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Months of Chest Pain - Please help

Digestive Health | Last Active: Oct 24, 2022 | Replies (296)

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@karan123

Hi
My name is Karan and I'm 34 years old. I have chest pain which moves around my chest area (i.e. sometimes on right side, sometimes on left and sometimes at the center) for the last 1 month. I've done my chest X-ray, ECG (2 times), Stress test, Echo test and CT Angiography. All reports are 100% clear. The doctor is sure that it is clearly non-cardiac.
The doctors feel it might be due to acid reflux. Accordingly, have been asked to take medicine for the same.Taking it from 2 weeks but no relief. The pain goes on and off. Sometimes no pain at all and sometimes a pinching pain. No fix time.
Request if someone can guide me on the way forward.

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Replies to "Hi My name is Karan and I'm 34 years old. I have chest pain which moves..."

Hi Karen, Do you have a blood pressure cuff? If not I would buy one and at least then you can take your own BP whenever you feel these pains or at others times of the day/night and you can compile a history which might include events, foods, activities. You might discover somethings that you haven’t noticed before. And if I can be so daring to suggest that you share your findings here before trusting your doctors who my discredit the suggestion that you keep a journal.
Anxiety, fear, anticipation, and food can cause almost instant body sensations. Right now you have an explanation that is a great starting place because it’s in your own words.
I hope this helps. If you want you can private message me just to let me know that you replied. I don’t always see posts that I have an interest in because my vision at times is horrible and like your chest pains I often get answers from the big book of traditional answers. One of my favorite answers are ( and this one was once because I too was getting what I learned to call “ chest sensations “ because “ chest PAINS “ suggest one thing and when I thought about it what I was experiencing was not a “ pain “ but was more like an arrhythmia and even that word carries different meanings to different people. After wearing several monitors I discovered a name for one of the sensations
“ PVC “ aka Premature Ventricular Contraction which also came with these words “ most people don’t even feel them “ to which I replied: “ and that means what “

Have your docs mentioned esophageal spasms?

Has your Doc checked Costochondritis! ..?

Welcome to Connect, @karan123. I can only imagine how worrisome your symptoms must be! I encourage you to view these discussions on Connect, where @jadillow @rubywitch67 @afrobin @ak999 @downtowntiger and many other members are talking about undiagnosed chest pain:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/feeling-heart-beat-through-skin/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/left-chest-lower-rib-cage-pain-moving-upwards/

As frustrating and worrisome these symptoms can be, there are a few non-heart related conditions that can cause this kind of pain – GERD and other gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers, muscle spasms in the esophagus, a gallbladder attack, can cause chest pain and symptoms that mimic those of a heart attack or angina:
– Heartburn or heart attack: When to worry https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/in-depth/heartburn-gerd/art-20046483
@stuckonu has made a good suggestion, of keeping a journal or diary about your activities, eating habits, intake of food – the more you know, the easier it is to avoid damage.

Based on Mentor @predictable’s post in another conversation, may I ask if you’ve consulted a specialist? Perhaps a doctor in internal medicine? Or considered getting a diagnosis/treatment from a patient-centered clinic (like Mayo Clinic or a state university institution) that is equipped to examine every possibility? They could provide a second opinion, which might ease some of the uncertainty and stress with which you are trying to cope.

@karan123 Another possible cause of chest pain that isn't cardiac related is a muscle spasm. I have thoracic outlet syndrome that causes chest wall and neck tightness, and tight fascia. I've also had cervical spine surgery with an incision on the front of my neck offset to the left that has scar tissue that can get tight that is close to the tight areas from TOS. I can get muscle spasms in my neck muscles that attach to my spine that can start independently rotating the vertebrae of C1 through C4 (my C5/C6 are fused). If that happens, it can trigger the strong muscle spasm into my chest, and I can take my hands and massage out the spasm which strops the pain. I did have that happen the day after my spine surgery which was kind of unsettling. I was in a neck brace at the time and unable to move. I also have learned from my physical therapist how to check my cervical spine for correct alignment, and a maneuver that realigns it using the attached muscles. I have had ribs that pop and twist out of position when everything is too tight. What helps is myofascial release, and my PT does that, and I also self treat as best I can. You may want to find a myofascial release therapist for an evaluation and also be evaluated for thoracic outlet syndrome. The hard part is finding a doctor who understands TOS, so look at a teaching medical center that lists TOS as a condition that they treat. Usually long term physical therapy is the best treatment. Here is our discussion on Connect that has a lot of info about MFR treatment. There is a provider finder on the MFR website.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://myofascialrelease.com/find-a-therapist/