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Long term, unexplained chest pain

Posted , 235 users are following.

ji86
ji86

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

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  • matt11030
    matt11030 ji86

    Posted

    After seeeing this im kinga glad other people are in the same boat as me but anyway im 19 not that fit but im pretty slim and have just started to eat really healthy, but lately i've noticed the sharp pain in the left of the centre of my chest. It is really annoying and unerving so im going to a gp tomorrow to see what they say. Usually the pain can last hours and only really goes away when i decide to not notice it, but recently its been far more intense and it has a clogging stabbing sensatino to it. I never thought it was a big deal because it always goes away but when it does come back i suddenly remember how frightening this pain can be, ive also always had random chest pains from when i was younger as well 
  • Regina316
    Regina316 ji86

    Posted

    Hello! I am so happy to have found this and see there are other people dealing with this chronic chest pain that isn't probably heart related I've had mine since 1/13/15 I was driving to school and I thought for sure I was having a heart attack I'm 29 y/o women quit smoking 2 years ago in great health they took x-rays ekg blood said nothing was wrong it's probably costalchondritis... Ok cool take some Motrin or Ibprofen and be on my way... Well now it's 4/22/15 and I've been having it probably about 4x a week went to my doctor back in March because it was unbearable he said its GERD... Then he Put me on nexium and famotidine... Didn't work tried it for a month and a half so I stopped taking it. 2 days ago went back to the ER same blood ekg and X-rays.. All still normal saying its muscular skeletal.... I'm to the point I don't care I just can't live with this constant chest pain and it goes down my left arm and inbetween my shoulder blades... I have had panic attacks in the past but this is completely different.. The last 5 days I've woken up and fell asleep with chest pain and its wearing me down fast... Someone please help 😔
    • jesse64888
      jesse64888 Regina316

      Posted

      HI All, I guess its good I'm not alone.  Bad news for some of you is that it doesnt seem to go away as I've had it for 12 yrs and its progressively gotten more frequent.  Sometimes I go a week or 2 without having it but sometimes it can be everyday for a month.  Pain can be sharp like "an elephant on your chest with stabbing" for like a 1/4 sec and sometimes it can just be a dull pain lasting almost all day.  Did all the normal tests, blood, EKG, stress EKG, xray, .... nothing.  Havent spent a lot of time with a heart specialist but have been thinking of doing so.  The other thing I would say is that I have constantly gained weight over the last 12 yrs from 200 to 248.  I just lost 15 pounds.  Doesnt seem to matter to the pain, but I'm going to push back to 200 and see if that does any good.  Maybe if is costalchondritis or some other muscularskelatal issue, the loss in weight will give more room for everything in there.  I also am getting close to having high cholesterol and blood pressure but still in the normal range, just almost too high.

      If anyone finds out what this is, please dont forget to come back here and help all these poor lost souls.  Really effects my sleep and gets into my psychy a bit on how much time I may have left.

    • sammy64887
      sammy64887 jesse64888

      Posted

      hey to everyone. Won't bore you with the details but it's basically what you've all been talking about. Mine is a very brief, like one second long stabbing pain in my upper left chest. waited 24 hours, still was getting them, went to the ER, they did an EKG, chest x-ray, check the blood pressure, pulse rate, oxygen, everything was fine. Now this just happened yesterday so I have no long term story. I'm not getting the little needle like pain but I still have this sickly feeling mixed with this very light pressure in my chest. Im probably 50 pounds overweight, just had a full blood panel a week earlier (by coincidence) and everything came back fine except my thyroid. but... All this discomfort started when I began a prednisone prescription last week. Rotating pain in my chest side and middle back. two days after stopping, the little needle pains. and now here I am. doctors of course have ruled that out, despite side effects. unfortunately this thread hasn't been touched in about 5 months but I'll check back in in a few weeks with any progress.
    • buba
      buba jesse64888

      Posted

      Hi jesse64888 i have had a feeling that a rubber band is around my chest and back every miniute of the day and short of breath for 2 months do you have any ideas? Thanks.
    • sammy64887
      sammy64887

      Posted

      Ok, so two days later, on Sunday morning, I'm harmlessly watching TV when I have a pushing sensation - - very light - - in my chest, along with slight pain in my jaw and in my left bicep. So yep, off to the ER we go. EKG, vitals, x-ray, everything's fine. But this time, because of my Friday visit, the doctor admits me. Spend three days in the cardiac unit, did an echo, a stress echo, did a CT, and once again, everything is fine! So what the hell? After getting my blood drawn 6,000 times, the only side note they found out was my thyroid was a little bit low. Other than that, all the doctor good figure is maybe nerve inflammation or irritation. My printouts they sent home with me revealed a granuloma in my lower right lung. But the pain of concern is in my *upper left* lung. Perhaps that infection migrated over?? So now here I sit a week home from the hospital, no stinger / needle pains, jaw or arm pain, but still the slight sensation across my chest. The mystery continues. 39 y/o.
    • Guest
      Guest sammy64887

      Posted

      I have just found the cause of my issue after extensive cardiac investigations. Please consider this. I had a subluxated rib at T7 which pushes in a nerve and refers round to the chest. They call it the heart attack rib. GPs just don't think about it! Incredible the chest pain it can create! I am popped back in although it can and does reoccur so the chiro is your best friend!!
    • jesse64888
      jesse64888 buba

      Posted

      Hi Buba, Not really like that.  More like when the pain hits, I dont want to breath in because I'm concerned about triggering a heart attack so I dont want to do anything.  Like if I breath in, it hurts.  So, guess I'm not sure. 
    • Eagle44
      Eagle44 sammy64887

      Posted

      First let me say I am not a medical doctor but you may want to look up sarcoidosis. It can cause granulomas in organs.

      I also have chronic chest pain and at one time had pericarditis and pleurisy due to lupus. But unfortunately it has become my "norm". Best of luck to you.

  • louise199025
    louise199025 ji86

    Posted

    I'm having the same problem sad healthy, 25 year old female...and I'm baffled.
  • jimmy35200
    jimmy35200 ji86

    Posted

    I've had the same thing for about 5 years. The worst thimy about it is doctors don't seem to believe anything is wrong, like you're not in pain. I honestly feel like it takes away from my quality of life. There are so many things I don't do because I think, what will happen if I get the pain, how do I explain it, what if it doesn't just go away. It makes my life hell. Anytime I want to take a deep breath, I'm careful because I know there is a very good possibility that the pain will be there. I'm 23 years old, never smoked, and rarely drank and I'm having these problems. Are you serious? I seriously beg God to just take this pain away so I can live a normal life, but there's no hope. One thing I noticed kind of help is tonic water, but make sure it has quinine in it. It tastes horrible but is does help take the pain away rather quick most of the time. But you guys make me feel so good talking about this stuff so I know I'm not the only one. I've even considered weed to take the pain away, but since it's still not legal in Ohio I guess I'll just wait and see. It's hard to remind myself that it's nothing serious when it's happening, just some pain but at the same time I just want to rip my chest out and just get rid of the problem once and for all.
  • yvonne30554
    yvonne30554 ji86

    Posted

    Hello there, I know it's been a long time since you posted this, and have proberly found an answer by now. However, I just wanted to share with you my experience. About 10 years ago I was admitted to hospital with chest pains. My husband thought I was having a heart attack. I was not so sure but did not want to take any chances. All test were done and came back fit as a fiddle. The pain was unexplained. I have experienced this pain about four or five times since then sometimes lasting for a few hours to a few days. I have had more tests done but still nothing. About four years ago  I went to see another GP and explained the pain to her.(stabbing pain in the heart itself sometimes mild sometimes very sharp, I have no other symptoms of pain or tightness anywhere else) I was quite surprised at her response. She said I had more that likely got a duodenal Ulcer which she said can sometimes cause pain in the heart area. She prescribed medication for this and to my surprise the pain went away shortly after. Since then I have taken the medication on two occasions when this pain occurred . Up until a week ago that was my last attack and now the pain is back and been with me for several days. Since it is so random I am wondering if the doctor was right and it is actually an ulcer. However I did some research and not found anything that says Duodenal Ulcers can cause heart pain.
    • Guest
      Guest yvonne30554

      Posted

      What Are the Symptoms of Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers?

      The usual signs of a peptic ulcer are a sensation of gnawing, burning, or hunger in the stomach. Some patients also report a feeling of fullness.

      Many people who suffer from peptic ulcers experience nausea. Vomiting often helps. Sometimes, however, the vomit can be bloody.

      Other symptoms include bloody or tarry stools, weight loss, and chest pain

  • rana16891
    rana16891 ji86

    Posted

    Hi I am 35 years male from Pakistan... I am also having same type of pains from last 4 years.. It always give me feeling like I am going to have a heart attack . I have gone through almost all the cardiac tests and all returned normal. I can jogg or walk for an hour without any problem rather I feel good while exercising. All the time I feel my left side heavier than other. Pain starts from back, shoulder or chest and some time it radiate and some time remain local. Pain is bearable but it keeps my mind stuck in it. I can not explain how mentally irritating it is. I have also developed anaxity disorder due to this. I have ECG test many times also echo and ETT. Thaliam scan all are normal but the pain and unrest are there. They come in brusts and stay for weeks and then normal time for few days.. Please help me if some one can suggest me something
  • anc44
    anc44 ji86

    Posted

    I also have this problem! I'm 27/F and have been battling this weird, localized chest pain for about 2-ish years now. I haven't had a CT but have had all the other tests. We've ruled out pulmonary issues, heart issues, blood clots, etc. I'm essentially a medical mystery to my doctor. I believe I must have some form of costochondritis too, because sometimes my pain will be brought on when I'm coughing. I just started getting sharp, localized pain (it's always in the same spot - no matter what or no matter how much time passes between episodes) last night and I try not to worry too much. I'm wondering if I pulled a muscle in the way I moved yesterday while watering my Mom's plants... something as stupid as that could possibly bring it on. For now, I'm feeling it throb for no reason at all. When I breathe in and out, if I move my arm a certain way. It's odd. I have yet to find a real answer or cause.... but please keep us posted if you find out anything more on your own condition.
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