chest pain after stent

[lollynanda]

Had a stent placed in L main coronary artery (95% blockage) 2 months ago.  Prior to the stent I had been extremely athletic.  Even after coronary ischemic attacks which began just before the angioplasty, I passed stress test with flying colors. After the blockage was discovered thanks to a persistent PCP, and the stent inserted, I had chest pain afterwards.  Was re-catheterized, all the major arteries were given a clean bill of health, but was placed on a beta blocker.  Terrible reaction to the first one, put on a second one, and finally my cardiologist took me off that one as well.  Although I see some improvement, I still have chest "aches" on exertion.  All on the left side, below the heart,, in the side, sometimes in the back of the shoulder, and above the breast.  Can not walk at a normal pace.  Walk very slowly to control the pain.  Cardiologist suggested cardio rehab which will begin in a few weeks.  But have not heard of anyone else with such symptoms.  Don't know if I should risk walkin through the pain, or if it is a symptom that should be further pursued, and or tested.  All of my blood work, tests have come back normal so far.  Should I be concerned?  

[Inkedup]

MAY 2ND 2013
I had a heart attack (Widow Maker ) 100 % blockage 41/2 hr later my stent was in place ... I have had chest pains ever seens .. Stress test and eco shows my heart is doing great no damage somehow and stent is doing good .   But pain has continued causing trips back to ER more than once. not sure what is going on and my Dr cant find anything , has cost me my job more than once . not sure what to do are ask my Dr to look far .. any ideals

[izzan]

46 year old hispanic male, I did not have a heart attack just this ache from my throat to my stomach, burning or throbbing in my left bicep. For the first time in my life I was short of breath and had chest cramps and stabs of pain around my heart. I also felt tingling and numbness at my jawline, neck and shoulder pain, as time went on I had more chest cramps, stabbing pains around my heart and dizziness. These symptoms would come and go. I first went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with GERD, which explained a lot except for the burning sensation in my arm and the one or two episodes of shortness of breath. I finally had stress test done and that same week ended with me getting a PROMUS Element stent on LAD on 27 Jul 12 for  90% blockage of LAD. I posted all of this earlier. An hour after the procedure I felt shoulder pain at the top of my left arm and my right arm. For about a month or so after discharge I felt slight sensations on my left bicep and my right arm, which never ever given me problems and some chest discomfort...no burning sensation or heaviness, but a warmness and some pinching. It was so worrisome that in Nov of 2012 I took a Nuclear Stress Echo, passed with flying colors. All pains seemed to go away, I was living my normal life trying to watch my diet and exercise. I did walk a bit got into the rhythm of life and stopped. Around April or May I went for walk and felt a single twinge of pain just like before in my left arm. I had gained about 30lbs after losing 20lbs so my weight was close to 275+. With time other sensations returned. No chest pain pains, but serious shoulder pain and arm pain. I could feel my pulse in my biceps, both sides and lots of aches in my arms. I had lots of chest flutterings, a few episodes of light headedness and lots of headaches. One night I thought I was going to die,  my arms were on fire and I had this headache that I could not even move my head. I made a cardio appointment with a new doctor (cause I had moved). My BP was high 160/100 on all three visits so he doubled my atenolol meds. I kept having the same symptoms so in July he did a stress test (thallium). I passed it with flying colors, he told me I was good and I tried to live as normal as possible, pushed a motorcycle up a hill, moved furniture, painted. Ironically when I was active like that I felt better. I changed my from simvastatin to crestor, stopped taking rx xantac. But little by little I felt worse and worse. In Sep I scratched a vessel in my nose and it would not stop bleeding, went to ER and they gave inserted a balloon to heal it, Hurt really bad, when they removed it, I fainted, my heart rate was 32. They kept me overnight for observation, my doctor and the cardio wanted me to go in for a check up. I was beginning to think that I had anxiety and even got a rx for that but never took it. I also stopped taking crestor cause my cholesterol was better and I thought it was causing the arm pain and burning sensation in my chest. I went in to see him and he asked if I was still having pain, which at that point I was not feeling to bad, but I said yes and he decided to do an angiogram. I didn't think I was going to live until the angiogram without going to the ER, just weird sensations in my ticker and pulsing sensations in my neck on both sides . On 1 Nov I had the angiogram, and he found an 80% blockage of the circumflex, he put in a bare metal stent cause the artery was too small for a coated one. Afterwards he told me that normally he might not have stented and 80%, but since I had symptoms, he is glad that he did, it was actually 95% blocked, I am still feeling slight pinches around my hear and some arm sensations, but nothing like before, I di feel a fullness around my throat and I do have a sore throat though. I think its time to find a new cardio, they explain very little to you and are always in a rush. I am hoping the future is brighter for stenting and diagnosing. I am down to 248 from almost 280 and eating healthy. Please post comments or experiences and even advice

[GeeZee1314]

One of my cardiologists who had his heart attack at 54 says he takes a supplement called CoQ10 to reduce his pain.  Since I am over 40, I take Ubiquinol since some of the reading I've done says that as an "electron-rich form of coenzyme 10" its easier for older people to metabolize.  Keep good thoughts about feeling better.  That helps too !

[GeeZee1314]

Just read a UK site that suggests that if you can touch and feel pain on your chest then it may be muscle or skeletal and not heart.  Just repeating what I read.  Also, my wife suffered from Costochondritis.  Do some research on that.  She found some stretching keeps it at bay.  

[Sharad4]

I am 29 Years Old,Male,  Got a Stent Placed in LAD for 90% Block on 29th Sept 2013, No Family history or Cholesterol.  Getting some mild pains near my heart ( Right in the Middle of my chest with Burning and pinching Sensation) , Muscle twitching, Spontaneous Pain in left and right arm for short time. Have been working out regularly for 20 mins everyday. Concerned if I have to live with this pain for the rest of my life . Currently on Ceruvin 75mg, ecosprin 150Mg, Storvas 40Mg, Met XL 25mg and Nexium. Any advice to reduce pain would greatly appreciated, Already Quit smoking and maintaining a healthy diet. I am from India

[RichieValencia901]

I had my angioplasty in Aug 2010. I was 95% blocked in my LADCA. Afterward the cardiologist stated that he thought he was going to need to put in a 2nd one, but he just placed 1 small one.
I started to notice shortly after my procedure a numbness in my chest. Roughly 3" to the left of my sternum and 3" from my nipple to the right.
At first, I just thought it was due to a foreign object in my heart and just put it off as that. Now 3 years later, the very same pain is there.
It's just a dull numbness unless I touch it, then it is actually a pain.
I asked some people that have had stents if they had the same or similar issue. I was told by one friend that he did have that sort of pain, his doctor told him it was due to the pressure of the blood going through the stent which caused that.
I don't really see how a stint inside of my heart, behind my rib cage under all the muscle could cause this pain.
I don't notice it when I exercise, so until it starts becoming more of a problem, I guess I will just deal with it.