Shoulder, neck, jaw, chest and back pain

[Rooster519]

This all started 3 months ago when I was rushed to the hospital with chest pain.(not a crushing pain just a mild stabbing pain). They did an EKG at the hospital and blood work and said everything was perfect and they sent me home. Went to my regular doctor the following day and go an appointment with a cardiologist. Went to see him and everything was fine but he wanted me to do a stress test. 2 weeks later (when stress test was scheduled) I got pneumonia(a touch they say). So had to cancell stress test. There next availble was 3 weeks away. So during that time I went to Vegas. While in vegas I stayed extremly constipated. (7 days) When I returned from vegas I had to go the hospital again with chest pain. Same thing this time as well, perfect EKG and blood work. So I set up and app. with a gastroenterologist. they do an upper GI, Cat Scan of stomach, ultrasound of gall bladder, and the hydiascan(dont know if i spelled that right). They tell me that the gall bladder is only ejecting at 6% and it needs to come out and thats why I'm having all my problems. So I have to cancel my stress test again and my gall bladder gets removed and what do you know, I still have all the same problems as before: Chest pain, pain in my ribs, neck and jaw pain, pain in my left elbow, pain in my left shoulder, pain in the center of my left chest and right chest, and constipation( now I always thought that once the gall bladder was gone that you did not have that problem). So another EKG (4 so far in total) has showed up perfect. Another round of blood work ( have not gotten results yet ). and a Stress test scheduled for Nov. 5th. So I guess my question would be is there anything else that I need to look into? I'm getting tired of waking up every morning worrying about my health. I have been taking Ativan .5mg for the stress but it doesnt stop the pain. I have taken asprin, tylenol, ibprofen none of that helps. Any insite into what might be going on here would be grately appriciated.
OH and get this, my sister is a PA and lives in Illinois. She asked me to send her all my test results so I did. She tells me that I'm border line anemic (Something none of the other doctors bothered to tell me) and she says that she doesnt see my cholestoral or tyroid reading anywhere on the test that were preformed at the hospital. ( that the reason for the above blood work being done again).

[Rooster519]

Thanks for the help and comments. I go back to the doctor next week, so I'll see what he thinks about the above information and see if we can get the ball rolling. It has been tough 3 months and I hope they can get to the bottom of it soon. Thanks again and I'll keep you all posted.

[cbader21]

I know this was many years ago, but I am having almost ALL of the same symptoms. Did you ever figure out what was going on?

-Carrie

[Tuckamore]

Hello Rooster,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am glad that you found us at MedHelp.

Trudi has offered you a good suggestion. A rheumatologist may be able to get to the source of your pain and symptoms. Muscle pain and or soft tissue pain can be horrid. Don't let anyone tell you any different. A condition called Myofascial Pain Syndrome can cause the problems you describe.

I would be surprised if i were your symptoms are cardiac related based on the negative EKG readings along with normal cardiac enzymes that had to have been drawn and checked in ER. These tests are protocol when you present with chest pain. Results from these tests are normally the gold standard to confirm or rule out heart disease, though I admit not always. Echocardiograms are often a good tool to look at the structure and function of the cardiac muscle also.

In my opinion borderline anemia should not account for your symptoms. In my experience Thyroid and Cholesterol blood work is not normally drawn for chest pain presentation in an ER setting. However it is a good follow up test that should be preformed by your PCP.  

Have you had an MRI done of your spine to rule out referred pain from spinal structural issues?   It is not probably but it could be a possibility. It is good to look every where.

I hope you will keep in touch with us and let us know how you are doing. It may be useless for me to suggest that you try not to worry (I would be concerned too) but we all know that stress or worry can make our pain and symptoms even worse. I will look forward to your updates and wish you the very best of luck in your search for a diagnosis. Above all don't give up.

Take Care,
Tuck

[TrudieC]

I would really suggest you get a work up by a rheumatologist.  You have more going on than just digestive or chest pain and should be looking at something systemic.  I have Lupus and get a lot of what you are having but so can other auto-immune diseases.  My chest pain and rib pain is from my myofascial tissue grabbing onto my muscles and bones.  I have a lot of jaw and shoulder pain (as well as other areas) and suffer from anemia.  Good luck and please let us know how it goes.