Brief Answer:
Muscular pain might be the cause - tests to be on the safe side recommended

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HealthCareMagic,

Chest pain is a very frequent symptom and many causes may be there.

The most common cause is musculoskeletal which means from the chest wall (muscles and bones). In this case, the pain is worse on moving arms, breathing in or out and sometimes worse to touch. This is easy to treat with some ibuprofen and paracetamol and if no improvement in a few days probably physiotherapist might be seen.

If the pain is not affected by arm movements or breathing or touch than the chest wall is unlikely to be the cause and in this case, other more important causes should be considered.

Lungs, heart and big vessels coming out of the heart should be considered in this case. Sometimes a visit to the emergency room can not rule out these causes 100%.

I would recommend you to see again a local doctor if the pain is not related to arm movement, breathing and touch and have some tests and examinations done and all this to also be on the safer side.

In this case, you would need a chest X-ray, ECG, Heart Ultrasound, heart enzymes in the blood, CBC and sometimes stress test to check the heart. Doing routine checks to check for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, kidney and liver function are also recommended routinely in these cases.

These tests should be able to rule out important causes of pain in the majority of patients and rarely other tests might be needed.

So to conclude:
1. if pain is affected by touch, arm movement or breathing go on with paracetamol, ibuprofen, local warm compresses and sometimes exercises by a PT(physiotherapist) might help also
2. if pain is not related to arm movements, breathing or touch it is safer to have more extensive tests to rule out heart, lung and big vessel problems.
3. I would be glad to review any test results you might have available

I hope this is helpful to you and answers to your question but please feel free to write back if any more clarification is needed on this.

Kind regards,

Antoneta Zotaj, MD

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Brief Answer:
It might be muscular pain- tests might be still good to be reassured

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for the reply questions. I understand that it is always nice if told things will get better on thir own. And maybe in your case because pain is affected by movement and touch is very likely this is the case. Especially if no chest pain when walking or going up the stairs this is a very good news and reassuring.

On the other hand heart issues need to be considered and ruled out by a visit as they are important if they are present. Flexeril is a medication that helps muscles relax but you should know how is your heart before using it as it might cause heart problems.

And a routine medical practice every person should have some routine tests done according to age and gender. And if you have not had them done them in the last 5 years you will need some sugar test and lipids as least. A check with colonoscopy (an examination for the bowel) is recommended to be done every 10 years after 50 years of age.

So I would say that very likely this pain is self limiting and nothing to worry but still it is safer to do a visit to make sure and also you will need some routine checks for your age and gender.

I hope this is helpful and answers to some extent to your concerns but please feel free to write back if anymore clarifications are needed on this.

Kind regards

Antoneta Zotaj, MD

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Brief Answer:
It is a pleasure

Detailed Answer:
It is a great pleasure to be able to help and you are welcome to write whenever you have a need.

Kind regards,

Antoneta Zotaj

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