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Months of Chest Pain - Please help
Digestive Health | Last Active: Oct 24, 2022 | Replies (296)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for the reply.
At one time I don't run too much - say between 6-10km. I consider myself to be physically fit and am used to running, so I'd be suprised if the pains were a result of stress caused by over exertion.
I'm still trying to work our how what/when I eat affects the pains - they do get worse in the evening and when lying down. I try to eat at least 3-4 hrs before I sleep, but often will sleep more immediately after eating, but i haven't noticed much of a difference yet in terms of the pains and how soon I sleep after eating.
I do sleep prone, but recently have been having palpatations which are more noticeable when lying on my front, os have also shifted to sleeping on my side and back. Thanks for the tip on raising the head, I'll do that.
Worryingly my symptoms do seem to be getting worse, I have a permanent ache in my left arm, the left side of my face feels almost numb (although when I touch it it's fine), and I'm feeling nauseous.
Replies to "Thanks for the reply. At one time I don't run too much - say between 6-10km...."
@larrydyer and @hjmx94 Sleeping on your chest will compress your heart, and will cause you to need to turn your head which puts strain on your neck and spine. If you already have tightness there, it exacerbates that and can definitely cause arm pain because the nerves that travel from your spine to your arms and pass through some small spaces there. If you also have any issues in your cervical spine where a muscle spasm could move the vertebrae around, that can compress nerves in the head and neck. I have thoracic outlet syndrome which shares these symptoms and also a cervical issue that has been surgically repaired. One of the tests for TOS is the doctor listening to the circulation being cut off when you turn your head, and some patients can pass out from this as it alters blood supply flow to your brain. I've had tingling in my face, jaw and ear pain as well as neck, scapular, arm and chest pain from TOS. My neck and chest are too tight which can cause pain in my arm, tightness in my chest and it even raises my heart rate. I am seeing a physical therapist who does myofascial release work, and after a session, my heart rate dropped from around 100 per minute to 85 because my PT stretched the tight fascia through my neck and chest. This restricts my ability to breathe correctly because my chest doesn't expand correctly. I would recommend that you seek an evaluation with an MFR therapist and a specialist for TOS. They are hard to find and it is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, so look for one at a multidisciplinary medical center that treats TOS similar to Mayos' approach or a university medical center. These issues can be hard to pinpoint to a specific cause, and you wouldn't need that to do physical therapy. There is a lot of information collected in our MFR discussion and there is a provider search on the myofascial release website.
Here are some links to get you started.
The provider search is here. https://myofascialrelease.com/find-a-therapist/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://mskneurology.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
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@larrydyer, This sounds like something that needs medical attention. I know that you are continuing to follow up with your doctor and that it can be a job to persist in finding the issue. Have you mentioned the ache in the left arm and the face numbness to your doctor? Might worry and anxiety be contributing or exacerbating issues?