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Upper back/neck strain caused heart palpitations.
Spine Health | Last Active: May 13, 2024 | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
Hello all:
Although I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse 30 years ago, I was pretty symptom free up until 3 years ago. I started experiencing multiple palpitations, light headedness, which ultimately developed into pretty severe panic attacks. To make a very long story short and after being seen by 6 cardiologists, 3 electrophysiologists, 3 separate 14 day ZIO Heart Monitors, heart scan, several EKS's, and an extensive echocardiogram, the consensus was "you are dealing with PAC's and PVC's, cause unknown, not a candidate for ablation. Nothing we can do for you." Had to deal with the slight depression and fear that followed but dealt with that through meditation and prayer. Insomnia has now become my normal. Started taking a detailed journal of my symptoms and discovered that upper body physical activity was a HUGE trigger for the most depilating arrhythmia symptoms. I do a good deal of landscaping work as a hobby and would be bed ridden by the end of the day with palpitations and pain located in my left shoulder blade and upper back. Finally brought this to the attention of my new cardiologist and she mentioned the correlation between thoracic nerve pinching, upper rib cage, ectopic heart beats and back pain. I nearly cried. For the first time, a doctor actually listened to me and took my word for it. Let me add that I am a woman of color, in menopause, and in extremely great physical condition. Unfortunately I was placed in the over crowed column of, "this woman is just in need of some attention and anti anxiety meds and is too emotional. Let's just humor her because there's nothing physically wrong with her." I walked out of today's appointment with a new sense of hope. It was like the clouds parted and the sun started shinning. I'm not kidding. And then I discovered this chat which has made my day. I no longer feel alone. I too experience palpitations while swallowing or when I'm bending forward, or laying on my left or right side, or lifting weights, or during my back swing while playing golf...The palpitations reverberate from my shoulder blade, to my chest, to my throat. I get very little respite from these symptoms but have been told that my heart is healthy and not harmed by this kind of arrhythmia. I'll continue to follow those who post on this thread to learn more about this problem and hopefully find some relief.
Replies to "Hello all: Although I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse 30 years ago, I was pretty..."
@jeffers1972
@slog I am so glad you got an answer. Did your doctor call this thoracic outlet syndrome?
I have TOS, and it was missed for many years. Many patients with TOS go several years undiagnosed because most doctors don't understand TOS. I could bring on my symptoms with changing my neck position and my hand would get cold and tingle turning bluish. I also think it did cause some heart palpitations.
Physical therapy with myofascial release has helped the TOS a lot and it may take years and working on good posture to see results. Has your doctor authorized physical therapy? I think it would help you. Now that you know what triggers this, you also know what to avoid, or at least find other body positions or do this in smaller increments. I have to be careful out there digging weeds. Too much heavy lifting will set me off, and I'll get neck and back pain. I am a spine surgery patient too with C5/C6 fused in my neck and I can cause spasms that start rotating my neck vertebrae independently.
I find that core strength and good posture go hand in hand and helps reduce this issue a lot. Horseback riding helps that a lot for me, just at a walk trail riding because I work my back and core with good posture. There is also stretching out the front of the chest and arms by laying on a foam roller, etc. because the chest gets overly tight with TOS. Anything with forward arms, slouching posture and leaning over a keyboard typing are not good for TOS, and just increase the tightness. It pulls the shoulder blades around the sides of the ribcage and forward and the head can jut forward which is bad for the spine. The shoulder blades belong in the center of the back together, not winged out and lifting off the back. This brings on pain in the shoulder blades as they connect to the neck.
Here are some links to information and our discussion about Myofascial Release which can help a lot to open up the tight tissue spaces that are compressing nerves.
"How to Truly Treat Thoracic Outlet Syndrome"
https://mskneurology.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
Mayo information on TOS
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
-Neuropathy - Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
It takes a specially trained therapist for MFR work. There is a search for these providers at http://mfrtherapists.com/
I know how hard it is when doctors don't believe your symptoms are real and can't help because they don't know what to do. I went through carpal tunnel surgery that only partially relieved my pain because the surgeon missed that I also had TOS which causes compression of the same nerve in a different location, and he wasn't very nice about it when I came back to him with that diagnosis.
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I get the same symptoms with my neck and pain in my left shoulder blade and this starts my heart palpitations off . I have seen a cardiologist and she said my heart structure is good but has put me on medication for the palpitations but this is giving me anxiety and I have lost my confidence . If I move my neck in a certain position it starts my palpitations off . Glad I've seen a few people similar problems. It's driving me crazy .