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Suggest Treatment For Mild Chest Pain

Posted on Fri, 7 Apr 2017

Question: I have experienced a mild ache in the upper left area of my chest........below my rib cage......for about 2 months. It is sort of a 'heavy' ache but I don't feel any swelling and when I press around that area I don't feel any pain. In the last few days it seems that it now is moving farther down, but still on the left side, not in the middle. I had a sonogram and the results came back that everything "looked OK". I am now scheduled for an endoscopy but I have NO acid reflux, no problem swallowing or burning etc. at all. I am worried that the sonogram missed somethig............. I am 65 years old, 5'7" tall and weigh 130. I have not had a loss of appetite or loss of weight.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be a muscle spasm

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome.
This is Dr Sameer, cardiologist.

There are several reasons of chest pain.
Your pain looks localized but does not decrease on pressing.
Localized pain can be because of Muscle spasm when the pain decrease after taking pain killers or Costochondritis - inflammation of joint between bone & cartilage of chest wall. Both are benign conditions & relieved by pain killers. Diagnosis is by medical examination.
Other cause is Cardiac cause. Chest pain due to cardiac cause is non localized & increase on exertion & stress and decrease on rest.
Gastritis could also cause upper abdominal or lower part of chest pain which is mostly like needle pricking. It increase on taking food.

Your pain is localized but is now getting radiated. It does not relieve after pressing. So I'll recommend you to get a Stress test done to rule out any possible cardiac involvement.
If that is negative than you don't need to worry & just need pain killer & anti acidity medication.
Thanks & take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (25 minutes later)

Thank you............but this doesn't really give me a satisfactory feeling of relief. I will go ahead with the Endoscopy because my primary care doctor has ordered it, but the pain is no where near my heart. It is completely under my left breast and under the rib cage. Now as I stated before, it seems to be SORT OF radiating around to my left side. I was diagnosed with chronic myloid leukemia (CML) in 2001 and underwent a bone marrow transplant. It was very successful and I don't see an oncologist at all now. My spleen was always checked when I had my follow up appointments after the transplant.........but was never swollen. This pain I have seems to be in the area of the spleen or the pancreas...........which is alarming me. Not, as I stated earlier, any problem at all with digestive issues.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please see detailed answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Thanks for the detailed history.
Now the cardiac cause for your pain seems very unlikely. But costochondritis could be a possible cause of this pain.
Yes should go ahead with the endoscopy to rule out gastritis. I will also advice you for a ultrasound of abdomen to evaluate for other abdominal pathology. If spleen or pancreas were involved there would have been additional symptoms to pain.
If everything comes out normal than the most possible diagnosis for you will be costochondritis.
Treatment will be pain killer.
I hope everything comes normal & you get well very soon.
Thanks & take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (27 minutes later)

Thank you so much doctor.

Have a nice day..........

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Welcome

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Welcome & thanks for the kind words.
I wish a happy & healthy life for you.

I hope your current query is answered. If you have any more question, I'll be happy to help or you can choose to close the discussion.
Thanks & take care

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad