Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Severe Chest Pain That Radiates To The Left Side Of Shoulder?
Question: For about 16 hours now, I have been experiencing fairly severe chest pain on the left side of my chest ... radiating to the left side of my back/shoulder area. Pain doesn't go away by taking aspirin or Advil. I was getting some relief by laying down on my right side with my left arm held above my head, but that doesn't seem to give me as much relief now. Is this likely a heart attack?
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms do not seem to be cardiac related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any cardiac cause or heart attack.
So relax! It does not seem to be something serious.
The fact that your symptoms are relieved by certain body positions indicates possible musculo-skeletal pain (probably inflammation). Other possible causes like a cervico-thoracic spine degeneration causing radicular pain or a lung disorder should be excluded too.
I would recommend consulting with you go to the ER and performing some tests besides a careful physical exam:
- a chest X ray study
- a resting ECG
- a cervico-thoracic column X ray study. A CT scan of the column may be needed to exclude possible radicular pain related to intervertebral disc protrusion.
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, Sedimentation rate for inflammation, kidney and liver function tests).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms do not seem to be cardiac related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any cardiac cause or heart attack.
So relax! It does not seem to be something serious.
The fact that your symptoms are relieved by certain body positions indicates possible musculo-skeletal pain (probably inflammation). Other possible causes like a cervico-thoracic spine degeneration causing radicular pain or a lung disorder should be excluded too.
I would recommend consulting with you go to the ER and performing some tests besides a careful physical exam:
- a chest X ray study
- a resting ECG
- a cervico-thoracic column X ray study. A CT scan of the column may be needed to exclude possible radicular pain related to intervertebral disc protrusion.
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, Sedimentation rate for inflammation, kidney and liver function tests).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
