Arm and Chest pain

[Hempleton]

For the past week I have had pains in my left arm. It feels like I have hit my funny bone but it is constant, varying in degrees of pain. It can get almost unbearable as it reaches from the top of my shoulder/back to the tips of my 2 middle fingers.

This has been accompanied by chest pain. I don't see how they are related but they started together and get worse together. It hurts almost all the time, sometimes it is agony just to breath normally although generally it is just when I yawn, laugh or breath heavily.

Is this anything to worry about? Should I see a doctor? Any ideas about what it is or why it is happening?

[Hempleton]

Thank you very much for your help, it turned out to be some damage to the cartillage in my chest, I can't remember doing anything to cause that but at least it is starting to fade now, with the help of painkillers.

Anyway, your suggestions were incredibly helpful,
Take care x

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Yes, I agree with caregiver222. With this kind of history it would be wise to have a 12lead EKG when you have pain.

Having said this I would also say that the chances of this being angina or heart attack are less. Two reasons: First it is a constant pain and second it is aggravated by laughing yawning and deep breathing.

Chest pain aggravated by laughing yawning and deep breathing goes more in favor of costochondritis, which causes pain and tenderness at points where your ribs attach to your breastbone.  But we still need to explain the radiation to the arms. I would say that multiple ribs are involved causing radiation to the arms.

The second theory is compression at C8-T1 vertebral level or maybe even higher causing referred pain to arm and chest.

Do you have a history of trauma or accident? Another possibility is that can explain both the pains is pericarditis. It causes chest pain aggravated by laughing yawning and deep breathing and also causes radiation of pain to arms. Again an EKG, heat echo and chest X-ray is required. Any history of fever before this pain started?

Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[caregiver222]

Left arm pain and chest pain suggest a cardiogenic etiology, however I wouldn't pull the fire alarm yet. The fact your pain seems to be positionally relieved suggests otherwise. Cardiac pain is generally constant and not positionally relieved.

The problem is every once in a thousand, the symptoms of an an oncoming cardiac event just don't fit the mold.

Should you see a physician?

I am going to refrain from making a sarcastic comment.

My basic rule is that most problems are self-limiting. That is they resolve themselves with a few days. If a problem is recurring, or chronic, then a physician's visit is inevitable. There are exceptions to my rule and they include any sign or symptom that might suggest a stroke of an upcoming adverse cardiac event.

With your situation the semaphore is in the middle position.

I'd like to see you on a 12 lead EKG while you were having the pain.

The answer is yes, you should see a physician.