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Suggest Treatment For Pain In The Chest Area
Question: I just woke up to pain in the sternal area which intensifies when I take a breath. I have had two cardiac arrests previously so I am monitored by a ICD w P, pain radiates slightly down the right side when I breathe (feels like rib pain). I'm not sure if this will resolve on its on (perhaps I slept in odd position?). Not sure if this is at all relevant but I slept weird on my right side about a week ago and continue to have numbness in my hand. I've checked my blood sugars, BP and pulse ok......?
Also don't know if this is relevant but I take a TNF blocker for my arthritis, and was recently sent information that a product I had consumed a lot of may have contained listeria. I don't have stiff neck or fever...
Also don't know if this is relevant but I take a TNF blocker for my arthritis, and was recently sent information that a product I had consumed a lot of may have contained listeria. I don't have stiff neck or fever...
Brief Answer:
Peobably not cardiac pain
Detailed Answer:
Greetings and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
By the description of your symptom, this does not fit the cardiac origin of the pain. This kind of pain is not concerned by the respiration cycle, nor by any switch of positions. It is more like a constant sensation of tenderness or tightness in the chest. Being that within the ribcage there are many structures, this kind of pain of course "points" more towards locomotory system soreness (cartilages, bones, muscles), acute or chronic. Less probably, it may indicate interesing of the linings in the ribcages, such as pleura or pericardium. Now, we can pursue two strategies:
- first let us try a 5-day trial with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID: ibuprofen, ketoprofen) and then pursue some tests if the pain does not go away; or
- run the tests immediately, so we can safely exclude any other problem, and then run a trial of NSAIDs. These tests are: an EKG (to evaluate the electrical system of the heart in resting state); a plain chest X-ray (to assess the lung tissue and its lining - the pleura).
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Peobably not cardiac pain
Detailed Answer:
Greetings and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
By the description of your symptom, this does not fit the cardiac origin of the pain. This kind of pain is not concerned by the respiration cycle, nor by any switch of positions. It is more like a constant sensation of tenderness or tightness in the chest. Being that within the ribcage there are many structures, this kind of pain of course "points" more towards locomotory system soreness (cartilages, bones, muscles), acute or chronic. Less probably, it may indicate interesing of the linings in the ribcages, such as pleura or pericardium. Now, we can pursue two strategies:
- first let us try a 5-day trial with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID: ibuprofen, ketoprofen) and then pursue some tests if the pain does not go away; or
- run the tests immediately, so we can safely exclude any other problem, and then run a trial of NSAIDs. These tests are: an EKG (to evaluate the electrical system of the heart in resting state); a plain chest X-ray (to assess the lung tissue and its lining - the pleura).
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
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