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Chest Pain, Breathlessness, Pain In Arms, Back And Neck. Help

Posted on Sat, 8 Sep 2012

Question: Hi, I have been having chest pains, about a month ago I had sharp pains in my chest and the whole upper side of my left arm back and neck and every few seconds I had the pain I couldnt breath good. Since then I have been having dull pain in my chest when I'm sitting down or laying down, I am 32 and never had any kind of medical problems

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (7 hours later)

Hello

Thanks for the query

I need to know a little more in order to help you better

1. Is the pain better when you sleep on the same side?
2. Is the pain varying with breathing even now?
3. Have you undergone any blood tests for the pain? Any x ray?
4. Do you remember getting hurt in that area?
5. Any history of cough or fever?

Please get back to me. I am awaiting your reply

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (5 hours later)

I haven't really notice if it's better when I sleep on one side. It doesn't hurt all the time? No It does not hurt when I breath right now I haven't had any X-rays or blood test i haventnt seen a dr about it. No I did not get hurt in that area, no cough or fever. At night sometimes I get shortness of breath. I use to smoke but I quit about a year ago? Is this signs of heart problems. My dad had a heartattack in the past and I think My uncle had one Also my legs ache at night, I don't know if it's because of my bed or restless leg syndrom

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (10 hours later)

Hello
Thanks for the detailed reply

The description given by you indicates more towards a musculoskeletal skeletal or a pleuritic kind of a chest pain ( pleura is the lining epithelium of the lung) but since you are telling me that you haven't really noticed any changes of pain with respiration it is less likely to be pleura and most likely to be musculoskeletal skeletal.

The kind of pain that comes with cardio vascular issues is most of the times stabbing or squeezing type and never sharp in nature and it is almost always associated with breathlessness

However any left sided chest pain should not be taken lightly and needs to be evaluated for with Atleast a chest x XXXXXXX and an EKG so please visit your GP soon and get yourself evaluated for

I wish you good health

I am sorry for the short delay in replying I just got back from the hospital

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar