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Question

I've been experiencing chest and arm pain for a couple months now. Today I've been very light headed, have pain in my left arm/chest, and my blood pressure is a little higher than normal (130/85). I've been to the ER a couple times (both about 6 weeks ago), had blood work, EKG's, and a CT of my chest, all of which was normal. A week ago I again had an EKG that was normal and unchanged from the previous ones. Is there any chance this pain could be leading to a heart attack or am I just being crazy?

Submitted: 74 days and 22 hours ago.
Category: Health
Value: $18
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Gender: Male
Age: 22

Posted by Dr. Mark 74 days and 22 hours ago.

Info Request

Can you describe exactly where in your arm you are having the pain?

Does it travel into the forearm, or hand?

 

How old are you?

 

Do you have pain in your neck as well?

74 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

I am 22. The pain is in the bicep, forearm and hand and does travel up a little bit to my upper shoulder/lower neck. I've been having this pain a lot in the last 6 or so weeks, today is just a more painful day. Thanks for your help.

Posted by Dr. Mark 74 days and 21 hours ago.

Info Request

OK.

 

Do you also have symptoms that involve the thumb and index finger?

 

Is it worse if you move your neck, or tilt it to the side?

 

 

74 days and 21 hours ago.

Reply

I would have to say no on both counts. If I had to isolate a finger that felt most affected it would be the pinky. And moving the neck doens't seem to do anything beyond stretching out the muscles in my shoulder that hurt.

Posted by Dr. Mark 74 days and 21 hours ago.

Answer

Well, it's good that you have had the serious (heart) issues ruled out here.

 

So, the pains you are having -- the ones that travel down the shoulder into the upper arm and forearm, seem to be more related to something like a "pinched" nerve.

 

Given that you are 22 years old, the heart as the cause of pain is even less likely.

 

So, this may be temporary inflammation of the nerve, suck as where it starts in the neck, causing your pains.

 

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00332

 

You may feel better in a few weeks (most of the time, this inflammation improves on its own) or if not, may need further evaluation of this condition -- but it looks good that your previous studies and EKGs have ruled out the potentially serious causes of this pain.

74 days and 21 hours ago.

Reply

I've also had some gurgling in my chest, and was put on some anti-inflamatories by my Dr. a week ago, which haven't seemed to make the chest/arm pain much better. Is there still no reason to worry about the heart?

Accepted Answer

Well, given your EKGs are normal, and your young age, and a CT that is normal -- it probably is OK.

 

Pains from "pinched" nerves can also cause pains that appear to be the top of the chest area.

 

Of course, continued followup with your doctors, should the pain not improve is important.

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Expert: Dr. Mark
Pos. Feedback: 99.8 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/8/2009

Doctor (MD)

U.S. Physician/Surgeon in Neurosurgery

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