HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Suggest Treatment For Random Pin Prick Pains On Chest

default
Posted on Thu, 4 Sep 2014
Question: I have random pinching or pin prick pains in my chest or behind either breast. Sometimes the middle of my chest or under my left armpit.
Went to ER, chest X-ray clear, cardiac enzymes perfect, EKG like a marathon runner. Today today I went to my personal physician and she's having me get an endoscopy, because it was very painful when she pushed the areas around my sternum.....she's thinking possible esophageal spasms, gerd? I don't have indigestion or burning, just a little burping from time to time though.... This is so painful and frustrating.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Most likely GERD, needs management

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
Your history is quite likely for esophageal reflux / GERD. Endoscopy is definitely the next option. 24 hour PH monitoring and esophageal manometry are associated tests needed here.
You are not alone in this. Every third person in the World is having this issue. Men are bait more unluckier in this regard. every 2 men are in proportion to one woman for this disease.Thanks for oestrogen’s and their effects on lipid profile.
80 percent resolve by simple modifications i am going to mention and rest 18 out of 20 percent respond to conservative measures like medicines and modifications. Only 2 % need intervention.
the only thing you need to start with is modifying diet and lifestyle and adapt gut friendly measures to help this issue.
Lose your weight. If your BMI is 25 or above you need to lose weight. Calculate you BMI Here http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmi-m.htm
Alcohol ? say no to it. Now is the time. Get sign up to Alcohol Anonymous and seek help to gradually resolve this addiction. Booze will ooze the health out of you.
Coffee,Chocolates, citrus juices, tomato based products like ketchups, sauces, pastes etc, Peppermints, all the onion family, beans are some of the diet you need to avoid to relieve symptoms.
If you are fond of eating, time to stop it. reduce diet intake, instead of increasing the quantity, increase the frequency, 5 times short meals instead of 3 bigger ones will be better.
If you sleep just after or with in 3 hours of meal intake, this habit needs to be stopped. Increase the interval.
When you sleep, elevating the head side of the bed at least 8 inches would be a good addition to the plan to combat GERD.
Bending and stooping and upside down hangings with all other unnatural postures need to be avoided.
If the above mentioned precautions are not enough to get you out of the trouble then you need to opt for medicines. Never try to self medicate yourself. Remember every drug is a poison and every poison is a drug. SO seek the gastroenterologist or primary care provider for this and let it be there business. Proton Pump Inhibitors, Histamine receptors type 2 blockers, Pro kinetic agents like aluminium hydroxide and ant acids would be the list of medicines to opt from.
If the medicines are not good enough? If the age is too young to be that resilient for response then there might be a possibility of some correction able anatomy the place where surgeon’s role comes in to play.
Different surgical options like fundoplication are used. Young age, compliance issues with intake of medicines and postmenopausal age with osteoporosis, Heart diseases and any other gusto intestinal issue like Barrett’s oesophagus or hiatal hernia makes the odds for surgical intervention more likely.
I hope it helps.Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
may the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (23 hours later)
Wow! Fantastic advice! It's like you just read my diet for the past week! We've had lots of fruit these past 2 wks, but I love pineapple and I've had it several times a day lately. also fresh tomatoes and onions are so good this time of the year so we cut them up and put them on everything! Just for the record, I work out and run several times a week, do not drink alcohol at all and I'm 5'6" 138. Could GERD be caused by stress? I have owned my own business for 15 yrs and it's high pressure with a ton of lost sleep and stress. It couldn't have developed over the past two weeks from eating seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No worries ,stress plays a role,

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
i appreciate the feedback. Now the stress, so yes it plays its role. Stress compromises gut functions and that causes and may cause the GERD symptoms to worsen.
get some Antacids and do as directed. wont be a problem.
I hope it helps. Good luck
Khan
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Treatment For Random Pin Prick Pains On Chest

Brief Answer: Most likely GERD, needs management Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking Your history is quite likely for esophageal reflux / GERD. Endoscopy is definitely the next option. 24 hour PH monitoring and esophageal manometry are associated tests needed here. You are not alone in this. Every third person in the World is having this issue. Men are bait more unluckier in this regard. every 2 men are in proportion to one woman for this disease.Thanks for oestrogen’s and their effects on lipid profile. 80 percent resolve by simple modifications i am going to mention and rest 18 out of 20 percent respond to conservative measures like medicines and modifications. Only 2 % need intervention. the only thing you need to start with is modifying diet and lifestyle and adapt gut friendly measures to help this issue. Lose your weight. If your BMI is 25 or above you need to lose weight. Calculate you BMI Here http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmi-m.htm Alcohol ? say no to it. Now is the time. Get sign up to Alcohol Anonymous and seek help to gradually resolve this addiction. Booze will ooze the health out of you. Coffee,Chocolates, citrus juices, tomato based products like ketchups, sauces, pastes etc, Peppermints, all the onion family, beans are some of the diet you need to avoid to relieve symptoms. If you are fond of eating, time to stop it. reduce diet intake, instead of increasing the quantity, increase the frequency, 5 times short meals instead of 3 bigger ones will be better. If you sleep just after or with in 3 hours of meal intake, this habit needs to be stopped. Increase the interval. When you sleep, elevating the head side of the bed at least 8 inches would be a good addition to the plan to combat GERD. Bending and stooping and upside down hangings with all other unnatural postures need to be avoided. If the above mentioned precautions are not enough to get you out of the trouble then you need to opt for medicines. Never try to self medicate yourself. Remember every drug is a poison and every poison is a drug. SO seek the gastroenterologist or primary care provider for this and let it be there business. Proton Pump Inhibitors, Histamine receptors type 2 blockers, Pro kinetic agents like aluminium hydroxide and ant acids would be the list of medicines to opt from. If the medicines are not good enough? If the age is too young to be that resilient for response then there might be a possibility of some correction able anatomy the place where surgeon’s role comes in to play. Different surgical options like fundoplication are used. Young age, compliance issues with intake of medicines and postmenopausal age with osteoporosis, Heart diseases and any other gusto intestinal issue like Barrett’s oesophagus or hiatal hernia makes the odds for surgical intervention more likely. I hope it helps.Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please. may the odds be ever in your favour. Regards Khan