Connect
Chest Pain/Disconfort since May 2019
Hello everyone, Loudimus here but you can call me Lou.
So here's my story. In may I got a really sharp pain in my chest in the middle of the night. Went to ER, got a EKG and a CT scan. The doctor told me everything was fine, my heart was fine, and that the pain was most likely muscle related.
3 days later I got another sharp pain right below my left breast. I didn't feel dizzy, the pain was only in that area didn't radiate to shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, etc... I got up and walked for a bit and a few minutes later the pain was gone.
Since then I've been feeling discomfort in my chest but since may I was hit with a few illnesses. First it was a mild flu, lasted about a week, then I started to burp a lot and regurgitate stuff whenever I burped. I looked for symptoms and they matched with GERD.
Symptoms got way better around July. Every now and then I start to burp a lot and regurgitate stuff back up my throat but its very rare nowadays. But the thing that has me worried is that darn chest Pain/Discomfort.
The chest pain is always on the left side about 2cm up fromt he nipple and 4cm from the sternum. Sometimes it feels like pressure, other times like a getting stabbed, but the pain stays there. My arm feels fine, my shoulder is fine, no pain on my neck or jay. Sometimes I feel the pain at the back near the shoulder blade but it lasts for a few seconds or when I move it. Now, sometimes the pain is quite sharp and makes me flinch and this pain happens right next to the nipple on the left side of my chest. To me it feels like a heart attack, but I just feel fine overall, no nausea, no sweating, no dizziness, just the pain on the chest on the same spot every time. Also no shortness of breath. I can breathe just fine all the time, except for a few times which I'll go into detail shortly. The chest muscles on the left side also feel stiff, or tensed up. Whenever I get a pain of my muscles feel like that I check my blood pressure and it is usually 107/67.
Now here's another detail. I suffer from anxiety tho I have never had it checked. So whenever I get that chest Pain/Disconfort I get anxious, scared, and my heart rate goes up a little but never passes beyond 100 bpms it usually stays between 77-88 sometimes very rarely it goes up to 95. Also, when I sit down my chest gets tight but as soon as I get up or lay down it goes away. When I workout I feel normal too no issues at all.
So thats my little cherade, any help or counsel on what might be going on will be greatly appreciated!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.
Connect
@loudimus, Welcome Lou to Connect and our mentor and moderator team. We all work together and so you will have a chance to meet others in our group of helpful folks. We have no medical training. We have personal experience with a lot of medical issues and a desire to help everyone find solutions to their concerns.
First, I would like to say that when I read your post, I thought you were writing about my experiences. So first a couple of questions. Are you taking any medications for osteoporosis? At age 77 I am just going through that experience with very similar symptoms from the side effects. Were you prescribed any medications or treatments when you were in the ER?
It turned out the my esophagus was having spasms. And that event was after the frightening pain in my sternum and ribcage. For three years I have been a regular patient for Myofascial Release therapy MFR. For both of these events, my therapist was able to relieve all of those pretty scary symptoms. Here is a link to the MFR discussion. Let’s start there.
You will find lots of information.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain
Be safe and protected today. Chris
Hi Chris, thanks for the reply and information!
To answer your questions, the only medicine I took was Naproxen for the muscle ache after my visit to the ER but I stopped taking it. The other medicine I take is Zantac for the GERD but also stopped talong ot after my symptoms got better.
Oh a detail I didnt mention is that one time my pulse monitor registered a irregular heartbeat, and whenever I take a deep breath my heart beat kinda speeds up and then slows again which I think is normal. Also, when sleeping and I turn around my heart pumps quite hard for a brief moment then calm down. Only thing I can think of that's causing my symptoms is anxiety but I'm not too sure.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@loudimus, I note that your self-diagnosis is anxiety and you might have hit the nail on the head. When you add anxiety to the mix (and who wouldn't be) you get into a loop. The pain creates anxiety which creates more pain, etc. etc. etc.
After having a neurobehavioral work up for foggy brain and increased pain.....there was only one diagnosis.....anxiety. I started very slowly on duloxetine. What a relief. I worked up to 60 mg in the morning. Whew....I was actually bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. And I have learned to throw off worries by staying in the present. Laundry....who cares? Grocery shopping.......not today!
Mindfulness is an excellent practice to ensure that you are present in the current moment. Remember that the past is over and the future hasn't begun. So....breathe and stay present. Have you had experience with mindfulness and meditation? Throw in some gentle yoga...and let it become your daily must-do plan.
I am hosting a river meditation walk next week for my sangha of 10 women who have been together for 4 years. We share, we learn, we support each other. Do you have loving-kindness friends? If I am having a particularly painful day....a couple of them will line up on either side of me for the walk. So holding friends close has been an amazing gift. Grab some joy.....today. Chris
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have neuropathy, fibromyalgia and for over 8 months severe pain and swelling in my left foot, toes and ankle. All diagnosis and no one figures out the pain.Ha to give up many things because the pain was unbearable. I want to the ER of a hospital in awful pain and anxiety contributing to more pain. They really could not do anything as I was not a medical emergency. However, a doctor recommended a podiatrist and gave me a name. I had had MRI of foot an ankle and there were some issues but I was told not severe enough for this pain. Went to the podiatrist last week and diagnosed with Morton neuroma. A PAINFUL foot issues. I am finishing up a steroid pack and the swelling is down and pain is minimal. Had to get special shoes and I go back next week. 5 different doctors and no looks at my swollen, painful foot and toes. 8 months of pain. I pray this is a true diagnosis. There is still much to do and I will have pain but I believe I am making progress. Surgery may be the end result but I will go for it. Has anyone heard of this or had it. I do know that this is the best my foot feels and looks in months. I finish the med pack tomorrow and pray I continue to do well.
@summertime4 I also have fibromyalgia and was diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma 2 years ago. Had steroid injections. Saw a foot surgeon. At that point he suggested I could first try shoes with very firm soles so that my toes do not bend when I walk. He actually suggested the shoe Hoka One. He said I could never ever walk anywhere inside or outside in bare feet; I must always have a firm sole shoe or sandal on.
Also it was recommended I use a metatarsal pad insert in my shoe as I have no fat tissue left in the metatarsal area of the bottom of my foot and that pain was exasperating the toe pain from the Morton’s neuroma. My third and fourth toes are always swollen. I can’t bend those two toes. So far this had helped keep the pain at bay for 2 years but I can feel that it is just not feeling as good anymore. I think I see a return visit coming up soon. I’m hoping to put surgery off as long as possible without causing any harm to my foot. When that day does come at least I know I gave it my best shot already.
Have you visited with a surgeon yet? Did you get any suggestions other than surgery?
Best wishes to you, I hope you find some answers that will help.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSounds a little like my symptoms with costochondritis. I went to ER because the pain in combination with the anxiety it caused, I was sure I was having heart attack.
Burning chest in the morning
Hi all,
I have been waking up every morning with my chest or deeper within the chest hurting me. Its a burning sensation, which triggers coughing in the morning. Sometimes when still asleep and I turn round and trigger a stretch of my chest I feel like my chest is on fire or its being ripped out.. I give it a few seconds not moving and breath faster and it goes away. I have no Idea what it is, I went to the GP and he told me its an imflammation of the muscle where it merges to the bone? Anyways.. If someone can help me out or point me in the right direction it would be great.. I also thought it could be GERDS?
@1006 - Good morning. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I hope that you had a better night's sleep last night. I get that burning feeling too and I have GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscle between your esophagus and your stomach. This ring is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). If you have it, you may get heartburn or acid indigestion.) The ring, to my knowledge, is a valve that opens and closes when you eat. If it doesn't close all the way that's when the acid in your stomach (yucky, hurtful fluid and gases) comes back up and you can have a terrible taste in your mouth.
If you have only gone to your PCP about this you might want to get some testing done by a Gastroenterologist to make sure that the burning isn't from something more serious. You could also try some tums to see if it helps until you have an answer. If it is a muscle attachment tear (exercise, heavy lifting?) then I would go to an Orthopedic doctor.
Did your doctor suggest doing anything about the burning?
@1006 Waking up to a burning chest every morning is certainly something to explore.
You'll notice that I moved your question to an existing discussion. I did this so you could connect with members who have gone through something similar. It looks like mentor @merpreb already responded. Below I have linked a separate discussion that may also be of interest to you, as it relates to GERD and chest pain.
- Severe chest tightness when waking up every morning https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/severe-chest-tightness-when-waking-up-every-morning/
May I ask if you were referred for any testing or specialists?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHi all, thank you for your help. So yesterday I took an xray so should have results in a day or two. The feeling I get is chest tightness and shortness of breath in the centre of the chest. When I wake up in the morning it feels the worst and reduces slightly throughout the day. If I try take a deep breath and hold it, it hurts. I also continuously keep clearing my throat and cough also. No Idea what it is but its getting to me now..