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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Back Pain?

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Posted on Thu, 18 Feb 2016
Question: Every 3 wks or so suddenly I get thumping in various places in my upper back which lasts for between 4/8 hrs and gradually wears off. I also feel that it affectmy heart rhythm. It gradually wears down and goes off. It is very worrying and had heart scans and boxes on and results are clear ? It is really getting me down
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms don't seem to be cardiac related. Your performed cardiac tests can confirm this.

It is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis of different causes that may lead to this symptomatology:

- a musculo skeletal disorder. Are your symptoms modulated by body movements ore respiration?
- a backbone disorder. Spinal column degeneration or even a slipped disk could lead to similar symptoms
- fibromyalgia could also explain your symptomatology


I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, and some tests :

- a cervico-thoracik X ray study.
- lab blood tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate, blood electrolytes)
- a cervico-thoracic spinal MRI may be necessary to exclude certain disorders of the column of this region, which could lead to a similar clinical scenario.

If all the above tests result normal , fibromyalgia should also be taken into consideration. An antidepressant (duloxetine, venlafaxine) or an antiepileptic (gabapentine, pregabaline) for some months would help relieve the pain and thumbing feeling.

You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.

Hope to have been helpful!

Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (4 hours later)
I do not have any pain at all and the spasms seem to move around my upper back thumping
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

You should know that these feelings may be related to muscular contractions or to sensory phenomena called paresthesia in the medical literature.

I recommend performing the above mentioned tests.

Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical situation, especially taking into considerations the fact that during these episodes you have heart rate changes too.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri

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

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

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9536 Questions

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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Back Pain?

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM! I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms don't seem to be cardiac related. Your performed cardiac tests can confirm this. It is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis of different causes that may lead to this symptomatology: - a musculo skeletal disorder. Are your symptoms modulated by body movements ore respiration? - a backbone disorder. Spinal column degeneration or even a slipped disk could lead to similar symptoms - fibromyalgia could also explain your symptomatology I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, and some tests : - a cervico-thoracik X ray study. - lab blood tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate, blood electrolytes) - a cervico-thoracic spinal MRI may be necessary to exclude certain disorders of the column of this region, which could lead to a similar clinical scenario. If all the above tests result normal , fibromyalgia should also be taken into consideration. An antidepressant (duloxetine, venlafaxine) or an antiepileptic (gabapentine, pregabaline) for some months would help relieve the pain and thumbing feeling. You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues. Hope to have been helpful! Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need! Kind regards, Dr. Iliri