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Suggest Treatment For Sharp Shooting Pain In Left Arm
Question: Hello
I am 21 y.o., anemic, hypothyridic, and overweight. I am a hypochondriac and have anxiety although undiagnosed. Hodgkins lymphoma stage 3 survivor 10 years ago, had chemo and radiation.
I sometimes randomly get soreness in my left arm. Just now I got a sharp pain in my left arm that seemed to shoot downwards a few inches and tingle. It its still Achy now a few inches above my elbow and below my shoulder. I can feel a spot towards the back of my arm lower than my shoulder where it hurts to touch. Pain is traveling up to my shoulder. No Injury or overuse. This is the first time I noticed it. My hand sometimes tingles mostly when I apply pressure to elbow. It also hurts to touch on a stop in my upper back but this is something I've felt before. Tingling pain in arm still there. Chest is bothering me some sharp pain might be anxiety. Is this a serious issue ? Is this heart related?
I am 21 y.o., anemic, hypothyridic, and overweight. I am a hypochondriac and have anxiety although undiagnosed. Hodgkins lymphoma stage 3 survivor 10 years ago, had chemo and radiation.
I sometimes randomly get soreness in my left arm. Just now I got a sharp pain in my left arm that seemed to shoot downwards a few inches and tingle. It its still Achy now a few inches above my elbow and below my shoulder. I can feel a spot towards the back of my arm lower than my shoulder where it hurts to touch. Pain is traveling up to my shoulder. No Injury or overuse. This is the first time I noticed it. My hand sometimes tingles mostly when I apply pressure to elbow. It also hurts to touch on a stop in my upper back but this is something I've felt before. Tingling pain in arm still there. Chest is bothering me some sharp pain might be anxiety. Is this a serious issue ? Is this heart related?
Brief Answer:
Protocol requires ruling out a cardiac cause ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I should rightfully start by saying that no matter what the suspected cause for chest pain is, a cardiac cause is to be ruled out 'always'. This protocol has saved millions of lives, and so there is no reason why we should not follow it. Keeping this in mind, I would first recommend you to visit a medical facility for an EKG (ECG).
Although in my opinion you already have at least 2 probable causes for the presentation you have described, the first being anaemia and the second being anxiety. Both these conditions can result in chest pain similar to the description you have provided.
Once a cardiac cause is ruled out, rapid correction of your hemoglobin levels and addressing your anxiety should be done along with considerably ruling out a condition called costochondritis which can also mimic chest pain in young women like yourself.
As you have not mentioned any medications in your list of medications, I cannot suspect a possible gastric cause (which is the most common cause for chest pain other than a cardiac condition), but it would be wise to rule that out as well.
I hope you find my response helpful ma'am. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
Protocol requires ruling out a cardiac cause ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I should rightfully start by saying that no matter what the suspected cause for chest pain is, a cardiac cause is to be ruled out 'always'. This protocol has saved millions of lives, and so there is no reason why we should not follow it. Keeping this in mind, I would first recommend you to visit a medical facility for an EKG (ECG).
Although in my opinion you already have at least 2 probable causes for the presentation you have described, the first being anaemia and the second being anxiety. Both these conditions can result in chest pain similar to the description you have provided.
Once a cardiac cause is ruled out, rapid correction of your hemoglobin levels and addressing your anxiety should be done along with considerably ruling out a condition called costochondritis which can also mimic chest pain in young women like yourself.
As you have not mentioned any medications in your list of medications, I cannot suspect a possible gastric cause (which is the most common cause for chest pain other than a cardiac condition), but it would be wise to rule that out as well.
I hope you find my response helpful ma'am. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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