. It won't go away. They've run so many test including ekg echo stress and multiple blood tests and mri they all came back normal. My Dr told me he has run out of tests to run. I've been to the ER 3 times now. Ive heard costochondritis or it's muscular skeletal. I used to workout 5 times a week and play basketball everyday. I haven't don't anything physical because I'm afraid of a heart attack even though my cardiologist said there's a very low chance it's my heart. I have no idea what it is. They said torn cartilage or damaged nerve is possible. Anyone thing it could be back related? I also get sharp pains in the left side of my back from time to time. I also have shortness of breathe and the drs have given my inhalers. This is ruining my life as I'm not myself anymore. Sometimes I get little burps and that calms the pain down for a bit but then it come right Back. They don't this is acid reflex or anything. To be honest I'm scared it's something serious. Thanks
sg6565 ji86
Posted
I could have easily written your post! I have had the same exact symptoms for about 4 years now, and still no answers. I have had a full cardiac work up ( ekg's, stress tests, holters, ct angio etc ) and GI tests and never got even close to an answer. Did you ever get any answers for your case?
ensmartened ji86
Posted
You exerted yourself picking up a bulky scooter. You might have torn a muscle or other soft tissue in your chest. Another possibility is a partially subluxated rib. They can be quite painful. If you pulled or tore something, there would be swelling and that might prevent the rib from going back into it's "seat". If it's one of the upper ribs, it could also cause the shoulder blade to be raised higher than the uninjured side. Find a good chiropractor or Doctor of Osteopathy. They'll be better able to evaluate you.
najmah ji86
Posted
Hi ji86
I had this pain for more than 10 years i was 16 when it started, i've don ECG chest x-rays everything was normal,
My pain seems to change I don't have one specific characteristic, it's ether mild dull pain that i could live with, and the SUDDEN sharp severe pain that I couldn't live with i cant, breath sneez cough or burp everythin that deels with my chest can't be done without a sharp unimaginable pain!
I had tough times, i was 16 imagine having that pain that doctors couldn't treat hunting you, I studied in a dental college for 6 years and i had bad grades in some subjects because of it. I get used to plan my days around it, last year was my last year at college it was the toughest of all my years with that pain, i went through a severe depression because of it, and I'm happily through it now, and believe it or not i had it in my graduation ceremony. I'm now an i'm an intern doctor (:.
One thing I learned about this pain hot packs are very helpful, rest, stretching you chest muscle, physiotherapy, and taking your time on healing.
tony6363 ji86
Posted
I have been experiencing the same exact things for many years now, I too have had a full cardio work up and have come up healthy, but the pain is absolutely horrible, I feel like I'm having a heart attack like every week because of the location of the pain and how it's always the left side. Some days the pain is not so bad, other days absolutely excruciating. I have had several doctors examine me and come up with nothing. Really not sure what to do. I'm a professional drummer and it's really been affecting my playing and there is nothing I can do about it, it seems. I too am at a loss for what to do. It also seems as I get older it gets worse, I have had it since my late 20s and I'm 36 years old now and have yet to find medical treatment or an actual diagnosis. If anyone has any answers please let me know as well.
Thank you,
Tony
karen08917 ji86
Posted
Hi I hope you're feeling better I myself feel terrified I'm going to drop down dead this pain is really starting to get me down now it seems to be getting worse. I went back to doctors the other day and he basically told me it's something I'm going to have to put up with. What do you do to help with the pain ? I do find if I press on it it easys off a little. Many thanks
alex37559 karen08917
Posted
Hi Karen,
I suffer with long term pain too. Have done for the last 4 years. Tell me abit more about you're pain and symptoms?
karen08917 alex37559
Posted
Hi I have been back and fourth to doctors for 3 years now the pain is the left side of my breast under my arm and across the top of my breast bone I also get a tingling in my fingers and pain in my arm I also noticed I get a fair bit of heartburn I have had 3 ecgs and been seen by a heart specialist. It hasn't stopped me worrying and wanting to call a ambulance out . Sometimes I can't keep a bra on because it seems to make it worse every night I go to bed just lately I think it's going to be my last ??
alex37559 karen08917
Posted
Ive had the same thing for 4 years! How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Sometimes I get pain down my arms but it's just an uncomfortable pain on the left side of my chest. Are you taking any medication? I've had MRI's, ECGs, the lot. And everything has come back fine. Even seen a pain specialist and a cardiologist who again both said i was fine. I now just have to manage the pain anyway that I can.
It's just good to know I'm not the only one.
karen08917 alex37559
Posted
Hi yes I was put on Ampritypline tablets but I stopped taking them last week because they was making me feel not with it the doctor said they keep you sedative thou I must admit they did help me sleep. I get pain down my arm that's one of the reasons I get scared pain in left arm and chest I'm 49 now. What do you take to help with the pain? I do find heat pads help a bit but I can't walk around all day with a heat pad in my bra x
alex37559 karen08917
Posted
I'm on the same medication, but I am also on Pregabalin. To be honest there isn't anything I do imparticular. I just know with all the tests I have had that when the pain is there that it's just pain and I just have to reassure myself that it's nothing serious. I find that my left side of my chest is a lot more sensitive when I touch it but I also touch it because I find when I touch that side it does ease off. To an extent it has ruined my life and slows me down from things I want to do but like I said I'm getting used to living with it as no one else can help unfortunately.
karen08917 alex37559
Posted
rahul67955 alex37559
Posted
I have gone through the same for nearly 16+ years. Believe me I am completely free for the past 5 years. I constantly practising breathing techniques which give me a break from this pain. Looks to be Pshygological rather than physical ailments. I met a pshgologist who offered me a advise to do mindful breathing every time when u feel the paIn and also while waking up from ur bed and also before going bed. Believe me, it will work . I have practised this nearly 3 months constantly after her advise. It was completely gone. Believe me. Hope , it will help everyone here. If u need any advise, pls give a ping.