Chest pain, arm numbness and upper back pain

[laurenissick]

I have been to the hospital 3 times for chest pain, mostly on the left side, left arm pain (sometimes numb, sometimes achey), and sharp pain in my upper back.  They ran an EKG, CT scan (they thought i had a blood clot in my lungs), and a chest x-ray.  Their results where all basically the same, that it was anxiety or indigestion.    Now, I have been on Zoloft for a long time now for anxiety, but when I started having chest pains and numbness in my arm, I began having panic attacks. (Mainly because nobody can figure out what the problem is)  So, I am now on meds for anxiety attacks, which isn't helping because nobody can tell me what is wrong with me. Now I still have numbness/sharp pains in my left arm, which varies in strength.  I have a pain directly to the right of my left shoulder blade and another about 2 inches below my collar bone.  Pain medication temperarily helps. The other thing that really helps is drinking beer, which is very costly.  Sometimes it hurts when I breathe in, but it may just be the expansion of my chest that hurts.  Does anyone know of anyone who has the same sort of thing. This has been going on for 4 months and I just cannot take it anymore. I am basically afraid its my heart since my arm keeps getting numb and my chest hurts.  Help!!! Please! (Oh yeah, Im 26 years old, I smoke, but I am pretty healthy. I am 5'5'' and weigh 124 lbs)

[aimeejayne]

I have all these problems too. I have been experiencing the same thing for about a year now , it comes and goes all the time. Sometimes it is really painfull and it scares me , I am only 19 and I keep thinking I'm goinmg to have a heart attack , I went to hospital one toime and they did a heart trace they said I had good level of oxygen in my lungs , cud that change in a year ?

[KayZZZ]

Just wanted to make sure you saw my most recent post about this in case it might help u also. My chiropractor agrees with the diagnosis also so I think I really found an answer.

[KayZZZ]

I GOT AN ANSWER FINALLY!!"

Hello. I posted back at end of June and then beginning of July to this thread. Similar symptoms to everyone else. Reflux, shoulder pain, arm pain, tingling numbness, chest pain etc.

Well I had another flare. This one was worse then any before (as hard as that is to believe considering how extreme the pain normally is already during these flares.) this time it just didn't get better and the pain ended up wrapping around from my left back/shoulder to the same spot on my left front chest. It did not respond to pain medication (including vicodin, morphine in the hospital and iv injected dilaudid) I could not breath in more then shallow breaths, my lung would not expand even if I tried to force it past the band of pain.

The answer? Thoracic Disc Disease. Which fits in with a previous couple posters saying its Thoracic outlet.

I think I got lucky to get an diagnosis. We saw several doctor that thought it was everything from a gastric bubble to a torn muscle that would just have to wait to heal. It wasn't until one doctor saw me and he seemed to come in knowing what it is. He immediately started checking my reflexes (apparently I am very hyper reflexive which has something to do with the nerve association in this disease) he started moving my head around and arms to test strength and see what hurt and then ordered xrays and mri.

I don't know much about it yet. I literally just got this diagnosis yesterday. I just wanted to post in case it could help others. I don't know if you all would have Thoracic disc disease but I think it and the Thoracic outlet the other sisters were talking about bears a closer look to help you get your answer.

[tabloveswes]

I am a 33 year old female. I have been back and forth hospital after hospital. It started with rapid heart beat and high blood pressure. I was diagnosed with heart paplitations. Things have gotten worse. Now i have times where my heart rate is low and my blood pressure is low, i feel like ive taken a muscle relaxer or sleeping pill. When i havent taken anything. I also have chest pain, left sided weakness, dizziness, vision problems, and slurred speach. I have been told it may be TIA's or tiny strokes. But hospitals do not catch these unless you are monitored while it is happening. My mom also said it sounds like a blockage in my heart. I just wish someone could help me.

[hotmomma29]

i'm 23 and experiencing back pain and heart palpitations. i just felt it right now. my lifestyle is healthy and i do exercise. any advice? thanks!

[thebrentsgirl73]

I had ur exact same symptoms a few years back and went back and forth with doctor.   finally, they checked my gallbladder and that's what it was.   had gallbladder removed and no problems since.