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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

457 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest ji86

    Posted

    I had it it on and off for a year! I have to maintain it by foamrollering and using a lacrosse ball. It is not a one time fix!
  • joshua34947
    joshua34947 ji86

    Posted

    i replied 10 days ago it says on my way of fixing this issue. its a very simple 10 step process that costs thousands of dollars less than any doctor known to man. plus my road to recovery is healthy, easy, and good for you. the past 10 posts are all prime examples of why everyone who is in this thread should try it. INFLIMATION is one of or the most cause for this pain to occur that is why it can come and go and come again with no warning or your simply sitting. ask yourself, do you drink coffee, soda, caffeine? do you stretch each and everyday? do you eat proper daily doses of ALL food groups? if yes then you might be lying to yourself or not doing enough of each of those. if no then you need to read my road to recovery, even if the answer is yes. you would be amazed what a glass of water, and some berries do. this is working for me better and better each day and i hope those looking for answers reads my replies and gets help as well. im currently 20 days with ZERO chest pain just by simply following my "Road to Recovery"
    • Guest
      Guest joshua34947

      Posted

      I follow that life philosophy as an athlete anyway. I cut out gluten to aid inflammation issues. I am also also a big believer in Meditation
    • Beezer
      Beezer Guest

      Posted

      I really feel mine is cardiac. I can't see how it could be anything else. I had pain in left arm yesterday...once after getting upset and slamming a cupboard door and second after going up two flights of stairs carrying a purse and a bag sad I've been having left arm pain but it's been sporadically at rest up until this point.
  • julie01285
    julie01285 ji86

    Posted

    I suspect that angina is not often being acknowledged because of  [NHS  Low Priority Policy ] I've even had a cardiac arrest with angioplasty stents to revive  and they still are not acknowledging angina  when possibly be .Could it be punishment for having been a smoker . I wasn;t a smoker [ given up over 11 yrs] when had bronchopneumonia  aged 5?! It could be pulmonary hypertension when last examined at Brompton ie: lungs/chest but unless terminal they do not investigate.
  • eliz240508
    eliz240508 ji86

    Posted

    Hi,

    I was wondering if anyone else is nauseous when they have

    their chest pain. I'm a 38 year old female and my chest pain

    started exactly 2 months ago. I had the pain constantly for a

    week when I went to the hospital. They did and ecg and took

    blood and sent me home. A couple of days later I went to my

    GP as I still had the pain. He put me on omprezole as he thought

    my pain was stomach related. Later that day I began vomitting

    and was sick for a week. I ended up back at the hospital where they did another ECG, chest xray and bloods. They said my heart was fine and sent me home. I was put on anti sickness tablets

    by my doctor.

    After a week or two I started to feel a bit better and thought that

    maybe I had some viral infection. However the chest pain

    returned on 1st jan and I've had it since then. Its a constant pain that never goes away. I've had a test for thyroid ( as I was also

    getting palpitations) however that has come back fine. I've been

    tested for H pylori which was also negative. My cholesterol is

    fine. I've also had a stress/treadmill test that was fine. Two days ago I had an endoscopy and they couldn't see anything wrong.

    Several people have suggested I get my gallbladder checked

    which I am going to ask my doctor to refer me for.

    However I'm at my wits end with this pain. I know I've only had

    it for 2 months but it is difficult working and looking after 2

    small children feeling like this. Plus I feel that my doctor isn't

    taking me seriously as I'm not that old and complaining of chest

    pain. I've been so many times over the last few weeks that I

    think he is starting to get annoyed with me.

    My husband has suggested that I maybe get an MRI done privately. Does anyone know if this would be a good idea? Plus I was thinking of visiting an acupuncturist, has anyone tried this? Can anyone suggest other tests etc that I should be asking for.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    • Beezer
      Beezer eliz240508

      Posted

      A cardiac MRI with contrast will give you very clear images of the structure and function of your heart. It's better than an Echo and can assess your pericardium; as well as, check for cardiomyopathies, endocarditis, etc. It can't tell if you have any blockages in your coronary arteries but it can definitely give you hints (blood not flowing properly, heart not working as it should, etc). you have to do some breath holding that is uncomfortable at times but it's a great tests that rules out a lot of stuff.
  • shontae06225
    shontae06225 ji86

    Posted

    Hi this post was over a year ago however I have just come across it. Just wondering how everything's going? I'm experiencing the same symptoms. Im just starting to accept the fact that it's anxiety. Now I just want to make sure that everyone that has experienced the same symptoms in the past are still fine and healthy. Also if you learnt any coping mechanisms please let me know. Thanks
  • shontae06225
    shontae06225 ji86

    Posted

    Ignore previous post, I just realised the oldest posts were listed first 😂

    I'm 21 y/o have had the chest pains for 2 years. I remember my first one, I wasn't stressed or worried at all, was always content and happy in life. The pains seem like they started out of the blue. I start getting them monthly, then weekly and now for the last 3 months have had them consistently ahT feels like all day, everyday 😔 it absolutely rules my life. They get worse later in the day and of coarse at night Its almost impossible to sleep. The lack of sleep and constant worry is tearing me apart. I think mine comes from a fear of death which Iv had since I was a child, I guess it's manifested over the years. Whatever it is it's so crippling. If it's psychological then there may be something we all have in common or have experienced. Nonetheless, I hope someone solves this mystery soon so I can finally live in peace x

    • eliz240508
      eliz240508 shontae06225

      Posted

      Hi, I feel as if the doctors are trying to make out to me that its

      anxiety. But I know its not. Like you I wasn't stressed or worried when I first got the pain. Its starting to rule my life as well.

      do you ever feel nauseous when you have the pain? I just wish

      someone knew what the problem is!

    • Beezer
      Beezer eliz240508

      Posted

      I don't have nausea. I do have GAD...and PTSD...but I really really don't think it's causing my chest pain. It really really feels like it's my heart. Mid sternum. Ugh. 3 cardiologists are saying it's not my heart. Saw my cardio yesterday...he says "it is not your heart...I dunno what it is but it is not your heart". I've had 2 stress tests, holter, Echo, cardiac MRI, chest CT...and he says there's nothing. Im having an echo and another Holter for "peace of mind" he said...as an anxious patient is the worst kind of patient-his words. Told me to take my heart off the table...the pain is not from my heart. 3 cardiologists, 1 chronic pain doctor, 1 internist and probably 15-20 ER/GP's...all saying not my heart. Yet I still don't believe them. Instinct or anxiety? Could 6-8 specialists and a dozen other ER/GP's be wrong?

      Could I be right eventhough not one of my tests showed anything that would cause this or even suggest it? I'm so broken right now...I dunno if I'm just paranoid and can't let go or if my instincts are trying to tell me something sad Its a life ruiner...that's for sure.

    • eliz240508
      eliz240508 Beezer

      Posted

      Hi Beezer,

      Are you in the UK or US? I am finding it difficult to get my doctor to refer me for any tests. I was convinced it was my heart as well but the doctors are saying its not. The problem is when im in

      work all I think about is the pain. Its taking over my life! Plus just yesterday my GP said that there are loads of people who have pain and they never discover what's causing it so they just have to live with it! Needless to say I wasn't too happy about that. Have you ever had an angiogram done? Have you ever tried acupuncture?

    • Beezer
      Beezer eliz240508

      Posted

      Hey! I was told the same about the pain sad Unlike you, I have been worked up beyond. The only test I didn't have is the Angio. My lipids are "lipids ppl dream of" according to my doctor. I've have an Echocardiogram, chest CT, 2 stress tests, Holter Monitor, probably 20 ECG's, cardiac MRI (which they only do like 1 a week at the hospital I was at), I've had Breast ultrasounds, an endoscopy, an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound and countless blood work ups, chest X-rays, etc. They are adamant it's not my heart. I've seen 3 cardiologists, 4 internists, a chronic pain specialist, probably 2 dozen GP and ER doctors, not my heart is all they keep saying.

      I am in Canada.

    • mark69325
      mark69325 eliz240508

      Posted

      Hi eliz

      Yeah I'm usually sick a little bit when it happens it's worse after evening meal I need to go doctors and get checked mine started last year in November I've been worried ever since but some days I don't have it

      Do you sleep with your arms in the air/behind your head? I do and I think it may be causing it but I'm no doctor just a paranoid guy armed with Google I just wish it would pis s off and leave me alone

  • cindy17380
    cindy17380 ji86

    Posted

    I'm a 40 year old female who recently list my Mom unexpectedly. I have suffered from anxiety/panic attacks for 16 years. I have been medicated by an antidepressant and have been very successful till recently. I started having panic attacks again. And now the chest pain. Like most of you it's driving me nuts. It stabs above my left breast mainly but I feel pain in my shoulder, my back and down my arm. Even my right arm has a stabbing pain right below the bend. I went to the hospital I got the ct scan, blood work, EKG all fine. Was told it was my acid reflux, which I also suffer from. It comes and goes but it never stops completely. My muscles in my arms seem fatigued and its draining me mentally and physically. It's been two weeks now and still no relief. I hope someone can find us some answers soon.
    • usman05097
      usman05097 cindy17380

      Posted

      Dear sister..

      I am 25 male... i am having same same symptoms since last 1 and half month... same pains those you are feeling... i also dont know what to do...

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