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What Causes Radiating Pain And Numbness After Waking Up?
Question: Hello Doc,
I have had two strange episodes in a week that wake me up from a deep sleep, it starts with a radiating pain and numbness that starts on the center of my chest, moves left and then continues to radiate onto my upper back, arms, neck, up onto my head and face. The pain, takes my breath away and paralyses me. In general it could last from a few seconds to a few minutes. What I noticed on the first episode, I was in bed rolling over from my left side to my right pulling the blanket over myself. At first I thought I had pulled a muscle until I had the second incident. Again I was in bed this time sleeping on my back when out of nowhere the excruciating pain came over me again. I wake up feeling very tired and remain so for the entire day. I also feel a numbness in the center of my chest throughout the day leaving me feeling as though I may have an episode again. My overall health is poor. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and I am a diabetic and for all listed, I am on oral medications. I should mention that I am a five year ovarian cancer survivor and I am currently monitored every three months. since I am a Smoldering Myeloma patient too. All this is very strange and I don't know what to make of it. I have seen my primary who has suggested seeing a cardiologist of which, I do plan on doing soon. I am just interested in someone else's perspective or hoping that someone else may have experience or further understanding of what I am going through. Greatly appreciative, XXXXXXX
I have had two strange episodes in a week that wake me up from a deep sleep, it starts with a radiating pain and numbness that starts on the center of my chest, moves left and then continues to radiate onto my upper back, arms, neck, up onto my head and face. The pain, takes my breath away and paralyses me. In general it could last from a few seconds to a few minutes. What I noticed on the first episode, I was in bed rolling over from my left side to my right pulling the blanket over myself. At first I thought I had pulled a muscle until I had the second incident. Again I was in bed this time sleeping on my back when out of nowhere the excruciating pain came over me again. I wake up feeling very tired and remain so for the entire day. I also feel a numbness in the center of my chest throughout the day leaving me feeling as though I may have an episode again. My overall health is poor. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and I am a diabetic and for all listed, I am on oral medications. I should mention that I am a five year ovarian cancer survivor and I am currently monitored every three months. since I am a Smoldering Myeloma patient too. All this is very strange and I don't know what to make of it. I have seen my primary who has suggested seeing a cardiologist of which, I do plan on doing soon. I am just interested in someone else's perspective or hoping that someone else may have experience or further understanding of what I am going through. Greatly appreciative, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Get Evaluated.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Welcome to HCM.
I understand your concern.
I have following diagnosis for you:
1. Muscular Pain
2. Cardiac Chest pain.
3. Acid reflux.
It is important to differentiate between the all as the treatment course is entirely different.
The Muscular chest pain aggravates with movement. It is dull, diffuse and continuous in nature.
However, the Cardiac chest pain is severe and crushing in nature. It increases on activity like walking, exercising. It also radiated to left arm.
In such scenario, i would advise to get an ECG and Chest Xray done. This will give an idea that pain is cardiac in nature or not.
If the ECG and Chest Xray are normal, the pain is probably Muscular or due to Acid reflux.
For acid reflux, i would advise you to take a combination of Pantoprazole and Domperidone once a day.
I advise following to my patients in case of Muscular pain:
1. To do hot fomentation over the involved area 3-4 times a day.
2. To apply Diclofenac Gel locally over the involved area.
3. To take anti inflammatory and analgesic pain killer like Ibuprofen , Etoricoxib.
On taking this treatment, this usually resolves in 5-7 days.
Share my opinion with your doctor before acting upon it.
I hope it helps.
Stay Healthy
Get Evaluated.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Welcome to HCM.
I understand your concern.
I have following diagnosis for you:
1. Muscular Pain
2. Cardiac Chest pain.
3. Acid reflux.
It is important to differentiate between the all as the treatment course is entirely different.
The Muscular chest pain aggravates with movement. It is dull, diffuse and continuous in nature.
However, the Cardiac chest pain is severe and crushing in nature. It increases on activity like walking, exercising. It also radiated to left arm.
In such scenario, i would advise to get an ECG and Chest Xray done. This will give an idea that pain is cardiac in nature or not.
If the ECG and Chest Xray are normal, the pain is probably Muscular or due to Acid reflux.
For acid reflux, i would advise you to take a combination of Pantoprazole and Domperidone once a day.
I advise following to my patients in case of Muscular pain:
1. To do hot fomentation over the involved area 3-4 times a day.
2. To apply Diclofenac Gel locally over the involved area.
3. To take anti inflammatory and analgesic pain killer like Ibuprofen , Etoricoxib.
On taking this treatment, this usually resolves in 5-7 days.
Share my opinion with your doctor before acting upon it.
I hope it helps.
Stay Healthy
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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